New Jeju Sex Park Worries Authorities

A private park with an erotic theme that opened recently on Jeju has found itself at the center of a brewing controversy as authorities move to decide just how permissive Korean society has become and whether the facility violates obscenity laws.

"We are currently investigating whether the erotic sculptures at the park and videos it shows constitute a breach of the obscenity laws," said a police officer from the island province's Seobu Police Station.

The 3,000 sq.m Secret Theme Park, which is just a five-minute drive from downtown Jeju, opened on May 21 and features a nude art gallery, a similarly themed bonsai garden, a sex culture exhibition hall, an outdoor sculpture garden, an animal farm and performance stages. Minors are forbidden from entering.

A walking path takes visitors past large sculptures of genitals, and animals such as bears and monkeys during the act of sex. The gallery has large nude paintings by Korean, Japanese, and Chinese artists.

"Pending the review from the censors, we have stopped playing our 3D videos for adults," said a park spokesman, adding that "our nude performance is not obscene but art."

"There shouldn't be any problem as long as we operate within the legal boundaries as an amusement park for adults," he said.