Debate brews on age limits at public baths

Debate is brewing over the recent call by a group of public bathhouse owners for the government to lower the age limit on young male children entering female bathhouses.

The Korea Federation of Public Bathhouses said that it was looking to lodge a formal complaint with the Ministry of Health and Welfare for the revision of the rule.

The move comes amid growing debate about the age at which young children should be allowed to enter the baths of the opposite sex.

In Korea, all public baths are separated by gender. Under the current law, only children under age 5 can enter opposite sex’ baths when accompanied by a parent. If this is violated, the owner of the bathhouse faces a fine of 3 million won ($2,680).

But there is growing criticism of the limit, especially from young female bath goers, who complain that they feel uncomfortable and embarrassed, especially with children maturing faster nowadays. Opponents, on the other hand, argue that five-year-olds are too young not to be accompanied by a parent.

Public bath owners are now calling on the government to lower the age from 5 to 4.

The legal age for children to enter baths of the opposite sex to was lowered in 2003 from the age of 7 to 5.

The federation made the same demand to the lower age limit to 4 in 2010 but was unsuccessful.

By Oh Kyu-wook (596story@heraldcorp.com)