When we hear, these days, of hundreds of people protesting and shouting slogans such as “Guarantee the right to live!” … we immediately think about political unrest in the Middle East. We weren’t really expecting a story about a police crackdown on brothels in Seoul, South Korea.

About 400 “prostitutes and pimps,” according to the Associated Press, staged a four-hour rally yesterday near a red-light district in Seoul. Some of the sex workers, wearing underwear and body paint, doused themselves in flammable liquid but were prevented by others from setting themselves on fire.

Weeks ago, officials began stationing police cars near brothels in an effort to disrupt and discourage business. Prostitution is illegal in South Korea but is widespread despite repeated government crackdowns, the AP says.

While we sympathize with the protesters, we feel compelled to add: Not worth setting yourself on fire. Okay?