South Korea's Million Dollar Toilet Themed Home

Summary

Sim Jae-duck, a former mayor of Suan, South Korea, and founder of the World Toilet Association, was so passionate about sanitation that he spent $1.1 million transforming his home into a giant toilet-shaped structure. Known as 'Mr. Toilet,' he aimed to promote a new toilet culture in South Korea. After his death, the two-story 'Toilet House' became a museum, showcasing the importance of sanitation for a healthy lifestyle. It features a central bathroom, a roof balcony for rainwater harvesting, and unique toilet-themed exhibits. Visitors can tour the facility for free, but a night's stay is offered for a hefty $50,000, supporting the construction of toilets in developing countries.

Takeaways

• 🚽 The man behind the 'Toilet House' is Sim Jae-duck, a former mayor of Suwon, South Korea, who had a lifelong obsession with toilets.
• 👶 Sim Jae-duck was born in a toilet in his grandparents' house, which may have sparked his interest in toilets.
• 🌐 As mayor, he made it his mission to clean up public toilets and founded the World Toilet Association, focusing on public bathroom hygiene.
• 🏠 In 2007, Sim Jae-duck demolished his home and spent 1.1 million dollars to build a house shaped like a giant toilet.
• 🏡 The Toilet House is named 'Heiwuje', which translates to 'a house to satisfy anxiety', reflecting its purpose and design.
• ♻️ The house is environmentally friendly, with a roof that collects rainwater for use as drinking water or for flushing.
• 🎵 Inside, there's a central bathroom that plays classical music and has floor-to-ceiling windows that can change transparency.
• 💸 Spending a night in the Toilet House costs fifty thousand dollars, with proceeds going to build new toilet facilities in developing nations.
• 🕰 Despite its unique features, no one has reportedly paid for a night in the Toilet House as of the time of the script.
• 🎫 Visiting the Toilet House during visitor hours is free, and it's open Tuesdays through Sundays.
• 🗿 The house features unique exhibits, including a giant pile of golden poo, bronze statues, and toilet-themed gardens and artwork.
• 👟 The Toilet House isn't the only unusual shaped house; the Hanes Shoe House in Pennsylvania, modeled after a work boot, is another example.

Q & A

What was the unique passion of Sim Jae-duck?

Sim Jae-duck had a unique passion for toilets, which he referred to as 'johns'.

How much did Sim Jae-duck spend on his toilet-shaped home project?

Sim Jae-duck spent 1.1 million dollars on his toilet-shaped home project.

What was the nickname given to Sim Jae-duck due to his obsession with toilets?

Sim Jae-duck was nicknamed 'Mr. Toilet' due to his obsession with toilets.

What was the name of the city where Sim Jae-duck served as mayor?

Sim Jae-duck served as the mayor of a city called Suwon, South Korea.

What organization did Sim Jae-duck found related to toilets?

Sim Jae-duck founded the World Toilet Association, a foundation focused on cleaning up public bathrooms.

What was the nickname given to Sim Jae-duck's toilet-shaped home?

The nickname given to Sim Jae-duck's toilet-shaped home was 'Haewuje', which translates to 'a house to satisfy anxiety'.

What was Sim Jae-duck's final request for his toilet-shaped home after his passing?

Sim Jae-duck's final request was for his toilet-shaped home to be donated to the city as a symbol of South Korea's new toilet culture.

What are the dimensions of the toilet-shaped home?

The toilet-shaped home is 4520 square feet and 24 and a half feet tall.

What unique feature does the roof of the toilet-shaped home have?

The roof of the toilet-shaped home has a feature that collects rainwater, which can be used as drinking water or for flushing.

How much does it cost to spend a night in the toilet-shaped home?

It costs fifty thousand dollars to spend one night in the toilet-shaped home.

What is the purpose of the money raised from spending a night in the toilet-shaped home?

The money raised from spending a night in the toilet-shaped home goes to an organization that builds new toilet facilities in developing nations.

What is the visiting policy for the toilet-shaped home?

The toilet-shaped home is open Tuesdays through Sundays and is completely free for visitors.

What other unique house shaped like a common household object is mentioned in the script?

The script mentions the Hanes Shoe House located in Hellam Township, Pennsylvania, which is shaped like a work boot.