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No kid zone

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This article is about the practice in South Korea. For other places that restrict children, see Age segregation.
A no kid zone sign at a cafe in South Korea, prohibiting entry to children under 13[1]

No kid zones are places in South Korea that prohibit children from being on the premises. No kid zones may be enforced by public venues and private businesses.[2] First becoming common in the early 2010s, no kid zones are commonly established to protect businesses from legal liability, but they may also be used to prevent children from disturbing adults. Places that are commonly designated as no kid zones include coffeehouses, restaurants, and movie theatres as well as national landmarks such as the National Library of Korea and the Korea National Arboretum. They are most common on Jeju Island.

The use of no kid zones is debated. Proponents argue that businesses have a right to exclude children, while opponents consider them discriminatory toward children and mothers. The National Human Rights Commission of Korea described them as discriminatory in a 2017 decision. Some businesses designate themselves as Kids OK Zones to indicate that children are allowed on the premises.

Practice

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Such zones began to proliferate in the early 2010s. Around this time, a number of court rulings held businesses at least partially responsible after children were injured on the premises. For example, in 2013, a business was held liable after a 10 year old child bumped into a store employee carrying hot water, which resulted in the child being burned.[3] According to the Jeju Research Institute, there are 542 no kid zones.[4] A service offered by Google Maps depicts 451 such zones.[5] Jeju Island, a well-known tourist destination, has the highest amount of these areas.[6] No kid zones are not areas that are normally off-limits to children such as bars or casinos; but they are frequently coffeehouses, restaurants,[7] and movie theatres.[8] The National Library of Korea is a no kid zone and prevents children under the age of 16 from entering unless they apply for entry.[9][10] Children under this age may instead go to the National Library for Children and Young Adults.[10] The Korea National Arboretum is also a no kids zone.[8] Areas prohibited to children may be marked with signage or by staff telling parents that children cannot be present on the premises.[7] Businesses that allow children in Seoul may market themselves as a Kids OK Zone, a designation that is regulated by the Happy Parenting Division. There are 504 of these zones, most of which are restaurants.[11]

Reception

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In 2023 survey of 1,000 South Korean adults conducted by a private research group, 61.9% supported the implementation of no kid zones. Of married couples with children, 53.6% supported the implementation.[5] 70% of surveyed respondents believed that no kid zones were not discriminatory as long as other venues accepted parents with children.[12] There are a number of reported reasons for enacting no kid zones. In a 2023 survey, the most commonly given reason (68% of respondents) was fear of legal liability if a child was injured.[13] Some businesses enact such zones to avoid disturbing adult patrons.[5] Other businesses may restrict customers of other ages such as teenagers or seniors.[14] Exclusionary policies may also be enforced by businesses based on gender, relationship status, or occupation.[15]

No kid zones are controversial in South Korea.[16][3] Some view the zones as discriminatory and inconvenient towards women and children while others argue they are within the rights of business owners to enact.[3] Women that fail to control their disruptive children are sometimes called "mom-choong", a pejorative term meaning "mom-roaches".[8] The country has a low fertility rate and a greying population; some argue these zones exacerbate these issues.[3][14] Yong Hye-in, a member of South Korea's National Assembly, advocates against no kid zones. She was denied entry to a cafe as a new mother and felt like she had been "expelled from society". She also believes that no kid zones contribute to cultural specific challenges faced by new parents in South Korea.[17] In 2023, Hye-in held a press conference where she made a speech about no kid zones and brought her toddler.[18] John Wall, a professor at Rutgers University, believes that businesses should prohibit disruptive behavior instead of children and that no kid zones "protect a supposed right of adults not to have to associate with [children]." Ann Marie Murnaghan, a professor at York University, believes that the zones constitute childism.[19] Kim Ji-hak, a member of Diversity Korea, believes that exclusionary zones based on age or other characteristics are "clearly discriminatory by definition".[15]

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A 2017 decision by the National Human Rights Commission of Korea ruled that no kid zones were discriminatory, but this did not legally restrict them from existing.[5] The decision concluded that no kid zones conflict with a child's right to equality under the constitution and the United Nation's Convention on the Rights of the Child.[20]

A number of local governments and politicians have proposed various pieces of legislation that aim to restrict such zones.[5] In May 2023, Jeju Island proposed an ordinance that would prohibit businesses from enacting no kid zones,[21] although one reporter expressed skepticism that it would be enacted.[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ 최, 원석 (2021-08-04). "카페 사장님들, '노 키즈 존' 말고 이건 어떠신가요?". OhmyNews (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2024-07-12. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  2. ^ "South Korean lawmaker's call to abolish 'no-kids zones' sparks controversy". The Straits Times. 5 May 2023. Archived from the original on 13 July 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d 김, 수지 (2023-11-16). "[팩트체크] '노00존'은 합법?". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  4. ^ Mesmer, Phillip (19 February 2024). "South Korea's 'no-kids zones' flourish in cafés and restaurants". Le Monde. Archived from the original on 12 July 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Jung, Min-kyung (June 10, 2023). "Inside the debate on 'no-kids zones'". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  6. ^ "South Korean lawmaker wants 'no kids' zones banned despite public support for them". AsiaNews. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  7. ^ a b Oaten, James; Lee, Sookyoung (December 2023). "In South Korea, child-free zones are increasingly popular, but parents say it's holding back the next generation". ABC News. Archived from the original on 2024-07-11. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  8. ^ a b c Chung, Esther (12 January 2020). "Parents learn to adapt to world of kid-free zones: Once controversial, the designation is now more accepted". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on 14 July 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  9. ^ Yu-Young, Jin (16 May 2023). "South Korea Wants More Babies, Just Not in These Places". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  10. ^ a b 주, 영재 (2024-03-04). "[취재 후]노키즈존 국립중앙도서관 최선일까". Weekly Kyunghyang [ko] (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  11. ^ Dong-hwan, Ko. "Child-friendly zones pop up in response to kid-free venues". The Korea Times. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  12. ^ Jae-Heun, Kim. "'No kids zone' – rights not to be disturbed or excessive restriction?". The Korea Times. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  13. ^ 정, 아임 (2024-03-25). ""덜 짜게" "계란말이 공짜로" 부모 요구에 질려 노키즈존 선언한 유명 식당". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2024-07-13. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  14. ^ a b Lau, Chris; Kwon, Jake; Kim, Nayoon (25 June 2023). "In country with world's lowest fertility rate, doubts creep in about wisdom of 'no-kids zones'". CNN. Archived from the original on 12 July 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  15. ^ a b Yang, Haley (15 March 2022). "From 'no kids zones' to 'no ajae zones' — where does society draw the line?". Korea JoongAng daily. Archived from the original on 14 July 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  16. ^ 김, 은진. ""아이는 못 들어옵니다" 말뿐인 아동친화도시… 노키즈존 '나몰라라 [현장, 그곳&]". Kyeonggi Ilbo [ko] (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2024-07-13. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  17. ^ Lee, Claire. "Lawmaker on crusade against South Korea's 'no-kid zones'". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  18. ^ Shin, Ines (5 May 2023). "S. Korean MP brings her toddler on stage for press conference about 'no kids zones'". Yahoo News!. Archived from the original on 14 July 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  19. ^ Abes, Kelsey; Jeong, Andrew. "Is it discrimination if you can't bring your kids to a restaurant?". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 8 July 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  20. ^ Kyung-eun, Song; Hong-joo, Park; Yubin, Han. "Korea's human rights authority says No Kids zones are discriminative". Pulse. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  21. ^ "Jeju Island wants to ban 'child-free' businesses. South Koreans have mixed feelings". South China Morning Post. The Korea Times. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
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