The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) has officially declared that the practice of charging female customers extra fees for towels and soap at public bathhouses, while offering the same items free of charge to men, is an act of "gender-based discrimination." This ruling, announced on the 13th, marks a significant push for equality in local service sectors.
The Origin of the Complaint
The issue surfaced following a formal complaint filed by a user identified as "A" in North Gyeongsang Province. During a visit to a local bathhouse in 2025, A discovered that while male patrons were provided with free towels and soap, female customers were required to pay 500 won per towel and 700 won for single-use soap. A argued that this policy was fundamentally discriminatory and lacked a reasonable justification.
Following the investigation, the NHRCK’s Discrimination Remedy Committee uncovered that this was not an isolated incident. An inspection of 27 local bathhouses revealed that 22 of them (approximately 81%) maintained the same practice of levying an average fee of 500 won per towel exclusively on female customers.
Conflicting Perspectives
The bathhouse involved in the complaint defended its policy, citing operational losses. The management stated, "The recovery rate of towels and soap in the female locker area is significantly lower than that of the male area. We are forced to charge fees to offset the costs of purchasing replacement supplies." The business also maintained that there is no legal obligation under the Public Health Control Act to provide these amenities for free and noted that their policy was in line with regional industry standards.
However, the NHRCK rejected this rationale. "Even if the return rate for items in the women's section is relatively lower, that is a behavioral issue involving only some individual customers," the commission stated. "Imposing additional costs on all female customers as a group is an unjust measure rooted in gender-based stereotypes and generalizations."
Moving Toward Equitable Alternatives
The commission emphasized that the industry can solve the issue of lost supplies through more targeted, non-discriminatory methods. It suggested alternatives such as:
Security Deposits: Implementing a refundable deposit system for towel rentals.
In-facility Amenities: Installing fixed soap dispensers in showers rather than providing single-use products, which reduces both waste and loss.
Enhanced Monitoring: Enforcing stricter return procedures that do not target a specific gender.
Systemic Reform
The NHRCK has recommended that the specific business owner cease the discriminatory fee structure immediately. Furthermore, the commission has urged local government heads, including the mayor of the region, to provide reinforced administrative guidance to prevent similar discriminatory practices in other bathhouses.
This ruling underscores a growing intolerance for "convenience-based discrimination" in South Korea. By signaling that operational inconvenience does not justify unequal treatment based on gender, the NHRCK aims to uphold the principle that all citizens should have equal access to services, regardless of their gender.
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