A gym owner in Incheon has declared a “No Ajumma Zone.” Ajumma (ah-joo-mah) is a Korean term that means a woman who is in their mid-30s and above but is loosely used toward older women who are not related to you.
On June 10, JTBC News reported that the gym owner implemented the policy due to the significant damage caused by older women, colloquially referred to as aunties.
The owner claimed that these women would bring a basket of laundry to the gym and leave hot water running for hours, causing water bills to double. They also allegedly made derogatory remarks to younger female patrons, such as “You’ll have an easy time giving birth.”
Viewers online related to the owner’s stance, writing comments like, “He must have been pushed to the limits to post something like this.”
However, there were split reactions when the owner’s “Aunties Not Allowed” sign was posted on social media.
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In addition to the sign, he also posted a list titled, “Only cultured and elegant women are allowed.” The list shared eight identifiers that differentiate between aunties and women.
- Regardless of your age, if you like freebies
- If you’re the only one who doesn’t know why you’re criticized wherever you go
- If you sit in the priority seat for pregnant women on public transportation
- If two of you come up to a coffee shop and order one cup of coffee while asking for an extra cup
- If you secretly throw food waste in public bathrooms or toilets
- If you are stingy with your money but don’t understand the value of other people’s money
- If you have poor memory and judgment and repeat what you say
- If you fall, no one but the Lord will help you.
The list became controversial by not only including examples of nuisance behavior but also phrases that seemed to discriminate against memory loss and religion.
Viewers online pointed out why a gym would restrict entry based on gender and age. “It’s not an auntie problem, it’s a people problem. This country casually discriminates.”
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