South Korea Pushes Innovation with Toilet Museum

Bathroom culture innovation is now a trend in South Korea.

Tourists and locals can visit and use restrooms inspired by book "The Little Prince," "Roman Holiday" and "Apollo Missions."

The operator of rest stops in South Korea, Korea Expressway Corporation announced 2016 as the "Year of Freeway Rest Stop Bathroom Culture Innovation," Kotaku reported.


A toilet theme park was also established in the town of Suwon. The exhibition area has a toilet bowl design while its pathway is decorated with bronze human figures in mid-squat position.

The park opened earlier this year also carries a toilet-themed art exhibit.

The toilet theme park was the former home of Suwon mayor, Sim Jae-duck. Mr. Sim died in 2009 but his legacy as "Mr. Toilet" continued up to this day.

In 1980s, he conducted a campaign to ameliorate the old toilet system of the country.

In 2007, Mr. Sim established the World Toilet Association and told the delegates that toilets can save citizens from acquiring diseases. Toilets are also a place where one could relax.

Although the park brings humor to some people, a representative of the cultural park said that "we just focus on eating every day. We sometimes overlook the importance of a toilet. But we already know, upon waking up in the morning where we should go to - the toilet. But people don't want to talk about this."

The employee emphasized the importance of toilet on health, hygiene, sanitation and conservation of water.

By pursuing toilet innovation in the country, the culture of maintaining cleanliness will be established, Korea Herald emphasized.

In fact, the government installed flush toilets to replace the old ones in 1988. This was done to prevent bad impressions from visitors during the Olympics.

To improve and maintain these rest stops, a task force was formed for necessary renovations of the country's public bathrooms.

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