Busan Gijang-gun Promotes Installation of Taller Dividers for Men's Urinals in Public Restrooms
Oh Gyu-seok, Gijang-gun Mayor, "Men's Rights Must Be Respected... Perfect for COVID-19 Prevention"
A height-increasing partition installed in the men's restroom inside the Busan Gijang-gun Office building. [Image source=Gijang-gun Office]
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] It is common for men to encounter others standing next to them using a public restroom urinal.
A casual sideways glance can easily infringe on another person's ‘privacy’.
One local government has pinpointed this ‘human rights neglect scene’ and come up with a clever idea, drawing attention by stepping into ‘human rights enhancement’.
A project to install partitions at adult height for men's urinals is underway in Gijang-gun, Busan.
The partitions are being raised so that there is no need to see even the side profile of the person next to you while using the urinal.
These partitions are timely and are expected by Gijang-gun officials to significantly contribute to preventing the spread of infectious diseases through ‘droplet’ transmission. It is easy to understand by looking at the transparent partitions installed on restaurant tables, cafes, and conference rooms.
Gijang-gun has started a project to raise the partitions at men's urinals in public restrooms within the district, including public offices such as the county office and libraries, public parking lots, parks, welfare centers, and sports facilities, to adult height.
On the 24th of last month, Gijang-gun Mayor Oh Gyu-seok proposed raising the partitions to adult height for adults and child height for children to protect individual human rights, and this ‘men’s human rights enhancement’ project is rapidly unfolding like a campaign in Gijang-gun.
Mayor Oh said, “Whether female or male, individual human rights must be respected. When using the restroom, individuals should be in the most comfortable and safe state, which also benefits health,” adding, “The higher the partitions, the better the droplet blocking effect, which will also help prevent the spread of COVID-19.” He described it as a timely ‘two birds with one stone’ policy.
The mayor’s idea was implemented like lightning. The color and opaque material of the partitions were also decided.
Mayor Oh said, “Given the timing due to COVID-19, I hope this project to install tall partitions at men’s urinals will spread to public restrooms nationwide.”
The public restrooms managed by Gijang-gun total 319: 68 at the Gijang-gun office and town offices, 157 at sports facilities, libraries, and welfare centers, and 94 in parks and coastal areas.
Gijang-gun will first complete the installation of partitions at 43 men’s urinals in the Gijang-gun office and health center by the 2nd. Going forward, this ‘men’s human rights enhancement’ and ‘COVID-19 prevention project’ will be carried out sequentially by the respective departments managing the facilities.
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