From Beach to Marts, How Acceptable Is Swimwear Beyond the Shore?

"I was with my parents, and I almost passed out."

A recent online post claiming that a vacationer in a bikini was spotted at a large supermarket about a 20-minute walk from Haeundae Beach in Busan has sparked widespread discussion.

Opinions are sharply divided online. Critics argue, "The Haeundae area is still a living and working space for some people," while others maintain, "Since it is a commercial district near a beach, it should be naturally accepted just like overseas resort destinations."

According to media reports compiled on Tuesday, a post titled "Haeundae Bikini Controversy" was recently uploaded to an online community.

The post included a claim that on July 27, someone attempted to enter a cafe near Haeundae wearing a bikini and was stopped by an employee, along with related comments and screen captures of social media reactions.

At the time, the cafe employee reportedly restricted entry into the store because of the attire, telling the customer, "If you stay outside, we will bring your ordered drinks."

The controversy grew further as the post also included a map showing a walking route taking about 22 minutes from Haeundae Beach to a nearby large supermarket, alongside a comment stating that a vacationer in a bikini was seen at that mart.

This comment was met with astonished reactions such as, "People wear swimsuits all the way to a large supermarket?", followed by critical replies containing slang and profanity.

When media outlets checked the facts with the large supermarket in question, it was confirmed that customers indeed occasionally use the store wearing swimsuits.

An official from the mart said, "If you look around the store during the vacation season, you can commonly see about two or three customers in swimwear a day," adding that they do not specifically restrict them.

Some netizens shared maps claiming they had seen people wandering around in swimwear even near Jangsan Station, a residential area deeper inside Haeundae-gu (about a 33-minute walk away).

Critical comments poured in beneath the post, such as, "That is strictly a residential area, so it is absurd," and, "It is truly shocking when bare skin in a swimsuit suddenly intrudes into my daily living space."

On the other hand, some netizens offered counterarguments that it should be accepted naturally, saying, "Since Haeundae is a representative tourist destination in the country, people need to endure it to a certain extent," and "It is a common sight in overseas resort areas like Hawaii and Los Angeles."

Some netizens who claim to reside in Haeundae even raised the need for crackdowns, but the prevailing view is that simply wearing a swimsuit that covers vital body parts cannot be concluded as illegal public exposure or a subject for misdemeanor punishment.

Consequently, critics point out that rather than legal punishment, there is a need for minimal etiquette suited to the location, social consensus, and specific guidelines at the local government level.

Major European resort destinations apply strict standards regarding excessive exposure outside of beaches.

According to French media outlets like Le Figaro, places such as Ajaccio, the capital of the major resort island of Corsica, have banned going shirtless or wandering the streets in swimwear, installing signs at beach entrances that read "Proper attire required" (Tenue correcte exigée).

Sorrento in Italy has also reportedly banned going shirtless or walking in bikinis outside designated areas since July 2022, imposing fines of up to 500 euros (approx. 800,000 won) for violators.

Domestic experts also advised that administrative guidance and voluntary control centered around local governments and commercial districts are realistic alternatives.

Kwak Joon-ho, managing attorney at Law Firm Chung, suggested, "Voluntary control by businesses or administrative guidance by local governments should come first," adding, "Since this is an issue limited to certain areas like Haeundae, it could be resolved to a significant extent simply by installing guide signs at the entrances of marts or cafes."

Nam Ki-bum, a professor of urban sociology at the University of Seoul, emphasized, "The core of the problem is not the clothing itself, but the spatial structural issue where residential areas are adjacent to the beach," and noted, "There is a need for the city of Busan to provide minimal zoning criteria through sign installations and guidance so that vacationers know how far they can move in swimwear."

In response, an official from the Haeundae-gu Office Tourism Facility Division stated, "Currently, there are no separate standards or enforcement authority to restrict moving around in swimwear," but added, "If related complaints continue to be filed, we will review the matter depending on the situation."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.