Surrounded by music and neon lights, they gathered nightly near a US military base in South Korea. Now, more than 120 women who used to work as prostitutes outside the complex in Uijeongbu City, Gyeonggi Province, are seeking compensation from the Korean government. The former prostitutes, who are aging and poor, claim their county's authorities actively facilitated their work in a bid to keep American forces happy, while ignoring their own welfare. Speaking in a community center in a ramshackle 'camp-town' next to the base, they tearfully explained how they are now planning to sue the government for $10,000 each.
@highlight
More than 120 former prostitutes seeking $10,000 each in compensation
@highlight
Say Korean government actively facilitated their work near US Army base
@highlight
Blame system of sexual health check-ups and 'Western etiquette' lessons
@highlight
Also claim officials were worried America would pull troops out in 1970s
@highlight
'This is a system the government created,' say women, now old and poor
@highlight
Army now has 'zero tolerance' attitude toward soldiers using prostitutes
"There was this talk going round about earning dollars by working in the clubs, and that that would would make you a patriot - somebody who was a hard-working @placeholder,' one woman said.