"Urinate in Water After 65?"... Controversy Over 'No Senior Zone' in Swimming Pools

Voices Calling for Introduction at Jecheon Public Swimming Pool Opening This Month
Jecheon City "Considering Time Division Based on Swimming Proficiency"

As soon as a public swimming pool in Jecheon City, Chungbuk, opened, there has been a flood of requests from citizens to introduce a 'No Senior Zone' that bans elderly users. This opinion began to emerge after a man in his 60s lost consciousness while swimming at the pool recently.

According to the police on the 15th, at around 9:30 a.m. on the 10th, a 67-year-old user lost consciousness while swimming at the public swimming pool in Jecheon City, Chungbuk. At the time, he was saved from the crisis by CPR performed by a lifeguard and was then transferred to a nearby large hospital.

The view of the swimming pool at Jecheon City National Sports Center
[Image source: Captured from Jecheon City official website]

Following this incident, there have been calls within the community to restrict elderly access to the swimming pool, sparking debates and counterarguments on local internet communities.

A netizen identified as 70 years old, Mr. A, claimed, "People over 65 use the pool very uncleanly, such as urinating in the water, and complain a lot, which ruins the atmosphere," adding, "Access should be restricted to maintain a clean swimming pool." Another netizen, Mr. B, pointed out, "Some elderly men enter the pool without showering, and one even urinated while showering like a kindergartener," and criticized, "They do not yield even when someone is swimming fast in the lane."

On the other hand, another netizen, Mr. C, questioned, "Do all people over 65 urinate in the water?" and requested restraint against statements that promote ageism, saying, "Don't generalize like that."

The Jecheon City government, which manages and operates the swimming pool, stated, "It is unreasonable to restrict usage time based on age," and added, "We are considering measures to separate swimming pool usage times according to swimming proficiency." This swimming pool is a facility inside the Jecheon National Sports Center, which officially opened this month. The Jecheon National Sports Center, built with a project cost of 16.6 billion KRW, has a total floor area of 4,325㎡ across one basement and two above-ground floors, featuring an 8-lane 50m swimming pool, a fitness center, and a book cafe.

Meanwhile, in Jeonju, Jeonbuk, there was controversy over 'elderly discrimination' when public swimming pool fees for seniors were lowered but usage hours were restricted from noon to 5 p.m. Last year, a photo of a cafe with a 'No Senior Zone' sign stating 'No entry for those over 60' posted on the entrance door sparked heated debate online. The female owner of the cafe reportedly established this policy after enduring sexually harassing remarks from elderly men.