Men get them for free, while women are charged 500 won.

That is correct.

Such is often the case with towel fees at public bathhouses.

The National Human Rights Commission of Korea has ruled that the practice of some bathhouses charging only female customers for towels and soap constitutes discrimination.

In September of last year, a citizen filed a complaint with the human rights commission against a bathhouse in North Gyeongsang Province, stating that it was a gender-discriminatory operational practice to provide towels and soap for free to male customers while charging female customers 500 won per towel and 700 won for disposable soap.

The business explained that towels are frequently lost in the women's bath, resulting in business losses.

It also explained that relevant laws, including the Public Health Control Act, do not stipulate an obligation to provide towels for free.

However, the Human Rights Commission judged that passing the problem of some users onto all female customers as a whole is a measure based on stereotypes or generalizatons about gender, constituting discrimination without a rational reason.

Accordingly, it recommended that the business correct the practice and also advised the head of the local government and the mayor to strengthen administrative guidance to prevent similar cases.