By Lee Ji-eun

Male passengers taking Seoul Metro will not face the awkward situation of encountering a female cleaning staff member in the men’s room any more from May.

Seoul Metro, which operates subway lines Nos. 1 through 4, announced Monday that it will install roll screens at every entrance to men’s bathrooms in stations by the end of this month to inform them that a woman is cleaning it.

The roll screen will prevent male users from feeling embarrassed as it protects their privacy, according to Seoul City.

Spokesman Lee Sang-ki said that so far, several male passengers have complained of the presence of women cleaning the men’s rooms when they are using the toilet.

“For example, Dangsan Station received more than 10 complaints regarding woman cleaners in a month on average, but after the installment, there have been no complaints,” said spokesman Lee Sang-ki.

To solve the problem, Seoul Metro installed roll screens at toilets in 15 stations including Dangsan and Sillim last December on a trial basis. As user response to the roll screen was good, the company has decided to expand installing them at all stations, he added.

“We will improve other services when we receive complaints or suggestions from passengers,” Lee said.