노키즈존

The term "No Kids Zone" began to be used around July-August 2014. The background for its emergence was a series of incidents where infants and young children suffered accidents in restaurants or cafes, leading business owners to pay substantial compensation for alleged negligence. To prevent such occurrences, establishments began restricting the entry of children. While it was anticipated that the concept might fade during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 due to an increase in takeout orders, discussions surrounding No Kids Zones have continued even after the pandemic ended in 2022-2023.

A "No Kids Zone" literally means an "area that restricts the entry of children." It typically operates in establishments like restaurants and cafes, prohibiting children's entry through notices such as "No entry for children under N years old or elementary school students." This practice arose from issues like excessive responsibility placed on business owners in cases of disturbance or safety accidents involving some children, and situations where other customers were inconvenienced by parents who failed to properly manage their children.

The phenomenon of "No Kids Zones" is not limited to a specific age group or gender; it is a widely discussed topic across society. Opinions are actively debated, often divided, among parents with children, business owners, and general adult customers. According to a 2023 survey, 73% of adults aged 20 and over showed a positive response to allowing No Kids Zones. Even among parents with children of elementary school age or younger, 76% attributed the spread of No Kids Zones to parental responsibility, indicating broad interest across various social strata.

Many establishments post signs at their entrance, such as "This store does not permit entry for children under 13," to indicate that it is a No Kids Zone. This method of restricting entry based on a specific age group has been adapted into various other forms, including "No Youth Zone" (for teenagers), "No Study Zone" (for students who study in cafes), "No Hip-jil Zone" (for hip-hop fans), "No Ajjae Zone" (for middle-aged men), "No Tuber Zone" (for YouTubers), and "No Tanghulu Zone" (prohibiting tanghulu entry).

The National Human Rights Commission of Korea has deemed "No Kids Zones" a discriminatory act. While not illegal, they are socially controversial. Therefore, establishments operating No Kids Zones may face criticism for infringing on children's rights and potentially exacerbating the low birth rate issue. Furthermore, failing to notify customers in advance about a No Kids Zone and then restricting entry later can lead to conflict with customers. Some individuals resort to retaliatory "no-shows" against No Kids Zone establishments, but this can be considered obstruction of business and may lead to legal problems, so caution is advised.

"No Kids Zone" is pronounced as the English words "No Kids Zone."