Is there a country in the world more fascinated with toilets than Korea?:
The South Korean government has given strong backing to the World Toilet Association, which has been spearheaded by the country’s "Mr. Toilet," parliament member Sim Jae-duck, who earned his nickname for improving public restrooms for the 2002 World Cup as mayor of Suwon city.
Sim, who has built a toilet-shaped house in his hometown, was unanimously elected Thursday as the association’s first president.
"The restroom revolution will provide hope and happiness to mankind," Sim told delegates.
South Korea has sought to establish a "toilet culture" to improve restroom facilities for hosting international events. It now holds annual contests to select the most pleasant facilities.
Photos of winning restrooms displayed at the conference included lavatories featuring abundant natural light and plants, a boat-shaped building in the city of Ansan and even the bathrooms on a South Korean naval ship.
Seoul aims to take its restroom revival abroad through the World Toilet Association, which plans to enlist other governments in the campaign.
"The toilet is directly linked to sanitation and hygiene of human beings as well as the improvement of the quality of their lives," Prime Minister Han Duck-soo told the conference. [Burt Herman - AP]
What other country has their prime minister talking about toilets? Korea’s fascination with toilets has even extended to their military missions abroad with the Korean Army in Iraq infamously bringing their "toilet revolution" to Kurdistan. I have to admit though as strange as the fascination with toilets maybe, the quality of restrooms has definitely improved in Korea since the World Cup, but some toilet paper in the restrooms would be nice though.
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9:14 am on November 24th, 2007 1
I just wish Korean would use toilets, or urinals, at least, properly. Ten years ago, at my first hagwon, I asked why the bathroom window was open even in the winter. A student said, “The smell.” I did notice a strong pee smell after that.
On to the present day, I saw signs in a bathroom at my university telling men to flush the urinal for five seconds. I noticed that no flushed even for the more reasonable one second.
1:45 pm on November 24th, 2007 2
After having to shit in a hole in the floor for four years, let them have all the toilet revolutions they want.
Continuing the trend of separating mens and womens facilities would have also been a peachy idea since I left….
Maybe when I come back to visit sometime next year, I won’t be embarrased to drop my pants and won’t miss my target from lack of skill in doing the ankle squat…
4:09 pm on November 24th, 2007 3
You will see that public restroom facilities have improved greatly and really only the off the beaten track areas still have the squat toilets.
10:45 pm on November 24th, 2007 4
What’s wrong with squat toilets (those kind that flush) ?
Most of the world have squat toilets. The people who insist that they’re more civilized because they sit on seats that someone sat on it five minutes earlier to shit, are the strange ones. If I had my preference, I would not like to sit on something that a million bare assed people sat on to do their business.
6:39 pm on November 25th, 2007 5
Tom…especially if the Mad Crapper just creamed the seat.
7:46 am on November 26th, 2007 6
When I was in Iraq we had a guy called the Sh*thouse Bandit that used to go around and crap all over the porta potties and leave graffiti to document his deeds. In such a situation Tom has a very valid point.
4:12 pm on November 26th, 2007 7
When I was at Osan back in 03-04 the toilets in the local town were disgusting. I remember one bathroom that was so rank that someone punch a hole through the wall to let in outside air (or maybe they were really drunk). Those toilets were worse than the toilet in Trainspotting.
LOL, the Sh*thouse Bandit!
7:16 pm on November 26th, 2007 8
The toilets in the run down ville areas are still rank for the most part and probably won’t change anytime soon. Overall though bathrooms have improved greatly.
I wish I was blogging during my Iraq deployment because the exploits of the Sh*thouse Bandit would have made great blogging material.
12:32 pm on April 28th, 2008 9