Pay to pee? Debate in South Korea over cafes charging toilet fee

A growing number of cafes in South Korea are charging non-customers to use restrooms, igniting debate and exposing tensions over public courtesy and private property in a country where such access has long been taken for granted.



A photo of a kiosk sign reading “2,000 won or $1.35 for restroom use without ordering” went viral, drawing sharply divided reactions online.



Some defended the policy, saying owners are responding to misuse by non-paying visitors, while others called it cold-hearted and excessive.



The issue is also drawing attention from foreign visitors, many of whom are accustomed to paid public restrooms in parts of Europe and Asia, but less so within cafes.



Legal experts said the practice is permissible, though backlash may be inevitable.



“Cafe restrooms are private facilities intended for customers. They are not classified as public restrooms under the Public Toilets Act, and business owners may set conditions for their use,” according to a legal expert. .



It added that clearly disclosing a fee makes it a “legitimate condition of transaction” under the principle of private autonomy.