Is pornography legal in South Korea?
Illegal
Distribution and manufacture of obscene pictures is illegal in South Korea with imprisonment and fines.
South Korea is one of 61 countries classified “Illegal” for pornography — 86% of the 71 with data.
Source
- Taken from
- Wikipedia: Pornography laws by region
- Last checked
- 7 July 2026
- How it was classified
- Classified by a language model from the source text, then checked against hand-verified reference countries.
Nearby countries
- North Korea
- Illegal Import, distribution and possession of decadent culture including pornography is illegal in North Korea.
- Japan
- Restricted Pornography showing sexual genitals is illegal, but blurred content is legal in Japan.
- China
- Illegal Production, trafficking and dissemination of pornographic materials is severely punished under Chinese law.
- Mongolia
- Illegal Advertising and dissemination of pornography is punishable by fine or imprisonment in Mongolia.
- Philippines
- Illegal Maintaining or hiring someone for prostitution or pornography is unlawful under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.
- Vietnam
- Illegal Distribution of pornographic materials is punishable by fines or imprisonment.
Other laws in South Korea
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Not recognized
- Same-Sex Activity
- Legal
- Age of Consent
- 16–17
- Sex Work
- Illegal
- Divorce
- Legal
- Same-Sex Adoption
- Not permitted
- Incest Laws
- Legal between adults
- Marriage Age
- 18+
A visual reference compiled from Wikipedia’s law-by-country articles, not legal advice. Laws change and summaries simplify — check a primary source before relying on anything here.