"Culture Shock in Korea": Foreign Tourists Amazed by Abundant and Free Public Restrooms Everywhere

Korean Public Restrooms Draw Intense Interest from Tourists
"Clean and Free Restrooms Are Everywhere"

"I just returned from a trip to Korea and experienced culture shock. The public restrooms are clean and free of charge."

This is the impression of a foreign tourist about their trip to Korea, recently posted on Reddit, the largest English-language online community. The post received over 700 'likes' within just five days. While public restrooms are used routinely by locals in Korea, they are a source of envy among foreigners. One well-known Korean tourism website even listed Korean restrooms as a tourist attraction.

Subway Line 5 Cheonho Station Restroom. Seoul City

Foreigners' interest in Korean public restrooms is nothing new. Reddit's Korea travel pages are filled with stories about using public restrooms. One foreign user commented, "In Korea, there are clean and free restrooms everywhere. There is a restroom in every park and subway station," adding, "What surprised me the most was that I could use the restrooms in food courts, cafes, and office buildings for free as well."

Some people even share 'restroom tips' for tourists preparing to visit Korea. Another user noted, "Outdoor restrooms in Korea are numerous, and the quality varies. If you value a pleasant restroom experience, you should use the subway restrooms. The newer the subway station, the better the facilities, so if possible, take Line 9."

Restroom at Mudeungsan National Park in Gwangju. Photo by Yonhap News

For foreigners, Korean restrooms are sometimes seen as a unique tourist experience. Hallie Bradley, who has run the Korea travel guide website 'Soul of Seoul' since 2006, wrote in a guide this past May, "Korean restrooms are a curious mix of long-standing tradition and the latest trends. You can experience everything from old-style restrooms in the alleyways of Hongdae to the most modern restrooms in luxury department stores," emphasizing, "Just using a restroom in Korea is already an adventure."

The reason Korean public restrooms attract so much attention from foreigners is interpreted as an infrastructure gap. A user from Europe wrote on Reddit, "In my home country, restrooms are either completely neglected or, even if they're in good condition, you usually have to pay to use them. In fact, there are far more public restrooms that are both paid and in poor condition."

Temporary restrooms installed in the city of Paris during the Paris Olympics. Paris City Official Website

Although the proportions differ from country to country, public restrooms in Europe are often fee-based. Renowned travel writer Rick Steves explained, "Paid public restrooms are a long-standing custom in Europe. Paid restrooms are common at highway rest stops, train stations, and tourist attractions," adding, "The fee is 0.5 euros in local currency as of 2024, and you may even have to purchase toilet paper separately from the attendant."

In the United States, public restrooms are operated free of charge by city governments, but their condition is often rated as poor. In the 'public restroom ranking' compiled in 2021 by global restroom equipment supplier QS Supplies, the United States ranked 30th in the world, on par with Botswana in Africa. There are only eight public restrooms per 100,000 people in the United States, and toilets in school restrooms were found to have weak water pressure. In connection with this, The Wall Street Journal evaluated in July that "American cities are facing a public restroom crisis."

Meanwhile, most public restrooms in Korea are installed and operated by the government and local authorities in accordance with the 'Act on Public Restrooms, etc.' This law details the number of urinals and toilets in men's and women's restrooms, the installation of convenience facilities, and even the standards for wastewater and waste disposal.