Spring Day Korean Breeze - 2

—Korean Specialty

This time to Korea, the most impressive and highly distinctive thing is the jjimjilbang.

In Korea, jjimjilbangs are very common. Just walking down the street, if you pay a little attention, you can see Chinese signs for "jjimjilbang". Not only can you find them in the city center, but almost all hot spring attractions also offer this service.

The Korean pronunciation of "jjimjilbang" is roughly "han jin mak". During my twelve days of travel in Korea, I went twice and both times felt fantastic.

First, you buy a ticket at the front desk and get a locker key tag, then separate into male and female changing rooms. If you are at a hot spring attraction, you first change into a swimsuit and go to the outdoor hot springs. In Icheon City, a suburb of Seoul, there is Icheon Hot Spring. While soaking, if requested and with an additional fee of 5,000 won, you can soak alone in a small hot spring pool about seven or eight square meters. Then a staff member pours a basin of CLEANING FISH into the pool. The fish are very small, maybe the size of a finger. I heard they specialize in nibbling away dead skin to clean it. Quite interesting.

The outdoor hot springs are co-ed in swimsuits. The indoor hot springs are separated by gender, and swimsuits are not allowed. You cannot enter the changing room with a wet swimsuit. Before entering the changing room, there are two machines: one is a dryer for your body, and the swimsuit is taken off and thrown into a nearby spin dryer.

Inside the indoor hot springs, it was very awkward at first. I wasn't used to being completely naked and exposed, but no one cared or looked. It was just a matter of mental adjustment, and after a little discomfort, it was fine.

After soaking, nearby is the scrubbing area. Korean women, regardless of age, wear scrubbing gloves and earnestly scrub themselves back and forth. Several ajummas dressed uniformly in black underwear sit nearby and offer professional scrubbing services. It was the first time I had been washed so clean. At first, I felt the pressure was too strong, it hurt, and I worried they might break my skin... But she scrubbed very professionally and thoroughly, not even missing my toes. After scrubbing, I realized how Korean beauties get their white and smooth skin. I couldn't believe it myself; my skin became much finer than before. (The very next day I bought multiple sets of scrubbing tools so I could learn to scrub myself like Korean beauties at home, hehe~)

After scrubbing and cleaning, I got a set of short-sleeved shirt and pants from the counter in the changing room. Towels are freely available. Wearing the designated clothes, I could go to the co-ed jjimjilbang.

There is usually a large common area where you can sit or lie down anywhere, sleep, watch TV, chat, eat, or drink. You can bring your own drinks and food, or buy them there.

Besides the large space, there are many small rooms or kilns: charcoal rooms, crystal rooms, fire kilns... many types. You can choose any to sleep or lie down in.

I visited during the Lunar New Year, so Korea was still in winter, but it felt very warm inside the jjimjilbang, probably at least 30°C. Some rooms were even hotter. The hottest fire kiln I saw was nearly 70°C; I could only stay inside for a short while before running out, drenched in sweat.

The jjimjilbang also offers many paid services, including massage, acupressure, internet access, etc. You can ask for details and decide.

I heard that generally, with just the admission fee, you can stay inside all day. Koreans often come with family and friends to spend the day here.

Also, backpackers sometimes stay overnight, which can also add to the travel experience.