Seen in the photo is a door to a "no-seniors zone" coffee shop in Seoul that restricts people aged over 60 from entering. Captured from X

Korea is witnessing a rise in discrimination against older adults, with many sports facilities and coffee shops implementing "no-seniors zone" policies that restrict access, despite the country's aging population.

Such zones refuse to accept older adults as customers, citing safety concerns or the perceived effect they may have on the atmosphere of the facility, similar to the "no-kids zones" that have sprung up at certain establishments that prohibit children.

A fitness center owner in Seoul has not been accepting older adults aged 70 or older as new members for the past two years.

Under the condition of anonymity, he said that older customers have experienced injuries while exercising and that he also received complaints from young customers that it is uncomfortable to work out in the same space as the older adults.

Since then, the gym has posted a notice saying, "Do not say hello, offer presents, ask favors or give compliments to young people."

Meanwhile, Jeong, who runs a franchise cafe in Gangnam District, Seoul, said she also recently suffered due to older customers.

She said several older customers were rude to the employees, shouting without using the order kiosk prepared in the coffee shop.

"I heard that some other coffee shops or restaurants promote themselves as a "no-seniors zone" and I think that's too harsh. But at the same time, I also understand how that came about," she said.

The phenomenon drew mixed responses from the public.

A 77-year-old man surnamed Roh said, "Should old people not go to coffee shops? I am worried about growing hatred toward the older adult population," adding, "Young people will get older and become seniors themselves in the future."

A Seoul-based university student surnamed Park, 22, mirrored Roh's view, saying "As a consumer, everyone has the right to buy and drink coffee if they pay. How are those elderly people any different from their (young people's) parents?"

On the other hand, an office worker surnamed Kim from Incheon, said, “I think we should also consider the position of business owners who want to grow popular among young people," adding that he also prefers to go to trendy stores and restaurants that are viral online among young users.

"I have often seen elderly people talking loudly at gyms, cafes or restaurants," said a university student surnamed Jeong (24). "It is true that many young people are reluctant to be around them."

Shadows of older adults are captured in this photo as they wait in line for a free meal at Tapgol Park in downtown Seoul, Oct. 2. Yonhap

Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) announced, Monday that it is discriminatory to reject older adults from using sports facilities due to their age.

A 68-year-old petitioner tried to purchase a one-year membership at a sports club in Gangnam, Seoul and was rejected because he was over 65.

The NHRCK recommended that the sports club owner "prepare measures to prevent recurrence so that the elderly are not excluded from participating in sports facilities” and expressed concern that such restrictions may spread negative perceptions about older adults and justify the exclusion of older adults in commercial facilities.

Oh Beom-jo, a professor of family medicine at Boramae Hospital in Seoul, said, "Such discrimination against the elderly like the 'no-seniors zones' could adversely affect their health and increase the burden of social costs."

Restricting consumption activities of certain groups can worsen the consumption environment for all consumers, said Choi Chul, a consumer economics professor at Sookmyung Women's University, saying, "There should be a consensus across the community on this alertness."

Korea's registered population aged over 65 surpassed 10 million as of July this year, constituting approximately one-fifth of Korea's total population of 51.6 million.