A traditional toilet structure at Seonam Temple in Suncheon, South JeollaKOREA HERITAGE SERVICE
Three Buddhist temple toilets that have continued to serve as functioning lavatories for more than a century are set to be designated National Folklore Cultural Heritage, according to the Korea Heritage Service (KHS) on Tuesday.
The toilet structures, also known as haeuso, in three temples — Seonam Temple in Suncheon, South Jeolla, Bodeuk Temple in Yeongwol, Gangwon, and Haein Temple in Hapcheon, South Gyeongsang — have been preliminarily designated.
This marks the first time temple toilets will be marked as state-protected cultural heritage.
The interior of the traditional toilet structure at Seonam Temple in Suncheon, South JeollaKOREA HERITAGE SERVICE
"The designation broadens the concept of national heritage beyond places of worship by recognizing the everyday living spaces of Buddhist monastic communities," the KHS said.
The structures' name in Korean literally means "a place to cast away worries." The term was first used after the 1950-53 Korean War by the late monk Gyeongbong (1892-1982) of Tongdo Temple, according to the KHS. It later became widely adopted within Korean Buddhism as a metaphor encouraging people to leave behind their worries and concerns.
All three sites selected for designation have well-documented construction dates.
A traditional toilet structure at Haein Temple in Hapcheon, South GyeongsangKOREA HERITAGE SERVICE
Ink inscriptions written on the beams beneath the roof ridge show that the structure at Bodeuk Temple was built in 1882 and the one at Haein Temple in 1910.
Although its exact construction date is unknown, the outhouse of Seonam Temple appears to have already taken its present form by at least the 1920s. A historical record from 1704 shows that toilets were then referred to as cheongcheuk. The assumption is also based on photographs of the temple taken during the 1910-45 Japanese colonial period and inscriptions documenting repairs carried out in 1928.
The three facilities have preserved both their original locations and architectural form and still function as working toilets, a rare combination that gives them exceptional historical value, according to the KHS. They also serve as rare examples showing temple life that is at risk of disappearing.
A traditional toilet structure at Bodeuk Temple in Yeongwol, GangwonKOREA HERITAGE SERVICE
All three were built on sloping ground, designed without doors, using only chest-high partitions to create an open layout. Vertical wooden slats positioned at eye level improve ventilation, admit natural light and offer outward views.
The traditional practice of fermenting human waste with rice husks and fallen leaves before using it as fertilizer reflects an early form of resource recycling.
The KHS will review opinions gathered during the 30-day notice period before the Cultural Heritage Committee makes a final decision on the designation.
BY KANG HYE-RAN [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
