Ceiling Glass Reveals Both Toilet and People... Controversy Over Inconsiderate Restroom on Highway

Restroom at Sudong Rest Area, Toilet Stalls Clearly Visible Through Ceiling
Operator and Namyangju City "Will Take Measures Soon"

Recently, a newly established restroom at a highway rest area has become controversial for being designed in a way that allows people to look inside the toilet stalls through glass on the ceiling.

Inside the restroom at Sudong Rest Area on Pocheonhwa Expressway. A glass panel is installed on the ceiling, allowing a view into the toilet stall.
[Photo by a Yonhap News reader]

On the 6th, Yonhap News reported that the restroom at Sudong Rest Area on the Pocheonhwa Expressway, which opened on the 7th of last month, has this issue. A whistleblower, Mr. A, said that on the evening of the 24th of last month, around 9 p.m., he visited a moon-viewing festival held in Yeoju with his son to celebrate Jeongwol Daeboreum, and stopped by the Sudong Rest Area restroom on their way home.

Mr. A explained the bewildering situation, saying, "I was using the toilet stall when my 10-year-old son, who was waiting outside, said, 'Dad, I can see your reflection on the ceiling.' When I looked up, my reflection was clearly visible on the glass ceiling." According to the photos Mr. A submitted, the glass ceiling allows sunlight to pass through during the day, preventing visibility inside the restroom. However, after sunset, when the restroom lights are on, the interior is reflected on the glass, making it easy to see inside the toilet stalls from outside. It is reported that the same problem exists in the women's restroom as well.

Mr. A criticized, "Fortunately, there was no one else inside when I was in the restroom, and my son discovered the transparency issue. I believe anyone would feel uncomfortable in such a situation. It could even cause feelings of sexual shame."

Inside the restroom at Sudong Rest Area on Pocheonhwa Expressway. A glass panel that allows a view into the toilet stall is seen installed on the ceiling.
[Photo by a Yonhap News reader]

The architectural firm that designed the restroom stated, "The ceiling was made of glass to allow natural light in. Creating a ceiling with glass to let light in is currently a trend in highway rest area restroom interiors. We did not anticipate any transparency issues." They added, "I recall a rest area in Donghae was also designed with a glass ceiling like this. There are many highway rest area restrooms designed this way." The operating company of the Pocheonhwa Expressway and the local government of Namyangju City, which has jurisdiction, have confirmed the issue belatedly and plan to take measures as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, according to data released by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in 2018, the total number of restroom stalls at rest areas nationwide is 11,730 (5,116 for men and 6,614 for women), and the number of stalls installed at drowsiness rest stops and other locations is 624 (325 for men and 299 for women). In 2022, sales at highway rest areas reached 1.2417 trillion won, a 26.5% increase from the previous year. As rest areas evolve beyond places for brief rest and meals into spaces for entertainment and culture, sales are expected to continue rising.

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