By Yoon Won-sup
Staff Reporter
Choi Seung-ho, 61, former Korean ambassador to Egypt, visited the Egyptian capital of Cairo Tuesday in order to promote Korea's toilet facilities.
After a 35-year diplomatic career, Choi became ambassador of the World Toilet Association (WTA) last year as he realized the importance of toilets.
He saw revolutionary changes in toilets in South Korea thanks to the hosting of the 1988 Summer Olympics and 2002 World Cup.
Choi will also visit Kenya, Qatar, Oman and the United Arab Emirates to ask African and Middle Eastern countries to participate in the association's inaugural meeting at COEX, southern Seoul, from Nov. 21-25.
``One of the most important themes of human beings is the toilet, and good toilets protect the environment and our health,'' he said in an interview with Yonhap News Agency in Cairo.
He explained why Korea launched the association to the Egyptian Health and Welfare Ministry and received a positive response toward their participation in the November meeting.
Rep. Sim Jae-duck of the pro-government Uri Party, who leads the association, successfully persuaded Choi to become ambassador of the association promoting Korea's toilet culture.
Choi said that the toilet improvement project has been well received by developing countries and they have started paying special attention to the association. For example, he said China, which will host the Olympic Games in 2008, wants to learn Korea's strategies concerning the ``toilet project.''
He said that the worldwide toilet improvement project would also contribute to saving water because the project will require water-saving technology.
The association aims at hosting the World Health Organization, the United Nations Environment Program and some 70 countries at its inaugural meeting in November.