‘No Aunties, Only Elegant Ladies Allowed’: Korean Gym’s Ban On Middle-Aged Women Sparks Fury

The owner of a South Korean gym alleged that so-called ‘aunties’ taunted younger women and also used the gym laundromat for personal use. (Image: Unsplash/Representative)

A gym in South Korea’s Incheon has sparked a debate on social media after it banned “aunties” on its premises. It posted a notice on its entrance earlier this month, which says: “Only well-mannered and elegant ladies are allowed to enter”.

According to the South China Morning Post, which first reported the development, ‘auntie’ is a tag which refers to middle-aged women in Korea and other countries in the Asian continent and are often associated with certain negative stereotypes.

Their report said the term invokes “notions of women who are freeloading, noisy and unfashionable”.

However, the owner of the gym while speaking to a South Korean TV channel said the notice is a reminder for “rogue customers” to restrain themselves.

He said that these ‘aunties’ verbally harassed many young female customers. “You should be good at having children,” these aunties were heard saying to young women, taunting them, the gym owners complained.

He complained that these so-called ‘aunties’ would use washing machines in the locker room to do their laundry for one or two hours which led the gym’s water bills to double. He added that these women also stole supplies such as towels and soap.

“These aunties come in and turn the gym into their own world, causing young people in their 20s and 30s to leave,” the owner said. He said he is turning his gym into a “no aunties zone” to prevent the loss of customers and rising costs.

He also drew up a list of eight criteria to differentiate between ‘aunties’ and ‘ladies’.

These criteria include individuals who exploit others, taking seats reserved for pregnant women on public transport, regardless of their age.

The criteria also encompass people who are unwilling to spend their own money, disregard the money of others, have poor memory and judgement, and tend to constantly repeat themselves.

Opinions on the gym owner’s move divided social media. A supporter on YouTube remarked that dealing with ‘rude aunties’ is very ‘tiring’. Another individual disagreed, stating that the term ‘aunties’ is inappropriate because such behaviour can be found in any age group or gender.

“This is crazy! Isn’t the gym owner’s mother an aunty too? Just close down the gym,” said a third commenter. Another person proposed implementing a membership system to set higher entry standards for the gym.