Free Towels for Men, 500 Won for Women: NHRC Rules Bathhouse Practice Is Gender Discrimination

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has ruled that a bathhouse practice of providing extra towels and soap for free to male customers while charging female customers for them constitutes discrimination.

In September of last year, a complainant, A, visited a bathhouse in the Gyeongsangbuk-do region and discovered that male customers were provided with towels and soap free of charge, while female customers were charged 500 won per towel and 700 won for disposable soap.

A filed a complaint with the NHRC, arguing that this was a discriminatory operational practice.

The establishment explained that it was an inevitable measure considering business losses resulting from the repurchase of supplies, as towels provided to female customers were frequently lost, adding that other establishments across the country operated in a similar manner.

According to an investigation by the NHRC's Discrimination Remedy Committee, 22 out of 27 establishments within the jurisdiction actually charged female customers an average fee of about 500 won per towel.

However, the NHRC pointed out that even if the recovery rate of towels and soap in women's baths is relatively low, this is merely a problem caused by some users, and forcing all general female customers to bear additional costs is a measure based on gender stereotypes or generalization.

It also noted that to prevent business losses, other alternatives could be considered, such as charging a deposit when lending towels or installing wall-mounted shared soap within the facility.

Ultimately, it concluded that universally charging only female customers a separate fee is a discriminatory act that infringes upon the right to equality.

The NHRC recommended that the owner of the establishment correct the practice and advised the head of the local government, the mayor, to strengthen administrative guidance to prevent similar cases.

Reported by Kim Taewon | Video by Chang Yujin | Graphics by Lee Sumin | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.