Restroom with "No Entry for Homosexuals" Sign... Sexual Minorities Driven to Hate

Building side "It may appear discriminatory but no demolition plan"
Civilians "Are sexual minorities beings who deserve discrimination?"
Experts "Specifying certain identities is clear discrimination"

A notice posted on a building in Jongno-gu, Seoul. It states "Report entry of homosexuals, etc." as the reason for prohibiting access to the restroom, sparking controversy over discrimination against sexual minorities. Photo by Twitter

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] A building notice stating "The restroom will be closed due to reports of homosexuals entering" has sparked controversy. The building management explained that the measure was taken following complaints about witnessing same-sex sexual activities in the restroom, but the wording has been criticized for potentially inciting hatred against sexual minorities.

It has been pointed out that including the term "homosexual" as the reason for closure is inappropriate and that the notice should have specified the particular behavior. Experts warn that hate speech directed at sexual minorities can escalate into hate crimes.

This notice has recently been shared on social networking services (SNS) and other online platforms. The notice reads, "Due to internal circumstances (reports of homosexuals entering, etc.), restrooms on basement floors 4, 5, and 6 will be temporarily closed as below. We apologize for the inconvenience and ask that you use the restrooms on the ground floors." The notice has been posted in the building since May 11 of last year and remains affixed.

Among citizens, criticism arose that the wording discriminates against sexual minorities. One netizen commented, "Even if homosexuals behaved inappropriately in the restroom, it shouldn't be written like that," adding, "Are homosexuals not even allowed to use the restroom?"

Another netizen raised their voice, saying, "The prohibited behavior should be specified, not the sexual orientation, and the closure should be explained based on that."

According to a media report, the building management stated that the notice was posted due to an increasing number of complaints about witnessing same-sex sexual acts. They mentioned that there have been hundreds of such complaints, causing disruptions to the work of building managers.

The building management emphasized that the notice was intended to prevent illegal acts and was not related to sexual orientation. While acknowledging that the wording could be perceived as discriminatory against sexual minorities, they stated there are no plans to remove the notice.

An anti-LGBTQ+ hate advertisement posted at Sinchon Station in Seoul last August. Photo by Yonhap News

Criticism of the building management's actions continues unabated. One citizen pointed out that the building's confident stance reveals how discrimination against sexual minorities is normalized in Korean society.

Office worker Kim (33) said, "They know it could be seen as discrimination, but having no intention to correct it is a bold claim that 'sexual minorities deserve discrimination,'" criticizing, "The fact that they can say discrimination is acceptable so casually shows how low the human rights of sexual minorities are in this country."

Discrimination faced by sexual minorities in society is clearly reflected in related statistics. According to a 2016 survey by the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK), 9 out of 10 sexual minorities experienced hate speech and suffered stress, depression, and anxiety as a result.

The NHRCK's 2017 report on "The Status of Hate Speech and Regulatory Measures" found that 94.6% of sexual minorities experienced hate speech online, and 87.5% experienced it offline as well.

Experts warn that hate speech against sexual minorities can escalate into criminal acts.

Kim Jihak, director of the Korea Diversity Research Institute, said, "'Closing due to homosexual entry' means that people with a specific identity are not allowed here, sending a message that they should be banned from society. It makes sexual minorities appear as people who should not be in this space and who deserve hatred and violence from others. This is a clear discriminatory measure."

He continued, "If the problem is sexual activity in a public building, the notice should prohibit specific behaviors rather than specifying a particular identity. This wording reinforces stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination against sexual minorities. Such negative perceptions can lead to hate crimes against sexual minorities and create a social atmosphere that tolerates hatred against other vulnerable groups. Such a society cannot be good for anyone," he emphasized.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.