What is a Jjimjilbang?
The literal translation of a Jjimjilbang (찜질방) is heated room, but if you have been to one before, you’ll know that it’s much more than that! In fact, a Jjimjilbang is an integral part of Korean culture, and regular visits to the Jjimjilbang are part of the Korean way of life!
Let’s first take a look at what a mogyoktang is – you might hear some people use this term to describe Jjimjilbangs, so after reading this article, you’ll know the difference between the two.
A mogyoktang is a Korean public bathhouse that usually comprises a few hot and cold pools, saunas or steam rooms, and an area for people to scrub their bodies, either by themselves or by professionals.
They are usually gender-segregated and are typically linked to the locker rooms and shower area so that it is convenient for patrons to change out of their clothes, take a shower to cleanse themselves thoroughly, and head straight for the baths.
You can think of a Jjimjilbang as an extended, more elaborate version of a mogyoktang. The bathing and scrubbing aspect makes up just a small portion of what the whole Jjimjilbang experience is about!
A Jimjilbang is more so an entertainment center than strictly just a bathhouse as there is a myriad of activities that can be done there, and locals usually spend the whole day there with their families, akin to a mini-vacation! It forms a key part of Korean culture as many families intermingle and socialize there.
Over time, Jjimjilbangs have evolved from their traditional form, and you can now find many Jjimjilbangs that have adapted to suit their customers’ tastes and preferences. Some jjimjilbangs choose to infuse a modern twist, such as Cimer at Paradise City Hotel and Resort located in Incheon, which has amenities like an indoor infinity pool, while some offer a more exclusive experience, such as Spa Lei in the upscale Sinsa district of Seoul, which is a women-only Jjimjilbang.
What can I do inside?
First and foremost, we should mention that the Jjimjilbang as a whole is not gender-segregated, but only the mogyoktang or shower area. After spending some time in the bath area, people will then head to the main section of the Jjimjilbang to mingle with one another.
So if you are with a group of friends or family, not to worry, you will be reunited with them for the rest of your journey!
Apart from the bath areas, Jjimjilbangs also can have:
- Heated rooms
- Traditional kiln saunas (Hanjeungmak)
- Hair Salons
- Nail Salons
- Facial Spa
- Massage chairs
- Restaurants
- TV/movie rooms
- Karaoke
- PC rooms (or PC bang)
- Gyms or exercise rooms
- Sleeping areas
It’s clear how many locals can spend their whole day at a jjimjilbang – after all, there are so many activities that you can do there that you might not be able to finish exploring all that a jjimjilbang has to offer in one visit!
Every jjimjilbang is unique, so while you may find some staple facilities at most jjimjilbangs, your experience will differ based on which jimjilbang you visit, which adds to the fun!
What should I pack/bring to a Jjimjilbang?
A key part of the jjimjilbang experience is certainly the jjimjilbang outfit, also referred to as pajamas. This will traditionally be presented to you at the counter of the jjimjilbang, right before you enter. Usually a loose-fitting t-shirt and a pair of shorts, this is what you will see everyone around you decked out in. You can think of it as your very own jjimjilbang uniform, albeit a rather comfortable one! The pajamas are meant to be worn for all activities in the jjimjilbang, except for the bathhouse.
You will also be provided with toiletries such as body wash and towels, but be sure to bring your own shampoo/conditioner if you wish to use your own. Most jjimjilbangs will also have some common items on sale at the premises itself, so you do not have to worry about lugging too many items around.
Other items to bring include:
- Earplugs (if you wish to get some quiet time or a nap without being interrupted by loud snoring, which is quite common in the sleeping rooms)
- Water bottle (drinks are sold inside but you would need to drink plenty of water or risk being dehydrated from spending all that time in the saunas)
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Hair ties
- Bath sponge or loofah
- Your own skin products (facial cleanser, face wash etc)
- A face mask
Can I stay overnight at a Jjimjilbang?
Most jjimjilbangs do not actually have a time limit on how long you have to stay there and they are open 24 hours a day. They also offer sleeping rooms or sleeping areas for guests who wish to stay overnight rather than travel back home after spending a long day there.
In fact, here’s a hack if you are looking to get some cheap accommodation during your stay in Korea. For a flat rate, you can get to enjoy unlimited use of the bathhouse facilities and get a place to rest after a long day. Perfect for travellers on the move looking for an affordable spot for some quick rest! Jjimjilbangs will usually charge different rates for day and night sessions, so if you are looking to stay overnight, you can consider entering after the night rates are charged, to avoid paying two rates.
Different jjimjilbangs will have different rates for their operating hours – for instance, some may charge a different rate for staying overnight, so it’s wise to check before you head down.
Will I have to be fully naked in a Jjimjilbang?
Alright, we have reached the part which might be unchartered waters for some – if not most of us.
For the bathhouse area, which is traditionally the first area that you will head to in a jjimjilbang, everyone will indeed be completely naked. It’s not without a purpose – as the baths are communal, you wouldn’t want anyone getting in without making sure that their bodies are completely free from dirt. That’s why the first step at a jjimjilbang is to strip down and scrub every inch of your body clean – and this includes your nether regions as well.
Technically, there isn’t a rule set in stone that says you absolutely have to strip down to your birthday suit. However, pretty much everyone at jjimjilbangs will abide by this unspoken tradition, so going against it might not be the best idea and might come across as disrespectful.
Our best advice – just embrace it! As the saying goes, when in Rome do as the Romans do – being hesitant or trying to cover up in the presence of others is likely to draw more attention to you. It is common to see people of all ages bare-bodied walking around greeting each other and generally minding their own business, so if you accept that this is the norm and strut your stuff without being overly self-conscious, we’re sure that you will have a great time!
Will I be surrounded by tourists?
Jjimjilbangs are actually visited by locals on a regular basis, and it is a key part of their culture. Self-care and treating your body like a temple are at the crux of what it means to be Korean, therefore many Koreans visit jjimjilbangs regularly to pamper themselves, and make sure that their skin is always taken care of. Therefore, even though they are increasing in popularity amongst tourists, the bulk of people who you would find at a jjimjilbang are in fact locals, and most of them will actually be regular customers visiting every week or every fortnight. Whether they are business associates, colleagues, family members, friends, or even couples, people come together to jjimjilbangs to rest, relax and rejuvenate themselves.
How much can I expect to spend at a Jjimjilbang?
Jjimjilbangs can actually be really affordable – you are charged an entrance fee, as well as a rate for additional services that you utilise.
Most jjimjilbangs charge 8,000KRW to 12,000KRW for their entrance fee, but the jjimjilbangs of today are limited only by their owner’s imagination, and the prices vary greatly based on which jjimjilbang you go to, what services they offer, and where they are located.
Prices vary for children and adults, and are usually higher for night sessions. Weekend rates are also usually slightly higher than weekdays.
Just to give you an idea of what the prices are like for usual services at a typical jjimjilbang:
- Full body scrub known as seshin (ranges around 20,000KRW – 30,000KRW)
- Oil massage (~30,000 KRW)
- Facial with a full face mask and exfoliating scrub (~40,000 KRW)
- Set of 3 soft boiled eggs and a cup of Sikhye (~7,000 KRW)
- Bowl of noodles (~7,000 KRW)
- Bulgogi Set with Bonchon (~11,000KRW)
Do note that the prices do differ from place to place, but this is just a rough guide.
What are the Dos and Don’ts inside a jjimjilbang?
We totally get it – visiting a jjimjilbang for the first time might feel like stepping into a whole other world, but that’s what we are here for, we’ll help you along every step of the way!
Here’s a detailed step-by-step guide on what you can find in a typical jjimjilbang so you know what to expect!
Step 1: Remove Your Shoes
Most jjimjilbangs will have many small lockers for you to store your shoes before heading into the premises, which are not allowed in the facility. They are usually segregated by gender. However, some jjimjilbang may position the lockers inside the facility, so this procedure would be unique to the jjimjilbang that you are visiting!
Step 2: Get Your Wristband
You would then need to pay the admission fee and would be presented with a bunch of items (almost like your own little goodie bag!)
The first item will usually be a wristband with a unique number or a key. This is a pretty important item as it will be used to keep track of your tab throughout your stay at the jjimjilbang. At every activity, you will present the wristband before entering the room/buying the item.
This is also where you will receive your jjimjilbang outfit/pajamas and two small towels. This outfit is to be worn in the common areas such as the dining area, sleeping area, sauna, etc, but not the bathhouse.
Step 3: Store Your Items
The next step would be to head over to the locker rooms, which will be gender-segregated. Use your wristband or key to open the locker, and leave your belongings, including ALL your clothes inside. It is customary to remove all your clothes and be in your birthday suit for the Korean bath. While this practice may be unfamiliar to some, Koreans practiced this tradition since young, so wearing underwear or other pieces of clothing is actually considered improper etiquette and will get you some unwanted looks.
Step 4: Take A Shower
The first area that you will enter is the bath area or the mogyoktang. This should be the first step of your jjimjilbang journey. You can use one of the towels provided to you to wrap your hair into a “lamb’s head”, something that you might have seen in K-dramas. It not only looks chic but also traps sweat and prevents it from dripping onto your face. It is advisable not to let your hair touch the water when entering the baths and hot pools, so if you have long hair, you might want to keep it tied back.
The first thing that you would have to do before you begin any of the activities at the jjimjilbang, is to take a shower at one of the shower stalls. This is the most important step in jimijlbang etiquette. Before getting into the hot and cold-soaking pools, it is essential that you take a shower first in order to maintain the hygiene standards at the jjimjilbang.
In the bathhouse area, you can find steam rooms, hot and cold pools, and shower stalls. They can range from indoor soaking pools to open-air baths, and can range anywhere from 10 degrees for the cold pool to 42 degrees for the hot pool. Many Koreans will alternate between the hot and cold pools, as they say it increases blood circulation.
One of the services usually is a traditional body scrub, known as seshin. You can get your bodies scrubbed from head to toe using coarse towels (also known as Italy towels) that remove most of your dead skin. It is good to soak in a medium temperature bath for at least 30 minutes before going for the scrub so that the outer layers of your skin will be soft and hence it will be easier to remove the dead skin cells. It might hurt a little initially especially if you are not used to it, but the ones doing the scrubbing are masters of their craft and know exactly what they are doing. You can always ask for them to be more gentle or sal sal (살살).
You can then get a shower and head into the pools or the other facilities. Before you head out of the bathhouse, you can change into the jjimjilbang outfit that you were given earlier.
Step 5: Explore The Various Saunas & Drink Sikhye
You can now enter the jjimjilbang world, where all the other exciting activities await you. If you entered as a family or with a group of friends, you can reunite with them here.
Some of the activities include many different types of saunas or hanjeungmak (한증막). The sauna rooms can be filled with various different materials such as jade stones, rock salt, crystals, or special wood.
Outside each room, there will be signs put up that will have details about what to expect inside the room, such as the temperature, the rejuvenating properties, and so on. However, all the saunas are meant for relaxation and rejuvenation, so be reminded to upkeep the peace and serenity that the visitors are there to enjoy. It is considered improper jjimjilbang etiquette to be excessively noisy, especially in a silent room like a sauna, and you will likely get some glares from the other guests there.
When you are done expelling all the toxins from your body, you can refresh yourself with a refreshing glass of sikhye, a traditional fermented rice drink, or any of the other drinks that are sold at jjimjilbangs.
Step 6: Take A Nap
Explore all the other activities such as movies, massages, and food. Remember that your key/wristband will be used to keep track of all the purchases you make so do hold on tightly to it!
There are usually areas where you can take a quick nap after your relaxing day at the jjimjilbang. It may not be the most comfortable sleeping experience, as you would have to sleep on the floor with a mat and a pillow or thin mattresses, but after a long day of relaxing body scrubs and baths, you might find yourself falling asleep in no time.
Step 7: Pay At The Counter
Once you are all relaxed after your mini-vacation at the jjimjilbang and have explored all that it has to offer, you can head back into the changing rooms. You can return your used towels and collect all your belongings, before heading to the counter to pay for the additional services that you have used during your stay at the jjimjilbang, by scanning your key or wristband.
Jjimjilbangs in Singapore To Experience a Glimpse of Korea
The closest that you can get in Singapore to an authentic Jjimjilbang is Spa-1 Wellness Centre. Like an authentic Jjimjilbang, it has different facilities like saunas, and hot and cold pools for you to experience, sprawled out over a 10,000 sq ft space.
There are as many as 12 facilities that are all laid out in a similar manner to traditional Korean jimijlbangs. First off, there is the gender-segregated bath area, with both a hot bath and an ice bath/shower, as well as a menthol steam room.
There are also a number of saunas available such as the Finnish sauna, cassia seed sauna, and Himalayan salt sauna. Other amenities include a café that serves free-flow vegetarian food and a resting room with sofa beds for you to lay your head down and get some rest.
Pricing is dependent on the duration of your visit, $38 (excl. GST) for a 3-hour session and $58 (excl. GST) for a full-day pass. If you’re visiting with someone, a couple/buddy pass is also available at $88 (excl. GST). Do note that unlike the jjimjilbangs in Korea, Spa-1 Wellness Centre only operates till 10:30pm at night, so you would not be able to get an overnight session here.
Spa-1 Wellness Centre
511 Guillemard Rd, Grandlink Square, #B1-01, Singapore 399849
Mon-Sun, 11am-10:30pm
Jjimjilbang, A Unique Experience in Korea
If you are planning on travelling to Korea, visiting a jjimjilbang should definitely be on your itinerary! Even though it may be slightly unconventional, it is truly a one-of-a-kind experience, and a great opportunity for you to immerse yourself in Korean culture.
Just remember to head in with an open mind, embrace the uncertainty, but most importantly, enjoy yourself – we’re sure that the post-jjimjilbang glow that radiates from your skin will leave you coming back for more!
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