By Kim Se-jeong
An increasing number of restaurants are refusing to allow children to enter after recent court rulings that owners should take responsibility for any accidents involving them there.
The issue has triggered heated, online discussion in recent weeks. Parents say the restaurants' "no-children policy" violates human rights, but owners claim the rulings were unfair, and parents should also bear responsibility for their children's behavior.
Two recent court cases prompted restaurants to ban children.
In one case, a court ordered a meat-grilling restaurant owner to pay 47 million won ($45,370) to the parents of a child who was burnt by charcoal. A separate court ordered another restaurant owner to pay 10 million won to the parents of a child burnt by a pot of hot water.
As a result, some restaurants have taken action.
"We don't allow children under the age of 13. Thank you for your understanding," says a notice in front of one restaurant in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province.
Another restaurant in Suwon also posted a message on its door, saying, "Children aged 5 or under are not allowed."
Some restaurants created a child-only section following the rulings. Others only allow them to enter during non-busy hours.
This trend is more apparent among upscale restaurants and hotels.
Last year, two restaurants in the Shilla Seoul hotel chain refused to accept some customers with young children, but had to scrap the policy after being hit with public criticism.
"Monitoring children is not our responsibility," said a restaurant owner. "Accidents often happen because children run wild. If I have to pay for something that I do not have any control over, I'd rather not let them in."
Parents, however, don't agree with restaurants.
"They are saying our family does not have the right to eat out. This is discrimination," a mother said.
The National Human Rights Commission Act (NHRC) states it's illegal for businesses to ban children from entering restaurants. The Food Sanitation Act, however, does not mention businesses' rights to boycott customers based on age.
Yet, the issue is more complex.
The NHRC once investigated a restaurant on this matter in response to a complaint. However, they quickly dismissed the case shortly after, saying the business owner had justifiable reasons for banning a family with children.
An increasing number of restaurants are refusing to allow children to enter after recent court rulings that owners should take responsibility for any accidents involving them there.
The issue has triggered heated, online discussion in recent weeks. Parents say the restaurants' "no-children policy" violates human rights, but owners claim the rulings were unfair, and parents should also bear responsibility for their children's behavior.
Two recent court cases prompted restaurants to ban children.
In one case, a court ordered a meat-grilling restaurant owner to pay 47 million won ($45,370) to the parents of a child who was burnt by charcoal. A separate court ordered another restaurant owner to pay 10 million won to the parents of a child burnt by a pot of hot water.
As a result, some restaurants have taken action.
"We don't allow children under the age of 13. Thank you for your understanding," says a notice in front of one restaurant in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province.
Another restaurant in Suwon also posted a message on its door, saying, "Children aged 5 or under are not allowed."
Some restaurants created a child-only section following the rulings. Others only allow them to enter during non-busy hours.
This trend is more apparent among upscale restaurants and hotels.
Last year, two restaurants in the Shilla Seoul hotel chain refused to accept some customers with young children, but had to scrap the policy after being hit with public criticism.
"Monitoring children is not our responsibility," said a restaurant owner. "Accidents often happen because children run wild. If I have to pay for something that I do not have any control over, I'd rather not let them in."
Parents, however, don't agree with restaurants.
"They are saying our family does not have the right to eat out. This is discrimination," a mother said.
The National Human Rights Commission Act (NHRC) states it's illegal for businesses to ban children from entering restaurants. The Food Sanitation Act, however, does not mention businesses' rights to boycott customers based on age.
Yet, the issue is more complex.
The NHRC once investigated a restaurant on this matter in response to a complaint. However, they quickly dismissed the case shortly after, saying the business owner had justifiable reasons for banning a family with children.
