Haeundae cafe's 'bikini customer' ban: Etiquette or discrimination?

A controversy has erupted online after a customer was reportedly denied entry to a cafe near Haeundae Beach in Busan, South Korea, for wearing a bikini. The incident, which occurred on July 28, has divided public opinion on dress codes for establishments located near popular tourist areas.

The customer, who posted about the experience on Threads, stated she was attempting to order takeout when a staff member informed her that she could not enter in her swimwear. She asserted that she was wearing a large beach towel over her bikini, was not wet from the sea, and had no sand on her.

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I was wearing a large beach towel over my shoulders, of course, and I wasn't wet from the sea, nor did I have any sand on me.

"Is it not allowed to enter a cafe in Haeundae wearing a bikini?" the customer questioned in her post, highlighting her confusion and frustration. She emphasized that she was only going in to place an order for takeout.

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Is it not allowed to enter a cafe in Haeundae wearing a bikini?

The online discussion revealed differing viewpoints. Some netizens supported the cafe's decision, arguing that allowing swimwear could lead to more people entering in similar attire, potentially creating issues with sand and cleanliness within the establishment. "If you allow one person, everyone will come in, and the cafe will have to clean the sand off the floor," one commenter reasoned.

Others argued that given the cafe's proximity to Haeundae Beach, a well-known tourist destination, allowing swimwear should be expected, especially for customers intending to get takeout. The debate touches upon the balance between maintaining a certain ambiance or hygiene standards in commercial spaces and accommodating the practical needs and attire of beachgoers.

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If you allow one person, everyone will come in, and the cafe will have to clean the sand off the floor.