The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of Korea has ruled that a franchise owner of the well-known bakery chain, Paris Baguette, discriminated against a wheelchair user by denying them access to the store. The case came to light after a complaint was filed with the NHRC in August of last year, claiming that the franchise owner refused entry because of the presence of other customers and a lack of space. On February 6, the NHRC announced their decision to recommend that the franchisee undergo special human rights training due to their actions, which they deemed discriminatory against people with disabilities.

In the incident, when a personal assistant attempted to help the wheelchair user enter the store, they were blocked by the staff of that particular Paris Baguette outlet. The staff cited overcrowding as a reason for the refusal, stating that they had to ask existing customers to move to accommodate the wheelchair user. However, the NHRC's Disability Discrimination Correction Committee pointed out that there was enough space for the assistants and other customers to coexist, and that the wheelchair user had previously used the same seating without issue.

The NHRC also issued a recommendation to the CEO of Paris Baguette’s parent company, SPC Group, advising the establishment to create measures to prevent similar incidents in the future and to strengthen management oversight. This ruling highlights ongoing concerns about accessibility and discrimination faced by people with disabilities in public spaces in South Korea.