How to Use a Korean Jjimjilbang and Bathhouse

Bathhouse or jjimjilbang?

A mogyoktang is a public bathhouse with separate sections for men and women, each with showers, hot and cold pools and a sauna. A jjimjilbang adds a large shared space that men and women use together. On the shared floor you wear the outfit handed to you at the entrance and spend time sweating in heated rooms, lying on the floor to rest or having a snack. You can usually pay for the baths only or for the full jjimjilbang, so tell the counter which you want. Prices and hours vary by place, so check what is posted on site.

From entrance to exit

The routine feels unfamiliar the first time but is easy once you have done it. Most places follow this flow.

• Take off your shoes at the entrance, put them in a shoe locker and keep the key
• Pay at the counter and receive a clothes locker key, towels and the outfit
• In the gender-separated changing room, put your clothes in the locker
• Wash and use the pools in the bathing area
• For the jjimjilbang, put on the outfit and head to the shared floor
• On the way out, return keys, towels and outfit and settle any extra charges

Etiquette in the baths

In the bathing area nobody wears a swimsuit; everyone is fully undressed. It can feel awkward at first, but no one is looking at anyone else, so there is no need to worry. The most important rule is to wash thoroughly before getting into a pool.

• Soap up and rinse off before entering any pool
• Tie up long hair so it stays out of the water
• Keep your towel out of the pool water
• Avoid splashing the person next to you at the showers
• Never take photos in the bathing area or changing rooms

The body scrub

Scrubbing is an essential part of Korean bathing culture. After soaking long enough in warm water, you rub your skin with a coarse scrub mitt and the dead skin comes off. Mitts are sold cheaply at the shop, and if scrubbing yourself is hard, you can pay an attendant inside the bathhouse to do it. You usually sign up separately at the counter or in the scrub area. If your skin is sensitive or you have cuts or a skin condition, go gently, and doing it too often can irritate the skin, so keep it moderate.

Enjoying the shared floor

A jjimjilbang has several rooms with different temperatures and materials: a very hot kiln-style room, rooms lined with salt or red clay, and an ice room for cooling off. After a good sweat, a cup of sikhye, a sweet rice drink, and a few baked eggs are the classic treat. You will also see people fold a towel into a little sheep-ear hat, a look familiar from Korean dramas. Many places have a snack bar, a restaurant and a TV lounge, and purchases are often charged to your locker key number and paid all at once when you leave.

Staying overnight

Many jjimjilbang run through the night, and some travelers with an early start use one to spend a night. They are not hotels, though, and some charge extra for overnight stays or limit how long you can stay, so ask when you enter. You sleep on the floor of the shared area or in a sleeping room, and some places have a women-only sleeping room. Keep valuables in your locker and wear the key on your wrist while you sleep. Lights often stay on and snoring is common, so an eye mask and earplugs help.

Health and safety

Hot rooms and hot pools put more strain on the body than you might expect. Follow the points below, and if you feel dizzy or tight in the chest, get out and rest right away. If you have a heart condition or blood pressure problems, or are pregnant, talk to a doctor beforehand.

• Drink water often and do not stay in too long at a time
• Skip it after drinking alcohol, on an empty stomach or right after a big meal
• Do not stand up suddenly in the pool; move slowly
• Watch your footing on wet floors
• If symptoms persist, tell the staff and seek medical care

Common first-timer questions

Few places ban tattoos outright, but policies can differ, so ask in advance if you are concerned. Children above a certain age cannot enter the bath of the opposite sex with a parent. Many places provide only soap, so buy shampoo or a toothbrush at the shop or bring your own. If you feel unwell or are on your period, many people skip the pools and just shower. It is considered good manners not to bring your phone into the bathing area.