
A clean and safe toilet ensures health, dignity and well-being. Yet 40% of the world's population, according to the World Toilet Organization, does not have access to toilets.
However, every $1 spent on water and sanitation generates a $4.3 return in the form of reduced health care costs.
Suwon city's Toilet Culture Museum spreads knowledge about the importance of toilets throughout the world. Suwon, capital of South Korea's most populous province Gyeonggi-do, lies 30 km south of Seoul.
The rooftop observatory provides a panoramic view of the Toilet Culture Centre, also known as Mr Toilet House - 'Haewoojae' in Korean language.
A waving national flag of Bangladesh on the rooftop along with dozens of other national flags generates a sense of happiness, and curiosity.
On the first floor of the museum one can find national and international documents regarding toilet culture from 1950 up to the present day.
There are also historical artifacts, videos, and other exciting toilet materials provided by the World Toilet Organization, the Korea Toilet Association and other toilet-related organizations.
On the second floor are artifacts and photographs to remember the passionate life of Sim Jae-duck in his dedication to the Toilet Culture Movement.
"It is the only toilet theme park in the world in which toilet-related materials and data are collected and preserved through systematic management," General Manager of Mr Toilet House Anne Lee told UNB.
She said a former mayor of Suwon city Sim Jae-duck rebuilt his 30-year-old house into the shape of a toilet and named it Haewoojae.
Haewoojae was completed in 2007. After his death in 2009, the family members of the late Sim Jae-duck donated Haewoojae to Suwon city as stated in his will.
The city of Suwon changed Haewoojaeinto the Toilet Culture Museum in 2010 and opened the Toilet Culture Park in 2012.
Toilet cultures from home and abroad including South Asian countries have been collected and the Toilet Culture Park displays those collections.
The Park is scattered about with a number of sculptures that vividly depict adults and children relieving themselves.
One can see the sculptures from the memories of the past like a mother holding and making her baby relieving himself, and there are also funny ones that depict foot-trodden excrement along the paths inside the park.
Suwon plans on making this the world's first Toilet Theme Park. The city plans on adding two new sections to the north side of Haewoojae: The Toilet Culture Centre where people can hold exhibitions and seminars and the World Toilet Experience where people can experience different toilet cultures in the world.
The World Toilet Culture Movement was started in Suwon City in late 1990s as the birth of toilet is closely related with evolution of the mankind.
The toilet theme park in Suwon city serves as a resting place for a great many tourists visiting the place.
At the entrance, there is a 'smart mirror' which allows people to check the latest information resulting in an excellent combination of the latest technology and the natural environment.
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