South Korea designates three traditional temple toilets as National Folk Cultural Heritage

The Korea Heritage Service has designated three traditional temple toilets, known as ‘Haewuso’, as National Folk Cultural Heritage. The designated sites include the Seonamsa Temple toilet in Suncheon, the Bodeoksa Temple Haewuso in Yeongwol, and the Gukiram Haewuso at Haeinsa Temple in Hapcheon.

These sites were selected because they have maintained their original locations and architectural forms for over a century while remaining in actual use. Historical records, such as roof inscriptions, confirm their construction dates: Bodeoksa in 1882, Gukiram in 1910, and Seonamsa prior to the 1920s.

The structures feature unique architectural designs that utilize sloping terrain to create single-story fronts and two-story rears, optimizing ventilation and lighting. They also demonstrate traditional resource circulation practices, where waste is fermented with rice husks or leaves to be used as fertilizer for temple gardens.