Methodological and ethical challenges to conducting human trafficking studies: A case study of Korean trafficking and smuggling for sexual exploitation to the United States

Author: Choo, Kyungseok; Oh Jang, Joon & Choi, Kyungshick

Abstract: The objective of this article is to review a range of serious methodological and ethical challenges to studying human trafficking. In particular, the article focuses on lessons learned from a field research study of Korean sex trafficking and smuggling to the United States. We first introduce the general background of the field study as well as its findings. Then we discuss the ethnographic approach and its implementation. Finally, we discuss the various methodological challenges and ethical issues related to studying active Korean traffickers and smugglers as well as Korean victims in the U.S. sex industry.

Keywords: ethical dilemma, human smuggling, human trafficking, sex workers