'Nude' pension causes uproar and curiosity on online communities

By Lim Chang-won Posted : July 27, 2017, 17:26 Updated : July 27, 2017, 17:26

[Rdola Website]


A remote hill-side "nude" pension used as a secret naturist resort has become the day's top online keyword on Thursday, with news outlets carrying angry comments from residents in nearby villagers. It's was South Korea's first known nude resort facilities.

Media pictures showed a banner reading "Out with the nude pension which hurts emotions at farm villages." The protest banner was put up by villagers on a path leading to the pension through a forest.

Naturism, or nudism, is not illegal, but nudity in public is punishable in South Korea where naturists run secret communities gathering in private places.

Initially, a naturist opened the two-story pension called "Rdola" near a mountainous town in Bongyang, about 105 kilometers (62 miles) southwest of Seoul, in 2009. The operator identified by his surname Kim once said on a TV talk show that his pension provided places to relax such as a swimming pool and a playground only for invited guests.

Kim sold membership to nude club members so that they can enjoy swimming, sports and other activities without being conscious of the eyes of others. He had to shut down his pension two years later because of bitter protests from villagers but he opened it again in recent weeks.

Angry villagers have reportedly filed complaints with authorities, but police have no legal ground to close the pension.

 
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