My Take | As Asia modernises, squat toilets are being dethroned

While Asian cities embrace modern Western-style toilets, tradition and practicality keep them prevalent in rural and older spaces

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Sitting toilets are becoming the norm as Asians go for the hygienic, minimalistic look. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 10:00am, 25 Jul 2025

Across many parts of Asia, squat toilets are being phased out, particularly in urban areas and public facilities, as comfort and convenience increasingly emerge as overriding considerations.

But even so, many places in the region still stick to the traditional squat toilets, preferring them over the modern equivalents, resisting what some describe as globalisation and modernity.

On Wednesday, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon pledged to replace some 1,200 squat toilets inside the subway station restrooms of South Korea’s capital with Western-style sitting toilets by 2028.

The announcement was made during Oh’s visit to the men’s public restroom inside Jamsil Station in Songpa district, southern Seoul, in response to frequent public complaints.

Noting that of the six stalls, two had squat toilets, he said, as quoted by the Korea JoongAng Daily: “People no longer prefer to use squat toilets. The younger generation have especially been saying that they’re uncomfortable to use. We’ll make sure to get rid of every one of them in Seoul.”

According to Seoul Metropolitan Government data, squat toilets currently make up about 33 per cent of the total 3,647 toilets in subway station restrooms.

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