'Cleaners at work' warnings mandatory at men's toilets from next year

A scene from KBS drama "The World That They Live In" (2008)

By Ko Dong-hwan

People usually appreciate female cleaners at various public venues, like hotel maids, civic park cleaners and school janitors.

In Korea, however, there is one place where they cause embarrassment, confusion and, in some cases, betrayal ― men’s toilets.

Patrons, especially foreigners unaccustomed to a sight that clearly breaks the general frame of gender classification, complain that the women’s presence is upsetting to the point that it “violates human rights.”

But starting in January, the problem is expected to ease when a revision to the law, passed in May, comes into force. The revision makes it mandatory to display signs in front of all public men’s washrooms informing users when the facilities are being cleaned.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety decision will lessen the embarrassing moments for men, who can wait or look for another facility.

“Some men’s toilets in metro stations already display the signs but they are often ignored by patrons,” said Shin Gui-sik from the Seoul Metropolitan Government Environmental Health Division and Health for All Bureau. “So far, these inconvenient encounters have been stressful for the cleaning women and confounding for the patrons, especially foreigners.”

A woman cleans a male toilet at Mullae Station in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, while a sign at the entrance warns patrons. / Yonhap

Encountering women cleaners in male toilets has been an odd sight for many. Yet, for human resource managers handling the venues, it is an understandable issue.

The recruit manager from SMG’s environmental health division, who asked not to be named, said another group of complainants said the women made better cleaners than the men.

“As well people who complain about the women cleaners, I come across more people saying women should be hired because most male cleaners do a poor job in cleaning male toilets.

“When we once hired a male cleaner for a SMG office, there were many reports that what were left behind was not clean at all. We had to replace him with a woman.”

At SMG, women cleaners mostly work until their age limit of 65. When a retiring employee leaves a vacancy, an annual hiring is held in November and December.

Male janitors are responsible for cleaning outside the office and taking out garbage.

“Many housewives in Korea may not have enough to do to keep busy at home, and anyone can clean toilets,” Shin said.

“That’s why we see many women applying for a job cleaning male toilets.”