Koreans used a traditional toilet called ‘lavatory,’ ‘pit hole’ or ‘outhouse’. And farmers used human waste to fertilize their farmland. As the nation modernized, people began to use the word ‘toilet’. Now, we are in a transition period of calling it the ‘restroom’ like advanced countries.

Lavatories were usually installed at the farthest corner of the backyard in the past. Nowadays, a restroom is adjoined to a bedroom as a hygienic facility with a bathtub and sink. Luxury buildings, hotels and restaurants and wealthy individuals are decorating their restrooms with high-tech facilities, thereby transforming it into a multi-functioning cultural space.

Though toilets have greatly improved compared to that of the past, many toilets in the outskirts of a city, suburban areas and small cites in Korea are still falling short of the standards to be called a restroom.

It is the restroom of an international airport that foreigners get their first impression from and a public restroom at a tourist site can be as strong a memory as an exciting event during a trip. By looking at the exterior and interior structure of a public restroom, one can assume the level of constructional technology and pubic hygiene of a country while, looking at how well the restroom is equipped with facilities for the disabled, the weak and old and foreigners, one can assume how much a country values human rights.

The way citizens use their public restrooms reflect a facet of the integrity and morals of a nation while proper maintenance of restrooms can be a yardstick to gauge the level of a country’s hygienic administration. How is Korea actually doing in these areas? General comments we hear about restrooms in Korea are that they are ‘smelly,’ ‘unpleasant,’ ‘people do not like to go in’ and more other embarrassing comments about lack of maintenance efforts and poor hygiene awareness among users.

Against this backdrop, the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) introduced the Tourism Environmental Vigil System in 2008. The purpose was for KTO staff, college students majoring in tourism and other tourism related groups to monitor maintenance of facilities including public restrooms as well as information and direction signs put up for foreign tourists. In 2008, there were a total of 276 findings, 232 of which were relevant to public restrooms and 162 cases of the 232 were found in need of measures. 

The most findings were related to bad smell, dirty facilities, absence of toiletries including soap and toilet paper, broken facilities and negligence in management. Other findings (unrelated to public restroom facilities) included absence of information signs, incorrect signs for foreigners and lack of information and direction signs at a tourist attraction, which led to foreign tourists having to revisit information centers to get the right information. KTO will continue efforts to improve the Korean public restroom culture this year, in order to imprint an image of a clean Korea in the minds of foreign tourists and raise public awareness about the proper use of public restrooms. The following outlines this action plan.

First, KTO will select the five best public restrooms at tourist sites together with local governments and will provide financial support for facility management and maintenance. In addition, two public restrooms will be selected that are old but noted for its exemplary operation and maintenance among the ones at tourist sites nationwide and work with the relevant management body to improve and repair them.

Second. KTO will support the establishment of a restroom association comprised of industry experts and specialists in an effort to improve our public restroom environment and develop a new restroom culture. The association will hold symposiums and forums, offer lectures on public restroom management, invite international restroom symposiums and conduct studies and international researches so that Korea can develop a sophisticated restroom culture.

In this age of globalization, public restrooms are regarded as the face of a society and a barometer for a country’s level of education and culture. This is why the modernization of restrooms is one of the most urgent matters that need to be addressed.
During the preparation for the 1986 Asian Games and the 1988 Olympic Games, Korea took a giant leap in terms of public restroom enhancement in Seoul, local cities and even tourist sites across the country by installing new restrooms and improving restroom hygiene. However, due to lack of continued attention and financial sources, we have been negligent on its maintenance.

Relevant government agencies will also have to make efforts to secure budget for maintaining clean restrooms to ensure public health protection. With regard to regulatory and legal obstacles, this will be quickly resolved so as to satisfy public needs and encourage citizens to be more aware of the importance in proper use of public restrooms.