"It's Haeundae, So What?" "But Not at the Supermarket" -- The Intensifying 'Bikini Debate'

Sightings Beyond the Beach: Cafes, Supermarkets, and Even Near Jangsan Station
Urban Structure Where Tourism and Residential Areas Overlap Fuels Conflict
No Clear Enforcement Standards Under Current Law
Some European Resorts Impose Fines Wi

How far should it be acceptable to walk around in swimwear after leaving the beach? A recent incident at a cafe near Haeundae Beach in Busan, where a customer clad in a bikini was denied entry, has reignited debate over this question. Reports of vacationers seen in swimwear not only around the beach but also at large supermarkets and residential areas—which are situated more than 20 minutes away on foot—have further intensified the controversy. The issue now extends beyond a matter of personal dress preference, touching on the clash between the openness expected of tourist destinations, the rights of local residents, and the entry policies of individual businesses.

At the end of last month, as the scorching heat continued, Haeundae Beach in Busan was crowded with people welcoming the peak vacation season. Yonhap News

On August 5, Yonhap News covered the recent controversy surrounding the range and permissible distance for people in swimwear to walk near Haeundae Beach. The debate was sparked at the end of last month when a vacationer tried to buy a takeout drink from a cafe while wearing a large beach towel over her bikini, only to be told by staff that she should wait outside and the drink would be handed to her there. She clarified that she hadn't yet gone into the water and that her body wasn’t wet or sandy. Once news of this broke online, opinions became polarized about whether the cafe's action was justified.

Afterwards, further witness accounts described seeing people in swimwear not only at the beach but also at a large supermarket located about a 22-minute walk from Haeundae and near Jangsan Station, more than 30 minutes away on foot. This widened the debate beyond the business districts immediately facing the beach to include residential neighborhoods as well. According to the supermarket, it is not uncommon during vacation season to encounter two or three customers a day wearing swimwear in the store, and currently they do not specifically restrict such patrons’ entry.

"Someone's Living Space" vs. "Consider the Nature of a Resort Area"

Online commenters critical of wearing swimwear away from the beach stress that Haeundae is both a tourist spot and a dense residential hub filled with apartments, schools, and workplaces. While they concede that swimwear may be understandable at the beach or seaside boardwalk, they argue that it is inappropriate for cafes, large supermarkets frequented by families, public transport, and residential areas. Some also expressed concerns about hygiene and facility management due to wet bodies or sand being brought indoors.

As the hot weather continues day after day, citizens and tourists visiting Haeundae Beach in Busan are resting under parasols, enjoying the leisure of the midsummer beach. Photo by Yonhap News

Some online users who described themselves as long-term Haeundae residents argued that what is a temporary resort for vacationers is an everyday living space for locals who go to work and shop for groceries, and that at the very least, wearing a light cover-up or beachwear would be considerate. On the other hand, there is strong opposition to excluding the spatial characteristics of one of Korea's leading beach destinations. Some insist that in business districts immediately in front of the beach, the mingling of swimwear and regular clothing is to be expected and should be accepted to a certain degree.

As the heatwave continues, tourists are enjoying playing in the water while facing the incoming waves at Haeundae Beach in Busan. Photo by Yonhap News

Some also argue that forbidding takeout drink orders from people in swimwear who are not wet or sandy is excessive. They contend it is inconsistent to market the area as a tourist city while demanding vacationers comply with the same dress codes as typical downtown areas. Some long-time residents recall that, in the past, people using restaurants and shops around Haeundae Beach in swimwear was far more naturally accepted than it seems today.

Difficult to Penalize for Wearing Only Swimwear

So, can the law actually intervene in such cases? Legal experts generally agree that wearing standard swimwear does not constitute indecent exposure punishable by law. The Misdemeanor Punishment Act defines indecent exposure as showing one's genitals or buttocks in public, thereby causing discomfort to others. Regular bikinis or swimwear that cover the main parts of the body do not typically fall under this law, so imposing penalties based on dress alone is difficult.

However, legal punishment and a business’s own entry policy are separate issues. Establishments like cafes, restaurants, and supermarkets may set their own dress standards in consideration of hygiene, facility management, and the comfort of other users. In such cases, a practical approach is to display notices at entrances such as 'Customers wearing only swimwear may be restricted from entry' or 'Please put on a cover-up before entering,' thus minimizing unnecessary conflict.

Yonhap News Agency

Even at world-renowned resort destinations abroad, moving around public streets in only swimwear is not always freely accepted. In fact, some European cities with high numbers of tourists have drawn clear boundaries between beach and city spaces and strengthened dress codes accordingly. Sorrento, Italy, has banned walking in public spaces while wearing only swimwear or with bare upper bodies since 2022, with fines ranging from 25 to 500 euros for violations. At the time, Sorrento's authorities explained that the measure was to reduce inconvenience for residents and tourists alike and to preserve both the living environment and the city’s tourist image.

Ajaccio, on France’s island of Corsica, also imposes seasonal restrictions on moving about in only swimwear or with bare torsos in public roads outside the beach and immediate seaside areas. In other French resort towns such as Arcachon, Nice, and Cannes, instructions requesting 'appropriate clothing' outside the beach are regularly implemented. Split, Croatia, has designated its historic city center—which draws large numbers of tourists—as a specific 'dignity preservation zone,' prohibiting people from walking around in swimwear or otherwise immodest dress; clear signages are posted. Split’s tourism authorities stress that these rules are not about enforcing conservative dress but about protecting the daily functioning of the city as a place where residents live, not just a tourist attraction.

Clear Guidelines Before Crackdowns

Domestic experts advise that, rather than starting with fines or enforcement regulations, local governments and business communities should first establish predictable, concrete standards. Typical recommendations are to allow swimwear at beaches and seaside boardwalks but to encourage the use of cover-ups, such as beach gowns or T-shirts, in business districts and residential areas beyond a certain distance from the shore. Individual businesses should also clearly indicate at their entrances whether swimwear is permitted and whether entry is restricted to those who are wet.

Haeundae District Office currently has no standards or enforcement authority to limit the movement of people in swimwear but has stated that it would consider response measures if related complaints persist. Legal and urban policy experts also recommend that, rather than imposing penalties, priority should be given to autonomous entry management by businesses as well as the installation of clear guidance and signage by local governments. They point out that presenting clear boundaries between the beach and everyday living spaces, and ensuring that businesses state their dress policies in advance, can help prevent unnecessary conflicts. To ensure that the freedom of vacationers and the routines of residents can coexist, society first needs to set clear standards governing where and how swimwear is appropriate.

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