A cafe in South Korea sparked debate after banning male middle and high school students from its premises.
Netizens were divided over whether the policy is a business owner’s right or an example of discrimination.
Photos circulating online in early September showed a sign at the cafe entrance stating: “Groups of male middle and high school students are prohibited from using the store.”
The cafe’s location has not been disclosed.
The cafe said it introduced the restriction following issues involving groups of male students, including excessive swearing and leaving messes.
Source: The Korea Times
The owner described the move as an “unavoidable decision”. They also asked customers for their understanding, saying the students’ behaviour had caused discomfort to other patrons.
According to The Korea Times, the netizen who shared about the sign expressed sympathy towards the cafe.
“Things must have been bad for the owner to go that far,” they wrote.
Some online users supported cafe’s decision, saying they understood the owner’s concerns based on their own experiences with groups of students in public spaces.
Source: The Korea Times
Comments included: “They swear as soon as they open their mouths, so I think the owner’s view is right,” “One person is fine, but when two or three come in, it’s all profanity and shouting,” and “Individually they’re not like that, but they always act that way when they’re in a group.”
Supporters argued that business owners should be able to protect the atmosphere of their establishments and take action against customers whose behaviour affects others.
However, others argued that restricting entry for all male students in a certain age group was excessive.
One user questioned why the cafe did not simply address individual customers’ behaviour instead, writing: “Shouldn’t they just tell people not to swear and make a mess? Why tell middle and high school boys not to come?”
Another said such issues should be resolved through communication and consideration rather than blanket bans, The Financial News reported.
“It’s sad to see the world becoming so harsh,” the user added, criticising the growing use of entry restrictions against specific groups.
The controversy also drew comparisons to South Korea’s broader trend of “no-X zones”, where businesses restrict access for certain groups, Korea Times reported.
The debate first gained attention about 10 years ago when cafes and restaurants began putting up “no-kids zone” signs, barring children from entering their establishments.
Source: Yonhap News Agency
Similar policies later emerged, including “no-senior zones”, “no-tattoo zones” and “no-ajumma” or “no-ajae zones”, targeting middle-aged women and men.
Supporters of such policies argue that business owners have the right to manage their premises and maintain a comfortable environment for customers, Asia Business Daily reported.
Meanwhile, critics say banning entire groups based on the actions of a few individuals amounts to discrimination.
As more businesses adopt similar restrictions, debate continues over how much discretion owners should have in deciding who can enter public establishments.
Also read: Starbucks in South Korea bans PCs, printers & large partitions to deter long office work at cafés
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Featured image adapted from The Korea Times.