Women paid more: The ruling against discrimination in South Korean bathhouses
The National Human Rights Commission determined that charging women extra for towels, soap, and hair dryers, while men receive them for free, is gender discrimination. An inspection in the city of Gyeongsan found that 22 out of 27 bathhouses checked practiced this. The commission proposed a simple solution: a deposit from all customers.
The National Human Rights Commission of South Korea (NHRCK) determined on Friday that bathhouses charging women an additional fee for towels and soap, while men receive them for free, are engaging in discrimination based on sex. According to the South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo, the commission called on business owners and local authorities to change this policy and ensure equal conditions for all customers.
The decision was made following a complaint filed by a woman who reported that at the bathhouse she visited, men received towels and soap at no extra charge, while women were required to pay for them separately.
"I paid the same entrance fee, so I felt it was unfair that I had to pay more because I am a woman," said the complainant, identified by the surname Lee.
22 out of 27 bathhouses
An inspection conducted by the anti-discrimination committee in the city of Gyeongsan showed that this is not an isolated case. Reports indicate that 22 out of 27 bathhouses checked in the city charged women for towels, while towels for men were provided without a separate charge.
Bathhouse owners explained the gap by citing the loss of towels and toiletries in the women's section. The operator at the center of the complaint claimed that items disappear more often from the women's area, causing business losses. They also argued that South Korean public health law does not mandate providing these items for free.
However, the Human Rights Commission rejected this explanation. According to its ruling, even if the return rate of towels in the women's section is lower, imposing the cost on all female customers is based on gender generalization rather than the responsibility of the specific customer who lost or took the item.
The solution: a deposit from all customers
The commission pointed to alternatives that do not distinguish between women and men, such as introducing a refundable deposit for towels and using shared facilities for soap distribution. It also recommended that local authorities strengthen supervision to prevent situations where customers pay different prices for the same services based on gender.
The dispute extends to hair dryers as well. In one case in the city of Gwangju, women were required to pay 100 won for three minutes of hair dryer use, while men were not charged at all.
From the commission's perspective, the amount does not change the principle: when women and men pay the same entrance fee, one side should not be burdened with additional payments without an objective and proportionate justification.
