Just say no to the ho ho hoes

I hardly ever have any sex with prostitutes. Well, actually, I never have. With prostitutes, that is. So, anyway, where's my prize?

The South Korean government is handing out gifts for office workers who promise not to visit brothels this holiday season.

"If you promise yourself to make it a healthy night out at the end of the year, and if you recommend this to others, we are giving lots of prizes," the Ministry of Gender Equality said in an Internet posting.

The ministry is offering to pay companies whose employees pledge not to buy sex after what are typically alcohol-soaked, year-end parties.

Well, getting a prize for avoiding the hoes is nice, but I happen to think that virtue is its own reward. That, and not having genital warts.

A ministry spokesman confirmed the campaign but declined to answer questions about it.

But a ministry official told the Korea Times daily: "Korean corporate culture that includes heavy drinking is also what makes buying sex acceptable as a way for male-bonding, which is proving to be a hard-to-break ritual."

Huh. Who'd have thought that hard drinking and whoremongering would be hard habits to break?