South Korea is seeing a growing number of relaxation parlors opening
as overworked employees look for a place to catch up on sleep and unwind
during their breaks. The specialized parlors offer customers
comfortable reclining chairs, hammocks, massage seats and aim to prevent
workers from falling asleep at their workplace.
One user of these relaxation parlors explained the benefits of the facilities. Speaking to local media, a spokesman said: “I
used to get some sleep hunched over on my desk at work or sitting on
the toilet in the men’s room, but here I can lie down and rest much more
comfortably.”
According to official statistics, South Korea
has one of the longest working days in the world, with employees working
more hours than their counterparts in other countries do. This has led
to a widespread problem of work-related stress with more than 80% of
workers feeling overly tired and fatigued because of their jobs.
