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These days, there is a place called Room Cafe that even teenagers can enter.

It is an enclosed structure, and there are even beds and toilets in it, but inspections and crackdowns are not being carried out properly.



Reporter Kim Hye-min covered the scene.



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A room cafe located in downtown Seoul.



The corridor is lined with sealed rooms, and each room has a door lock installed.



Upon entering, you will immediately see a large bed.



The bed size is very big, and there are many pillows.



They even have toilets inside.



It has the same structure as a motel or a 'multi-room' that was popular in 2011, but under the current regulations, minors cannot stay together in motels, and minors cannot enter multi-rooms at all.



On the other hand, room cafes are also available to young people.



I also went to other room cafes.



Most of them are walled up on all sides, so the inside of the room cannot be seen from the outside.



During the interview, I was able to meet teenagers coming out of the room cafe.



[Teenagers using room cafes: (Are you underage?) I'm underage.

I'm 15 years old.

(My friends) said they were coming to play games, so I came here once.]



Most room cafes register as free businesses or report general restaurants.



Since snacks and drinks are provided, it is possible to report it as a general restaurant.



Although it is not illegal as a room cafe itself, if it is judged that the establishment is inappropriate for use by young people, such as having a structure similar to a closed room and having bedding or beds, it must be designated as a business where youth access and employment are prohibited.



I asked where the responsibility for inspection and enforcement lies.



[Gender Equality and Family Official: (Local government) The department in charge of the Youth Protection Act is now conducting inspections and crackdowns.

The same as the National Police Agency and the police station that has jurisdiction.]



[Local government (district office) officials: Usually, the police station has a lot of crackdowns...

.]



[Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency officials: The subject of enforcement and guidance is the Ministry of Leisure and Local Government...

.]



When we interviewed the district office again, the answer changed.



[Local government (ward office) officials: They say that such a crackdown on business guidance or inspection is the right thing for local governments to do.

Room cafes have never been cracked down.]



[Lee Song-yeon/Lawyer: Under the 'Juvenile Protection Act', it is forbidden to coexist with heterosexual couples, and it is not even possible to create such an environment, There were really constant discussions about the legislative inadequacies about 'can't it be designated as a restricted area?'] When



SBS began its coverage, the city of Seoul sent an official letter to the ward office stating that "Room cafes are prohibited for minors", and the ward office in question They went to inspect the room cafe.



The ward office said, "We plan to issue a correction order to the room cafe and ask the police to investigate."



(Video coverage: Kim Tae-hoon, video editing: Lee Hong-myeong)