Jjimjilbang is one of the traditional bathhouse cultures of Koreans. It offers a variety of spa services and amenities. Jjimjilbang means ‘heated room’ in Korean, and the Korean jjimjilbang is a concept that combines bathing facilities, sauna facilities, and simple leisure culture. In other words, for Koreans, a bathhouse and a Jjimjilbang are different concepts. Bathhouses are mainly places where you can enjoy a bath and a simple sauna, and they usually close between 5:30 a.m. and 8-10 p.m. On the other hand, most Jjimjilbangs are open 24 hours a day. Korean Jjimjilbang is a different concept from the sauna that foreigners are generally familiar with. A jjimjilbang in Korea can be said to be a complex play space that provides not only bathing facilities and various types of sauna facilities, but also a sleeping room, entertainment facilities, a restaurant and snack corner, and a relaxation area.
At one time, sauna fashion with a sheep's head-shaped hood was popular in Korea. Some saunas become famous for their food and attract a constant stream of customers, while others become famous for their massage facilities with their own unique characteristics.
The merits of a jjimjilbang, where you can enjoy various amenities and meals in a 24-hour warm space, also make it attractive to people from other regions as an overnight lodging option instead of expensive hotels. Besides, on Friday nights and weekends, some women visit this jjimjilbang with their own families or close friends to enjoy bathing and sauna facilities, playing and chatting all night long. They call it 'a spa date'.
Most popular Jjimjilbangs offer Wi-Fi, and some have mini libraries.
How to use: Reservation is not necessary. On-site purchase is more common, and if you pay at the reception, you will be provided with a sauna suit and towel, as well as a key to your personal locker. Some places require you to pay a low fee for blankets and mattresses, while others provide them for free, but in most cases, they are available for a low price of between $1 and $3. One thing to note is that Jjimjilbangs are much cheaper than hotels for overnight, but unlike hotels, once you enter and leave, you cannot enter without paying again.
Price: The average price during the day is between $5 and $15, but when using it at night, the price is usually between $10 and $25. Sometimes saunas operated by hotels or jjimjilbangs with luxurious facilities are slightly more expensive.
In Korea, jjimjilbangs can be easily found anywhere in the country, but many are closed during the coronavirus pandemic. Nevertheless, you can easily find various saunas and Jjimjilbangs in Seoul or other big cities through an Internet search.
Korean Jjimjilbangs are used by people of all ages, from grandmothers to young couples. In addition to the typical sauna and spa facilities, big and large Jjimjilbangs often have restaurants, outdoor swimming pools, hair and nail salons, and karaoke rooms or massage parlors in the same space.
Korean jjimjilbangs also offer a variety of sauna types. These saunas come in a variety of sauna rooms with different temperatures and made of different materials, including salt rooms, charcoal rooms, amethyst gem rooms, and red clay rooms, each with their own unique health benefits.
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