The Marmot’s Hole

I would have loved to have been at the Ministry of Gender Equality when this idea got approved:

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family is giving away cash and gift certificates to men who pledge not to frequent hostess bars for their year-end parties.

The ministry has been holding the event, which ends today, on its website since Dec. 6 to promote “healthy” year-end parties. It offers altogether W3.6 million (US$1=W928)—W1 million to the no. 1 team, W500,000 to two no. 2 teams and so on — for groups of men who pledge to steer clear of places of ill repute for their year-end parties. The ministry on Monday said 1,200 teams or some 20,000 men had taken part in the event so far. The favorites as of Sunday were a group from a corporation with some 1,000 male staff. In a separate event, the ministry is offering movie tickets and restaurant gift certificates worth W1.2 million to men who give the right answer to the question what is meant by “going for another round?” It was “another beer,” and emphatically not “adjourn to the nearest hostess bar.”

Jesus, with government ministries spending taxpayer money to undercut industry demand, is it any wonder hookers are paying 4 million won a person for help scamming the U.S. embassy out of visas?