Public Toilets in Korea: What First-Time Visitors Should Know

Planning a trip to Korea?

There is one thing you probably won't think about until you suddenly need it:

Where do you find a public toilet in Korea, and how does it work?

The good news is that public toilets are fairly easy to find in many parts of Korea.

But there are a few small things that can surprise first-time visitors.

Where is the toilet paper?
Can you flush it?
Do all toilets have bidets?
And what do you do when you urgently need a restroom but can't find one?

Here's what you should know before you need to go.

1. Look for the 공중화장실 sign

The Korean word for a public toilet is 공중화장실.

You don't necessarily need to remember how to read it, though.

Public toilets usually have familiar male and female symbols, and some signs also include English.

Once you recognize the symbols, finding the entrance is usually straightforward.

2. Public toilets are often free

One pleasant surprise for many visitors is that you generally don't have to pay to use public toilets in Korea.

You can commonly find restrooms at places such as subway and train stations, parks, shopping malls, department stores, tourist attractions, highway rest areas and some public buildings.

And don't expect every public toilet to look new or high-tech.

Some are modern, while others are very ordinary facilities like this one.

3. Check for toilet paper before entering the stall

This is probably one of the most useful things to know.

Don't automatically assume the toilet paper will be beside the toilet.

In some public toilets, each stall has its own toilet paper.

But in others, there may be a large toilet paper dispenser in the common area outside the stalls.

If you see one of these, take the toilet paper you need before entering the stall.

And while toilet paper is commonly available, don't assume every restroom will always have it.

Carrying a small pack of tissues when traveling around Korea isn't a bad idea.

4. Can you flush toilet paper in Korea?

This is where things can get confusing.

You may have heard that you should never flush toilet paper in Korea.

That isn't a good rule to follow everywhere.

In many Korean toilets, regular toilet paper can be flushed normally.

However, you may still encounter restrooms where used toilet paper is meant to go into a waste bin instead.

The easiest rule is:

Check the instructions inside the stall first.

If there is a sign telling you where to dispose of toilet paper, follow it.

If there is a waste bin inside the stall specifically intended for used toilet paper, use it. Otherwise, regular toilet paper can generally be flushed.

But there is one important exception.

Do not flush wet wipes, sanitary products or other non-toilet-paper items down the toilet.

Put those in the appropriate waste bin instead.

5. Don't expect a bidet in every restroom

Korea has plenty of electronic bidet toilet seats, but they are not installed in every public restroom.

You may find an electronic bidet in one restroom, while another may simply have a regular toilet.

This can be especially useful to know if you've previously traveled in Japan and expect similar toilet facilities everywhere.

Bidets can be found in hotels, airports, department stores and some public facilities, but you shouldn't expect one in every restroom.

Think of a bidet as a possible convenience rather than a standard feature of every Korean toilet.

6. The inside may be simpler than you expect

A normal public restroom in Korea may look something like this.

You'll typically find familiar facilities such as toilets, urinals, sinks and mirrors.

Some restrooms have paper towels, while others have hand dryers.

Facilities can vary considerably depending on the building, location and age of the restroom.

So don't assume every public toilet in Korea will look like the modern high-tech restrooms you may have seen online.

7. What if you can't find a public toilet?

If you suddenly need a toilet and can't see a public restroom nearby, don't panic.

Good places to look include subway stations, department stores, shopping malls, large parks and large cafés.

Large chain cafés can also be useful when you're in a busy commercial area.

However, there's something worth knowing about cafés in Korea.

The restroom isn't always actually inside the café.

Sometimes several businesses in the same building share a restroom, and the restroom door may require a passcode.

The code may be printed on your receipt, or you may need to ask the staff.

So don't throw away your café receipt immediately if you think you might need the restroom.

8. Carrying tissues can save you trouble

You don't need to carry anything special just to use a restroom in Korea.

But when you're sightseeing all day, carrying a small pack of tissues can save you from an awkward situation.

Not every restroom will necessarily have toilet paper available when you need it.

Hand sanitizer can also be useful in case you come across a restroom without soap.

And if you carry wet wipes, remember:

Use them if you need them, but don't flush them down the toilet.

9. Korean public toilets aren't something you need to worry about

If you're visiting Korea for the first time, the toilet situation is probably much easier than you're imagining.

Public restrooms are commonly available, particularly around transportation hubs, parks, shopping areas and major attractions.

The main things to remember are simple:

Check for toilet paper before entering the stall.

Follow any instructions about disposing of toilet paper.

Don't expect every toilet to have a bidet.

Never flush wet wipes or other sanitary products.

And if you can't find a public toilet, try a subway station, shopping mall, department store or large café.

Once you know these few things, using a public restroom in Korea isn't complicated at all.