"Toilet Theme Park" opens in S. Korea

A city in South Korea has added a new attraction to its cultural landscape - the world's first "Toilet Theme Park". The Restroom Cultural Park in the city of Suwon is proving a huge hit with locals and tourists alike. The latest tourist site is dedicated to the memory of former city mayor Sim Jae-duck, affectionately known as "Mr Toilet". 

He believed the toilet is a very important and under-appreciated aspect of world culture. Visitors to the park can admire its toilet-bowl-shaped exhibition hall as well as dozens of bronze statues in various toilet positions. They can even sit on Mr Kim's original toilet, which includes a full-length glass door that mists up when it is being used.

Suwon has become well known for the promotion of toilet culture. The city attracts toilet-related artwork from around the world to its galleries. It famously hosts the Golden Poop Art Festival – a celebration of one of the calls of nature. The city also lists dozens of its own public toilets as tourist attractions on its website. 

Sim Jae-duck's own giant, toilet-shaped house, now a museum, should be the must-see for enthusiasts. Mr Sim's fascination with toilets supposedly began because he was born in the smallest room of his mother's house. He said in 2007: "The toilet…can save humankind from diseases [and is] a place for introspection. The toilet is also a central living place that possesses culture."


EXERCISE 1. PRONUNCIATION/WORD VOCABULARY

1. Affectionately [A-FEK-SHU-NEYT-LI]
Meaning: (adverb) motivated by love or affection
Example Sentence: Before saying goodbye, she affectionately hug her husband.

2. Mists [MIST]
Meaning: (verb) to become moist; (noun)water in the form of particles floating or falling in the atmosphere at or near the surface of the earth and approaching the form of rain.
Example Sentence: We could not clearly see the seashore because of the mist.



3. Enthusiasts [EN-TU-ZEE-YASTS]
Meaning: (adjective) Someone who is very interested in doing something.
Example Sentence: I am an adventure enthusiast.


4. Fascination [FA-SEE-NEY-SHUN]

Meaning: (noun) the state of feeling an intense interest in something
Example Sentence: She has a fascination when it comes to shoes.


5. Introspection [IN-TROS-PEK-SHUN]
Meaning: (noun) an examination of one's own thoughts and feelings
Example Sentence: When I am alone, I always do an introspection about the things happened to me in a day.






COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	What did South Korea add to its cultural landscape?
2.	Who is the theme park proving a huge hit with?
3.	Whose memory inspired the creation of the theme park?
4.	What is unusual about the exhibition hall at the theme park?
5.	What happens to Sim Jae-duck's original toilet when someone uses it?
6.	What has Suwon become famous for?
7.	What is the Golden Poop Art Festival a celebration of?
8.	What is unusual about Sim Jae-duck's house?
9.	Why did Sim Jae-duck become interested in toilets?
10.	What did Sim Jae-duck say toilets possess?

EXERCISE 2. SHARING IDEAS

1. What do you think of a Toilet Theme Park?
2. How interested are you in visiting this park?
3. Do you think other Toilet Theme Parks will open around the world?
4. What can the park do to attract more visitors?
5. What new exhibitions could the park have?



Article Source