During the Chuseok holiday, a sign prohibiting women from entering the men's restroom at a highway rest area has sparked heated discussions online.
On September 24, a post titled 'Current Situation at Holiday Rest Areas' was shared on social media, accompanied by a photo.
The photo shows a sign on the men's restroom door stating, 'Women are prohibited from entering.'
The sign reads, 'We have received numerous complaints. Please allow only men to use the men's restroom. We ask women to use the women's restroom.' This notice appears to have been posted after some women began using the men's restroom to avoid long lines at the women's facilities, prompting complaints from male patrons.
The author of the post, identified as A, discovered the sign while stopping at the rest area around 6 a.m. on his way to Yeosu. He remarked, 'Isn't this excessive? Can this really be resolved?'
In response, netizens expressed their views, questioning whether such a basic guideline needed to be posted and emphasizing that the privacy of male patrons should also be respected.
Many pointed out that unlike the women's restroom, which is fully enclosed, the men's restroom has urinals that are exposed.
One user asked, 'If a man enters a restroom occupied by a woman, would that be a trivial matter?' Other users echoed the sentiment that using designated restrooms according to gender is a basic courtesy. Reports have also highlighted criticism of women using men's restrooms.
Conversely, some argued that the practical realities of holiday travel rest areas should be considered.
During peak travel times, long lines often form in front of women's restrooms, and women must use individual stalls without urinals, leading to longer wait times compared to men.
Online comments included, 'The lines for women's restrooms during holidays are too long,' and 'In urgent situations, isn't it understandable to use the other gender's restroom?'
However, others countered that using a restroom designated for another gender is inappropriate, and individuals should not impose their inconveniences on others.
This controversy highlights not only issues of restroom etiquette but also the recurring problem of congestion in women's restrooms during holidays and peak travel times.
Current laws regarding public restrooms require them to be gender-segregated and stipulate that the number of toilets in women's restrooms should exceed the combined total of urinals and toilets in men's restrooms. In some facilities designated by presidential decree, women's restrooms must have at least 1.5 times the number of toilets compared to men's.
Despite these regulations, long lines at women's restrooms during busy times at highway rest areas persist, indicating a need for solutions that consider actual usage patterns and gender-specific needs.
Netizens are divided, with some stating, 'It's unacceptable to enter the opposite gender's restroom in a hurry,' while others argue, 'We need to find ways to reduce wait times for women's restrooms,' and 'Temporary restrooms should be added during special situations like holidays.'
The recurring long lines at rest area restrooms during holidays have brought attention to not only restroom etiquette but also the structural and capacity issues of gender-segregated facilities.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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