"Why Can't I Enter the Cafe in a Bikini?"... Debate Flares Over 'Swimwear Ban'

Refused Entry at Haeundae Cafe

Heated Debate Over Standards of 'Manners'

As the summer vacation season arrives, beaches across the country are teeming with visitors, and yet another debate has flared up over the extent to which swimwear is acceptable in commercial spaces near the beach. The controversy was reignited after a vacationer's account spread that she was refused entry and service at a cafe in front of the beach because she was wearing a bikini. This has led to a split in opinions between those who argue for the unique autonomy of vacation spots and those who insist on maintaining consideration for residents’ living environment and public manners.

Image to aid understanding of the article. Getty Images Bank

"Can’t I go in if I’m wearing a bikini?"

On July 29, a post began circulating widely on social media, asking, "Is it not allowed to enter the cafe in front of Haeundae Beach while wearing a bikini?" The author, identified as Ms. A, shared her experience: "I went into the cafe to place a takeout order, but the staff pointed out my attire and said they would bring my drink outside if I waited there," recounting the situation. She added, "At the time, I had a large beach towel draped over my shoulders, and since I hadn’t yet entered the water, I wasn’t dripping or covered with sand," expressing her disappointment with the response from the cafe staff.

"Even at a tourist destination, some basics should be observed" vs "Isn’t this part of beach culture?"

The story drew sharply divided responses from online users. Most commenters felt the cafe’s action was appropriate and criticized Ms. A for her lack of public manners. One user commented, "Even if Haeundae is a world-class vacation spot, the commercial spaces off the beach are part of the daily life of residents. Entering an indoor establishment shirtless or wearing only swimwear shows a lack of basic consideration for others."

Another commenter, who identified as a longtime Haeundae resident, also expressed discomfort: "Haeundae is essentially a large residential area with high-density housing, so there is a major flow of local people. This issue has been raised continuously for the past 10 to 20 years. I can’t understand why some people insist on entering regular shops in just their swimwear."

Recurring Controversy

The issue of people walking around in swimwear near beaches has in fact remained a source of conflict for decades. A representative example is comedian Kim Taehyun from Haeundae, who spoke about this on the past MBC variety show 'Yoo Jaeseok & Kim Wonhee’s Come to Play.'

At the time, Kim Taehyun said, "Since my hometown of Haeundae is a famous vacation spot, the discomfort felt by residents was significant. Every summer, the streets are filled with people wearing only bikinis or swim trunks." He added, "If you go into a local hamburger shop, you see people wearing only swim shorts wandering around, and when I was waiting at the bus stop to go to work, there would be someone next to me in a swimsuit and sunglasses listening to music. It was quite bewildering," a remark that resonated with many at the time.

On the 26th, Haeundae Beach in Busan became extremely crowded as the peak summer vacation season began. Photo by Yonhap News

Analysts point out that the overlapping nature of these areas as both tourist destinations and residential neighborhoods leads to ambiguous behavioral standards. Ultimately, in the absence of clear regulations, the reliance on personal judgment and manners becomes a recurring source of conflict.

Experts interpret this not as a simple dress-code debate, but as a matter of finding the right balance between tourism management and public etiquette. They emphasize the need to set clear standards that maintain openness to promote tourism, while also protecting local residents’ right to daily life.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.