Mapo-gu Operates 75 '24-Hour Public Restrooms'... Easily Searchable on Naver and Kakao Maps

Installation of Privacy Screens to Prevent Illegal Filming in 25 Public Restrooms... Support for Private Restrooms with Monthly 80,000 KRW Worth of Tissue and Paper Towels to Encourage Opening... Convenience Enhanced with Diaper Changing Stations, Easy Searchable on Naver and Kakao Maps

Yoo Dong-gyun, Mayor of Mapo District, is marking the first 24-hour public restroom at Daehyeong-dong Community Center in Seoul in 2019.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] “Mapo-gu, where I could comfortably use nearby public restrooms in urgent situations at night, is the most memorable place during my trip to Seoul.”

A traveler from a province visiting Seoul shared their impression of Mapo-gu.

Everyone has probably experienced the cold sweat of urgently searching for a restroom nearby to satisfy one of the most basic human needs, the need to excrete, but failing to find one easily.

However, in Mapo-gu, you don’t have to worry about this.

Starting in November 2019, Mapo-gu was the first in Seoul to operate ‘24-hour public restrooms’ at three community service centers, and as of the end of July this year, it operates a total of 54 ‘24-hour public restrooms.’

The district not only opened public restrooms but also encouraged participation from private restroom managers who agreed to open their facilities by providing them with monthly supplies of toilet paper and paper towels worth about 80,000 KRW, resulting in 21 ‘24-hour private restrooms’ participating, and 29 private restrooms partially opened.

Currently operating a total of 75 restrooms open 24 hours, it was not easy for Mapo-gu to open restrooms that were previously closed during holidays and nighttime from the beginning.

In the case of community service centers, there were security issues with 24-hour opening, and public restrooms in parking lots and parks were managed by different departments, making systematic project progress difficult.

To solve the security issues at community service centers, the district carried out construction to separate the community center buildings from the public restrooms and unified the management department for public restrooms, enabling efficient project implementation.

As a result, while increasing the number of ‘24-hour open restrooms’ every year, CCTV was installed on the pathways around public restrooms, and emergency bells linked to nearby police substations were introduced inside the restrooms.

Especially on the 24th, safety screens were installed in the women’s stalls of 25 public restrooms, allowing users to use the restrooms without worrying about illegal filming.

Through external facility improvement construction, the urban aesthetics were enhanced, and diaper changing stations were installed inside to improve user convenience.

Additionally, 75 public restroom managers were hired to maintain a pleasant and clean restroom environment, and it is easy to use by searching ‘Mapo Open Restroom’ on Naver Maps or Kakao Maps.

Yoo Dong-gyun, Mayor of Mapo-gu, said, “We plan to reflect the possibility of 24-hour restroom opening from the design stage for public facilities to be built in the future,” and added, “We hope the private sector will actively participate in opening restrooms as well.”

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