"Palace Nursing Rooms Available for Use Regardless of Gender When Accompanied by Infants and Toddlers"

Correction Measures by the Cultural Heritage Administration During Human Rights Commission Investigation

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The National Human Rights Commission of Korea announced on the 11th that the Cultural Heritage Administration has taken measures to allow the use of nursing rooms in palaces regardless of gender when accompanied by infants. Previously, the Human Rights Commission had received a complaint alleging gender discrimination after a man was denied access to the nursing room at Changgyeonggung Palace and was investigating the case.

According to the Human Rights Commission, the Cultural Heritage Administration, prompted by the investigation, changed the existing signage for the nursing room within Changgyeonggung Palace from "a space only for mothers and babies" to "visitors accompanied by infants (0-2 years old)." Additionally, they plan to secure at least two nursing spaces by 2026 through renovation work on convenience facilities at Changgyeonggung Palace. The Cultural Heritage Administration will also expand spaces accessible to male nursing parents by separating areas within the palaces under its management and will replace signage to allow the use of nursing rooms regardless of gender.

Until now, the Cultural Heritage Administration’s Palace and Royal Tombs Headquarters had restricted male visitors from entering nursing rooms since 2018 following complaints about male visitors accessing these rooms. The Human Rights Commission expressed its welcome for the Cultural Heritage Administration’s voluntary correction of discriminatory practices during the investigation process and stated, "We will continue to strive to foster a gender-equal childcare culture."

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