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Korean phone retailers target and harass girls for sales

SBS Newshas recently revealed shocking footage of Korean phone retailers using physical means to bring in customers. The retailers (all noticeably male) target women and either take them by the arm or hand to physically drag them, some even go as far to take their phones, refusing to return them unless the women enter their stores.




Some speculate that phone retailers are resorting to these tactics because of the impending, new government policy regarding handset subsidies. The new policy, which won't take place until October, will have the government regulating subsidies more strictly. A subsidy is a sum of money provided to a retailer in order to ensure low prices for the customer. Because of these subsidies, phone retailers are able to provide discounts on phones when a customer subscribes to a new contract. Korean mobile carriers have been abusing the use of subsidies however, offering discounts that go beyond the sum allowed by the government in order to gain more money. The new policy will aim to fix these problems with subsidies, but until it is put into place, retailers are attempting to capitalize and gather as many customers as possible. 


Police departments are aware of the harassment but have yet to take measures against the phone retailers responsible. In the meantime, they urge the public to report any cases of harassment they witness or personally experience.