"Cyber Room Salon" Opens Right in Front of Cheongdam Elementary in Gangnam... Parents Outraged as Authorities Unable to Take Action
No Applicable Laws for Sanctions
Authorities Only Request Caution on Smoking and Attire
A so-called "cyber room salon"—an adult streaming studio—has opened near an elementary school in Gangnam, Seoul, sparking controversy.
According to Yonhap News Agency on April 26, a studio specializing in "Excel streaming" has moved into the basement of a building located about 100 meters from an elementary school in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam District. "Excel streaming" refers to broadcasts in which BJs (broadcast jockeys) present sexually suggestive content, publicly rank supporters by the amount of donations received—similar to an Excel spreadsheet—and encourage further donations by fueling competitive instincts among viewers. The National Tax Service has described highly suggestive Excel streaming as "harmful content that disrupts social norms and violates sound legal order," officially labeling it a "cyber room salon."
On-site, groups of BJs dressed in short skirts and revealing tops were seen entering and exiting the building, smoking, or hosting live broadcasts around the premises. Children carrying schoolbags were also observed passing by these BJs, indicating that their routes overlapped with those of students going to and from school. Rumors about the studio had already spread among students. Some students testified that they felt uncomfortable seeing people dressed in revealing clothing and smoking.
As complaints from parents poured in, on April 23, the Gangnam District Office, after receiving a request for cooperation from the Office of Education, conducted a joint inspection of the studio with police and school officials to determine if it violated the Act on the Protection of Educational Environment and the Youth Protection Act. However, current laws do not categorize the business as a "restricted industry" within an educational environment protection zone, so no substantial actions could be taken. Authorities only asked that smoking outside the building be minimized and that BJs pay attention to their attire when going outdoors.
The Act on the Protection of Educational Environment designates areas within a 200-meter radius from a school's boundary as protected zones, prohibiting business activities that could jeopardize students' health, hygiene, safety, or learning environment. Although the studio is located within this protected zone, it is registered as a "studio rental business," which does not fall under the restricted industries defined by the act. Since no enclosed spaces were found within the studio, the police and district office also determined it does not qualify as a "youth-harmful business" under the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family's regulations. As a result, the ambiguous legal definitions have prevented authorities from taking decisive action.
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The school has pledged to continue monitoring the situation in cooperation with relevant agencies. Experts have stressed the urgent need for regulations that can protect children from exposure to harmful environments, pointing to the spread of online adult content industries, the emergence of new forms of harmful environments that combine online content with physical spaces, and the limitations of the current legal framework in keeping pace with technological changes.
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