Foreign tourists are once again praising an unexpected part of life in South Korea: public bathrooms. “I just returned from a trip to South Korea and experienced culture shock. The public restrooms are clean and free!”
This comment, recently posted on Reddit, one of the largest English-language online communities, went viral, garnering over 700 upvotes in five days.
While Koreans may take clean and accessible public restrooms for granted, many foreigners see them as a unique travel experience and even a symbol of Korea’s world-class public infrastructure. Some travel websites now list “visiting Korean public baths” as part of cultural visits.
One Reddit user wrote, “There are clean, free bathrooms everywhere, in parks, subway stations, and even in food courts and office buildings. This surprised me the most.”
Another traveler offered advice to future visitors: “Outdoor bathrooms vary in quality, but if you want the best experience, use the subway bathrooms. The newer the station, the better the amenities, especially along line 9.”
For some foreigners, Korean baths have become part of their travel itinerary. American travel blogger Hallie Bradley, who has run Soul of Seoul since 2006, described them as “a fascinating blend of ancient tradition and cutting-edge modernity”.
“From the vintage-style public restrooms of Hongdae to the luxurious ones inside department stores, using the restroom in Korea can seem like an adventure in itself,” he wrote in his guide.
Experts say the allure comes from infrastructure disparity. A European Reddit user commented: “In my country, most public toilets are either neglected or have to be paid for. You often have to pay, even for poorly maintained ones.”
Throughout Europe, in fact, paid public toilets remain common. Famed travel writer Rick Steves noted that “paid toilets are a long-standing European custom. You’ll often pay around €0.50 to use one at train stations or tourist sites, and sometimes even for toilet paper.”
Meanwhile, in the United States, most public restrooms are free, but poorly maintained. According to global sanitation supplier QS Supply’s 2021 rankings, the United States ranks only 30th globally, tied with Botswana. There are only eight public toilets per 100,000 people, and poor water pressure in school toilets remains a common complaint.
The Wall Street Journal also recently highlighted the issue, stating: “American cities are facing a public bathroom crisis.”
In South Korea, public toilets are mainly operated by local governments under the Public Toilet Law. The law strictly defines the required number of parking spaces for men and women, accessibility standards and even wastewater treatment criteria ensuring hygiene and convenience nationwide.
As a result, Korean toilets are not just structures, they are a silent but powerful reflection of the country’s civic pride and social responsibility.
For many travelers, what started as a simple visit to the bathroom has become one more reason to fall in love with Korea.
“In Korea, even going to the bathroom seems safe, modern and well-groomed,” concluded one tourist.
Sources: Nate
