Korea’s Toilet Ambassador

by Robert Koehler on July 19, 2007

It’s all about the toilet diplomacy, baby!

{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }

1 michael July 19, 2007 at 10:51 am: “One of the most important themes of human beings is the toilet” If you say so, Mr. Choi.

This from a country that doesn’t put traps in the plumbing….
2 seouldout July 19, 2007 at 12:13 pm: Could they be any more desperate?
3 SomeguyinKorea July 19, 2007 at 3:39 pm: They had to throw in the 1988 Olympics in there. I guess it looks better than if they mentioned the World Cup only, which was held just 5 short years ago. In reality, public restrooms were quite terrible until the spring of 2001. Remember the restroom from Trainspotting?
4 dlatn July 19, 2007 at 4:32 pm: Nothing new here.
Korean diplomatic efforts have been shit for a long time/up shit creek without a paddle?

Come on Robert, you could have put a little more effort in this gem.

Queuing has much improved in Korea, but wheres the Queue Ambassador.
Roving Minister for Ashtray Tissues?
Chief Sidewalk Transit Delegate?

I feel like Baduk
5 Maekchu July 19, 2007 at 7:15 pm: Let’s hope he’s promoting the sit down style and not the Korean “squatter” type.
6 empraptor July 20, 2007 at 12:30 am: lol another vote against squatter toilet, especially if it’s just a fancy hole in the floor.
7 Brendon Carr July 20, 2007 at 1:00 am: There is no better missionary than the recently converted. Korea is a natural choice to lead the toilet revolution. But first I’d like to start here at home. Put traps in the plumbing, and stop spitting all over the floor in public bathrooms! It’s gross.
8 wjk July 20, 2007 at 2:45 am: #5,

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2003.html

I’m quite sure the Japanese are cleaner, though.

When I encountered these in Men’s bathrooms, at first I was really lost.

Anyways, usually there will be dried or wet urine on the floor, and brown fudge taped to the ceramic.

It’s a watered version of the hole in the ground.

I suppose the production cost is 1/4th of the western toilet. LOL.

Hmm. Did this exist during 1895 to 1945, or is this something Park Chung Hee’s era just towed over as well as other stuff?

Korea’s real time influence from Japan is close to 100 years. Involuntarily then voluntarily.