Is prostitution legal in North Korea?
Illegal
Prostitution is illegal and officially does not exist, though defectors report widespread practice.
North Korea is one of 105 countries classified “Illegal” for sex work — 48% of the 219 with data. (Also searched as prostitution.)
Source
- Taken from
- Wikipedia: Prostitution in Asia
- 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
- South Korea
- Illegal Prostitution is illegal but continues to flourish despite crackdowns.
- Japan
- Decriminalized / unregulated Sex work is illegal but non-coital services are legal and widespread.
- Taiwan
- Varies by region Prostitution is illegal outside special zones where it may be permitted.
- China
- Illegal Prostitution is officially illegal but widespread, with significant economic activity and associated problems like crime and disease.
- Mongolia
- Illegal Prostitution is illegal but widespread, especially in some areas.
- Hong Kong
- Decriminalized / unregulated Prostitution is legal but organized forms and solicitation are illegal, with most sex work occurring in private settings.
Other laws in North Korea
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Not recognized
- Same-Sex Activity
- Legal
- Age of Consent
- 14–15
- Pornography
- Illegal
- Divorce
- Heavily restricted
- Same-Sex Adoption
- Not permitted
- Incest Laws
- Criminal offense
- 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.