"How to Use Hongdae Restrooms for Free": Controversy Over Restroom Password List Spreads in Taiwan

Netizen Shares Restroom Passwords for Shops Near Hongdae

A list compiling restroom passwords for shops in the Hongdae area of Seoul has been spreading across online communities in Taiwan, sparking controversy.

Recently, Taiwanese broadcaster TVBS reported that a Taiwanese netizen, referred to as A, shared a list of restroom passwords for stores near Hongdae, receiving over 15,000 'likes'.

According to the report, A claimed that these were "free passwords you can use when it is difficult to find a restroom in Hongdae," and organized the locations and passwords of various store restrooms before sharing them online. A also added, "There are so many restroom passwords for Gangnam, Busan, and Jeju Island that it's difficult to compile them all."

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However, local netizens have shown mixed reactions to this. Some praised it as "useful travel information," while others expressed concern that it could foster negative perceptions of Chinese-speaking tourists in Korea. There were also criticisms pointing out that, since most stores only allow restroom use with a purchase, sharing passwords without permission essentially constitutes a "data leak."

Quoting a travel expert, TVBS reported, "Outside of Taiwan, especially in Europe and the United States, it is common for restrooms to have passwords," and "some businesses even print the password on receipts." The expert continued, "In Asia, access to public restrooms in places like subway stations or department stores is relatively easy," but "in Europe, it is difficult to find restrooms, and using the restroom after ordering coffee at a cafe follows the principle of user responsibility and shows respect for the establishment."