Stressed white collars seek room salons for lunch break nap

Growing numbers of white collar workers are seeking room salons, popular night cultural venues for business men, to take afternoon nap during lunch time.

By Ko Dong-hwan

Room salons, the nation’s popular night cultural venues mostly sought by white collars, are attracting customers during daytime as well by selling their rooms as a place to nap.

The businesses slate signs like “Coffee for Sale 11 a.m.- 2 p.m.” And they offer customers who visit to use drinking rooms where they can take a nap. According to a report by Munhwa Ilbo Tuesday, customers mostly come in groups of four to five and share the room.

The report cited a salon owner as saying the daytime business has been a huge success, with all 15 rooms being occupied by office workers in need of extra comfortable sleep away from their bosses.

An official from Yeongdeungpo-gu office said the business isn’t illegal because salons are allowed to sell tea or coffee aside from liquors.

The same consumer groups also increasingly visit local hospitals, where they can get a chance to lie down on beds by requesting nutrition. With a payment of 30,000 won, they are offered a bed where they can lie down and take a nap for an hour while getting the nutrition.

A hospital official says booking in advance is a must.