The Washington PostThe Washington Post

Is it discrimination if you can't bring your kids to a restaurant?

By Kelsey Ables and Andrew Jeong

12 May 2023 · 4 min read

Editor's Note

South Korea has some 500 "no-kid zones," including in restaurants and cafes. At a time of steadily declining global birthrates, it's part of a growing global trend. Is it "childism?" The Post reports.

SEOUL - The first time South Korean lawmaker Yong Hye-in, 33, ventured out of her home after having her son in 2021, she was struggling with postpartum depression, and her husband wanted to cheer her up with a stroll. But when Yong's family tried to walk into a nearby cafe, they were turned away. It was a "no-kid zone."

Yong was in tears after being refused entry. "It felt like society didn't want people like me," she said in a phone interview. "It hurt."

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