Some 900 sex workers on Thursday submitted a petition to the Constitutional Court to repeal the prostitution law, which they say infringes on their rights.

The law was introduced in 2004 and entails a one-year prison term or W3 million (US$=W1,093) fine for both purchasing and selling sex.

In December of 2012, the Seoul Northern District Court asked the Constitutional Court for a constitutional review of the law after a prostitute who was charged made the request.

The crux of the issue is whether prostitution is a profession and cracking down on it violates sex workers' rights or whether the practice is a public hazard and exposes minors to danger.