Cultural Shifts: South Korea's Journey to Hygienic Restrooms
Until the late 1960s to early 1970s, it was uncommon for individual homes to have toilets, and people mostly used public restrooms. Even at home, the idea of using contemporary toilet paper was unthinkable, so people tore up newspapers or book pages to use, and in urgent situations, it was common to find a secluded spot outdoors for quick relief.
If there was no paper nearby, people used leaves or sometimes even stones for cleaning. Those who are now in their 60s and 70s experienced such times, and back then, this cultural norm was not considered shameful. The smell inside toilets was so overpowering that one could barely breathe, and looking down, one would see insects (maggots) crawling around, making the experience beyond unpleasant and unsanitary. During that time, such facilities were called "bathrooms" or sometimes referred to as "outhouses." However, around the mid-1970s, the term "toilet" emerged, and the appearance of roll toilet paper became noticeable. By the 1980s, public toilets started to transform into the familiar porcelain bowl toilets we see today. It's truly miraculous how, in such a short period, our toilets have evolved into clean and sanitary spaces.
'Creating Beautiful Toilets' Project Expansion: If you visit highway rest areas now, you'll find spaces with pleasant scents and areas where you can comfortably use the restroom. It's a completely different sight from the past highway restrooms. How were highway rest areas like before? They were unimaginably smelly, lacked toilet paper, and individuals had to bring their own, dealing with cramped spaces while holding their breath to use the facilities. Consequently, many would avoid using the restroom on the highway. Now, restrooms are perceived as more than just a place for personal necessities; they have transcended the notion of a 'restroom' and evolved into a space where people wash their hands, fix their appearance, and check their outfits. The current restrooms in highway rest areas emit a subtle fragrance, with clean facilities and no trash cans, providing a pleasant experience. The transformation of our restrooms into clean and comfortable spaces is credited to the 'Creating Beautiful Toilets' movement initiated by Kim Yeon-sik, the chairman of the Yongin Small Business Association, who tirelessly worked to change the culture of restrooms globally, making them a symbol of our country's hygiene culture.
Until the early 2000s, the toilet culture in South Korea was not as hygienic as it is now. Even during the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, foreign media coverage stated, "Toilets in Japan are fine, but Korea is dangerous. Korean toilets have no toilet paper and are dirty, so make sure to use the restroom before leaving the hotel." Kim Yeon-sik began the 'Creating Beautiful Toilets' movement to transform the domestic restroom culture, and now, it has become an environment completely different from before, a restroom culture that can be proudly showcased worldwide.
Writer Kim Yeonsik
