[Report] Beds in the Room, Condoms in the Trash... Youths Crowding 'Room Cafe'

'The Base of Escapism' Room Cafe Visited Directly
Ministry of Gender Equality and Family: "Need to Crack Down as Youth-Prohibited Establishment"
Experts: "Specific Crackdown Guidelines Are Necessary"

[Asia Economy Reporters Byungseon Gong, Seoyul Hwang, Taewon Choi] On the 4th, a room cafe in the Gangbuk-gu area of Seoul was visited. As the youth visiting hours were coming to an end near 10 p.m., young teenage couples began to leave the rooms one by one. The interior of the room cafe they stayed in was far from a typical 'cafe.' There were beds where one could lie down beyond just sitting, and a large screen installed for watching movies and TV shows. The iron door had no glass, making it difficult to distinguish from a lodging facility when viewed from the hallway. When the bathroom trash can was opened, condoms were found. When asked Kim (23), who works part-time at the room cafe, about youth management, he replied, "The owner cleans the bathroom," and added, "I am not exactly sure if teenagers have sexual relations in the room cafe."

On the 4th, I visited a room cafe in the Gangbuk-gu area of Seoul. Inside the room, there was a bed and a large screen installed. The room cafe was designed so that it was difficult to see inside from the outside when the door was closed.
Photo by Gong Byung-sun mydillon@

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family announced on the 1st that room cafes, which operate in a form similar to motels, fall under establishments where youth entry is prohibited and that stronger crackdowns are necessary. According to the notification on establishments prohibiting youth entry and employment, the classification of establishments is based on the actual business activities conducted, regardless of permits, approvals, registrations, or reports, explained the ministry. Although room cafes are registered as general restaurants, if beds and other facilities are installed leading to youth delinquency, they should be considered harmful places for youth.

In fact, many teenagers have used room cafes as places of delinquency. This is because they are completely enclosed spaces where the inside cannot be seen from outside, and they can be used for 15,000 won per hour. On the afternoon of the 3rd, from 2 to 5 p.m., teenagers visited a room cafe located near Hongik University in Seoul one after another. Sometimes three female teenagers came together, but occasionally mixed-gender teenagers were also spotted. Jung (26), a part-time worker at the room cafe, said, "Almost only teenagers come to the room cafe," and added, "Since the door is closed and it is a closed space, there are cases where teenagers engage in sexual activities." However, Jung added, "I don't think it's only a youth problem," noting, "Contraceptives have also been found after adults have visited."

On the afternoon of the 4th, the room cafe area around Hongdae Ipgu Station had glass sections on the doors, but they were covered with opaque sheets, making it impossible to see inside from the outside. Photo by Hwang Seoyul chestnut@

Enclosed places like room cafes have continuously been identified as strongholds of youth delinquency. Starting from video rooms in the 1990s to DVD rooms and multi-rooms, these have been problematic places in the past. Each time, the government resolved the issues through strong regulations. In 2007, when it was pointed out that sexual activities frequently occurred in video rooms, the government specified in the Enforcement Rules of the Act on Promotion of Films and Video that "glass doors must be installed on entrance doors and must not be covered," and "beds or chairs transformed into bed forms or sofas for three or more people must not be provided." This time as well, government agencies such as the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and the National Police Agency are expected to introduce stronger regulations. Seoul City has already announced that it will conduct special crackdowns on room cafes and multi-rooms until the 13th.

However, teenagers expressed doubts about the effectiveness of the regulations. Kang (18), a high school student, said, "It is certainly a problem that room cafes are used like motels, but I oppose policies focused solely on crackdowns and closures," and pointed out, "Instead of regulating and closing the places themselves, it would be more effective to crack down on inappropriate behavior by teenagers and educate them not to engage in such behavior." Lee (18), another high school student, explained, "The problem is not the room cafes themselves but that inappropriate behavior occurs in places where it should not," and added, "I wonder whether room cafe owners have made efforts to self-regulate by not accepting teenage couples, and if they could not refuse them, there should be measures to grant them the authority to do so to prevent such situations."

Experts emphasized that to prevent youth delinquency, specific regulatory standards must be established for blind spots like 'room cafes.' Kim Younghan, a senior researcher at the Korea Youth Policy Institute, said, "Rather than indiscriminate crackdowns by local governments, concrete guidelines for physical spaces should be provided to prevent harmful activities by youth," and explained, "For example, whether the room cafe space allows visibility from outside, and whether protection programs are installed to prevent youth from accessing adult sites on the internet should be checked." Kim added, "Regarding youth sexuality, education should focus on healthy ways to enjoy it, while also preparing measures to prevent and reduce crimes such as sexual violence that may occur in such places."