Tips When Visiting A Korean Jjimjilbang

When you go to a jimjilbang (public bathhouse) in Korea for the first time, it can be scary because there are a lot of unspoken rules and codes of conduct. But here are the tips that will help you get around a jimjilbang without looking like a tourist who doesn’t know what they’re doing.

1. You should bring a few things with you to a jimjilbang to get the most out of your time there.

• Cash
• Women with long hair must tie back their hair, so it doesn’t get in the way in the shower or bath.
• Loofah or a glove that scrubs
• Most jimjilbangs have soaps and lotions for you, but if you want to bring your own, you should. They are also sold at the jimjilbang.
• Walking into the jimjilbang
• Put your shoes in the lockers that are marked for that.

When you get to the jimjilbang, you’ll see a wall of lockers where you can put your shoes since you can’t wear them inside.

Like many other parts of the bathhouse, these lockers can also be separated by gender, so make sure you’re on the right side.

2. Get your key or wristband, towels, and dressing gown.

After you pay the entrance fee, which can be anywhere from KRW8,000 (about USD6.47) to KRW12,000 (about USD9.70), you’ll get a numbered key or wristband, some small towels, and a jjimjilbang outfit.

Bring all of these things with you to the locker room.

If you watch a lot of K-dramas and know a lot about K-culture, you know that Koreans like to put towels on their heads to look like cute little sheep.

It’s called a “yang meori,” which means “sheep head” in English.

3. Change in gendered locker rooms

After you’ve gathered your things, go to one of the locker rooms (there’s one for women and one for men) and take off your clothes until you’re in your birthday suit.

Your wristband should have a number on it. Find the locker with that number and put your things in it.

Keep the key or wristband on you at all times. It usually has a chip or barcode that is scanned when you use a paid service or buy food.

Enjoy the different features.

4. Get ready to see some naked people at the public pools.

At the bathhouse, it’s time to be brave and clean in front of other people. Don’t worry about being naked because no one will give you a second look.

Make sure you take a shower before going into the baths. If you don’t, you might get some dirty looks.

Most people come here to relax, so if you go with a group of friends, don’t make too much noise.

5. Check out the different sauna rooms

After you’re done in the public bathing area, you can use other facilities like the steam rooms to avoid getting naked.

You can find a traditional dry sauna at most jimjilbang. At the New Lasema Spa in the Philippines, for example, it is called a bulgama kiln and is heated to 85°C.

If you want to bond with your partner or family, you can go to the outdoor hot tubs open to both men and women.

Most jimjilbangs have a salt room, which is said to help detoxify the body, heal the skin, and slow down the aging process.

It is mainly made with the cleanest and best salt and heated to 65 °C.

After being in the heated rooms, you can go to the ice rooms, which can eventually put your body temperature back to normal and cool down your skin.

6. A Korean body scrub will leave your skin as smooth as a baby’s

If you want to remove dead skin, get a traditional body scrub (sesin) at the jimjilbang. A strong ahjumma will assist you in getting skin as smooth as a baby’s bottom.

Most of the time, these services cost extra, and you can add them to your bill with your key or wristband.

7. Satisfy your hunger pangs

After sweating out, you can satisfy your hunger with sikhye (a Korean sweet rice drink) and maekbanseog eggs, which is iconic way to eat at a jimjilbang.

There are three kinds of maekbanseog eggs:

• A roast egg (with a standard eggshell)
• A smoked egg (with a brown eggshell)
• A charcoal egg (black eggshell)

K-dramas show that you’re supposed to eat these eggs by cracking them on someone else’s head, so if you’re having fun with your friends, you should try it.

Most jimjilbangs also have restaurants, so after your sweaty workout, you can get a hearty and filling meal of Korean barbeque.

8. Having a place to stay

People can spend the night in a jimjilbang, so don’t be surprised if you see them sleeping there.

If you want a cheap place to stay, a jimjilbang is your best bet. If you want to spend the night there, you just need to pay a few extra dollars at the door.

Each jimjilbang has a huge sleeping area with heated floors. Bring some earplugs if you don’t want to hear the snoring of the ahjussi posse.

Some more modern jimjilbangs also have areas with massage chairs that have TVs built-in, so you can stay the whole day without getting bored.

9. Settling your bill

When you’re done, take a quick second shower to wash off the sweat. Then, you can return to the locker rooms and put your old towels in the bins.

When you check out, bring your locker key or wristband with you. The staff will scan it to get your final bill. After that, you can pay for any extra services or items.