"Where Are Men's Urination Rights?"... Discomfort Expressed Over Exposed Western-Style Toilets in Jeju Island Restrooms

A men's restroom in Jeju Island with a Western-style toilet fully exposed./Photo by Online Community

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] A claim has been raised that the facilities of men's restrooms need improvement, as urinals are fully exposed to the outside when the restroom door is opened.

On the 2nd, a post titled "Where are men's human rights and urination rights?" was uploaded on an online community.

The author revealed a photo, stating, "Men's restroom on the 1st floor of the Seogwipo Olle Market parking lot in Jeju Island." The photo shows the men's restroom door open, with the urinal inside clearly visible. The restroom door was tied with a string to a safety pole next to the building, preventing it from closing.

The author explained, "While hundreds of people use it daily, the women's restroom door on the left is made of frosted glass and can be opened and closed, but the men's restroom on the right has been tied with a string like that for a long time."

They continued, "I just expose my back while using it, and it annoys me every time I go," adding, "When passing by and looking at the restroom, you can see other men's backs, and it is even exposed to women and pedestrians passing by after parking."

The author said, "It may be for ventilation purposes, but even if men don't care, the culture needs to change now," and "Many women dislike cleaning men's restrooms while they are in use."

The post received sympathetic comments. Netizens responded with remarks such as "I live in Jeju, and most public restrooms are like that," "It's embarrassing and awkward when urinating," "Men feel ashamed too," and "I hope men clean men's restrooms."

As complaints about discomfort due to the open entrance restroom structure became frequent, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety revised the 'Enforcement Decree of the Act on Public Restrooms' and has enforced it since 2018.

According to this, when constructing new buildings or remodeling, public restroom entrances must be installed so that the interior is not directly visible to people passing through corridors or roads. However, this does not apply retroactively to restrooms already built.