"Dress hot" – Maid cafe forcing minors to expose themselves

"Hot and Short"... Forced Exposure and Sexual Objectification of Minor Part-time Workers

The operating realities of 'maid cafes,' which are trending in urban areas like Hongdae, are coming to light, causing a social outcry. These unique themed cafes, where employees dressed in maid outfits address customers as 'Master,' are being criticized for actually forcing minors to wear suggestive clothing or providing services equivalent to adult entertainment establishments.

B, a teenage part-time worker who actually worked at a maid cafe, testified that some management teams used group chat rooms to suggest revealing outfits, saying, "Women should dress hot and short," or instructed them to wear short skirts and tight-fitting clothing on specific dates. Management controlled the appearance and attire of workers under the pretext of incentives and even encouraged customers making sexual jokes, using it as a means of business. It was also confirmed through online communities that sexual harassment and comments on the appearance of employees occur frequently.

A 'Lawless Zone' Registered as General Restaurants... Current Status of the Hongdae Area in Mapo-gu

The legal loophole for these establishments lies in their operating forms and registration methods. Approximately 19 maid cafes are operating in the Hongdae area of Mapo-gu alone, and 14 of them conduct live performances involving singing or dancing on a stage. The problem is that most of them are registered as 'General Restaurants' rather than 'Entertainment Bars.'

Under current law, general restaurants are not subject to restrictions on youth entry or reviews for the protection of the educational environment. As a result, 4 out of the 14 establishments operating live shows are located within the 'Educational Environment Protection Zone'—within 200 meters of elementary and middle school boundaries—yet they continue to operate without separate prior review. Furthermore, since the sale of alcoholic beverages such as cocktails and champagne is specified on the menus, the structure leaves teenagers defenseless against harmful environments.

From Alcohol Sales to Sadistic Services... Realities Crossing the Line into Adult Entertainment

Some maid cafes go beyond the scope of simple themed cafes and are actually conducting business similar to adult entertainment bars. Acts such as employees sitting next to customers to converse or pour drinks, as well as performances on stage, are highly likely to exceed the permitted scope of general restaurants under the Food Sanitation Act. In particular, cases have been confirmed where conflicts arose because customers demanded private meetings with maids, claiming they had paid for the service.

During the parliamentary audit, unethical service practices were specifically revealed, where some stores set prices for sadistic acts such as 'Love Slaps' or 'Love Caning' as service items. Field inspections confirmed operations where maids move around tables and sit next to customers to induce conversation.

Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to Conduct Full-Scale Inspection in Cooperation with Local Governments

At the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee's audit held on October 21, 2025, the issue of sexual objectification in maid cafes was intensively addressed. Representative Kim Nam-hee of the Democratic Party of Korea criticized maid cafes for being registered as general restaurants, allowing easy access for youth, and for providing actual adult entertainment services.

In response, Oh Yu-kyung, Minister of Food and Drug Safety, stated, "Regarding the controversy over the sexual objectification of maid cafes where youth freely enter and exit, we will undertake an inspection of the actual situation in cooperation with local governments." The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety plans to conduct field investigations and assess the situation in cooperation with local governments and review necessary measures.