There are many unique cultural differences between Korea and many western countries, especially when it comes to answering the call of nature. While people from spacious North America are used to larger restrooms with a closed off area for baths and showers, tiny apartments and hotel rooms in this country make very small WC's a necessity and, as a result, there is no room for dividing up the area (which can make for some very wet bathrooms!). Cleaning ladies think nothing of coming into a men's room to mop the floors, even when they're being used!
Another difference is how restaurants, bars and cafes aren't required to have their own washrooms. Most North American municipalities have bylaws in place mandating men's and ladies' restrooms if food and drinks are served on site but this isn't as common here in Korea. Cafes, in particular, generally don't have their own facilities and, thus, patrons are expected to use bathrooms that are shared in the building to which the business is a tenant.
Shared toilets are a mixed bag in this country. Most are normally kept clean but this isn't always the case. Some shared bathrooms do not have soap made available which is especially problematic when experts are saying that hand washing is an effective way to prevent the spread of Covid-19. It would be nice if more of them had hot running water during the frigid winter months.
More seriously, however, there are increasing worries over security. A young woman was murdered in a shared bathroom by a disturbed man in Seoul a few years ago which made many fearful of using these types of restrooms. There have also been reports of hidden cameras being placed in toilet bowls to in order to spy on females. These types of dangers must be addressed.
Vocabulary:
✓ answer the call of nature: when one needs to go to the bathroom
✓ municipality: a local government
✓ bylaw: a law or rule put in place by a company or local government
✓ mandate: an official order; requirement
✓ mixed bag: a wide variety; some good quality, some poor quality
✓ frigid: very cold
Discussion Questions:
- Can you think of any more cultural differences between Koreans and westerners when it comes to using the bathroom? How do they differ throughout the world?
- What would you do to improve the conditions of public and shared restrooms in this country?
- Is it time to require Korean businesses to have their own bathrooms? Do you think things would be improved if every restaurant, bar and cafe were to have their own facilities?
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