South Korean cafe’s US$1.35 ‘toilet without ordering’ menu flush with criticism

2026.03.19 06:20 A South Korean cafe is facing backlash over restroom fees and access rules amid hygiene concerns. Photo: Shutterstock A social media post showing a cafe charging 2,000 won (US$1.35) for restroom use without a purchase has sparked heated debate online in South Korea. The image featured a screenshot of a self-order kiosk displaying a menu item reading “restroom use without ordering”, priced at 2,000 won per person per visit. The post also drew mixed reactions in an online community for small business owners. One user said the fee was understandable, writing that many people come in just to use the restroom without buying anything and sometimes leave it in a filthy condition. From a cafe owner’s perspective, the commenter said, such behaviour can seem brazenly inconsiderate. Others were less sympathetic. Another commenter called the fee excessive and said it came off as “cold-hearted”. One cafe owner also shared the challenges of managing restrooms at a business located in an area popular with tourists. “It is a big burden because people often throw away regular trash or even leave full garbage bags in the restroom,” the owner said. The owner said a password system was added to the restroom door just two months after the cafe opened, and that paying customers are now given the code at the bottom of their receipt. But even that, the owner added, has not fully solved the problem. “In one case, a tour guide bought a single drink and then shared the restroom password with a large group, allowing hundreds of people to use the facility,” the owner said. “It is not easy to manage the store in an area with so many tourists.” An online post shows a cafe listing “restroom use without order (one person, one time)” for 2,000 won. Photo: social media screenshot The flare-up is only the latest in a string of disputes in South Korea over cafe bathroom access. In December, an online post described a clash at a large franchise cafe in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi province, afte

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