When it becomes chilly in winter, Koreans love to get warm at jjimjilbang, a Korean-style spa. As Korean spas have a variety of amenities, including a snack bar and arcade, in addition to their dry sauna, they are great for hanging out with friends.
Jjimjilbang is a compound word in Korean that combines “jjimjil (dry sauna)” and “bang (room)”; in other words, a place you visit to sweat in hot temperature. The price is usually differentiated by age (adult or children) and whether you will only take a bath or use other amenities. If you are only taking a bath, they don’t provide additional clothing. For those who use their other facilities, they provide their uniform.
Once you pay for the admission, the staff will give you the locker key and uniform for the sauna. Each place may be different, but the number on the key is the number of lockers you are assigned. Here, you will keep your shoes and belongings. The bath part is divided for women and men. After taking a shower and changing into the uniform, you can use other facilities.
Jjimjilbang would often have various dry saunas, including mud, salt, and ice. Each sauna has the temperature written on the door, so make sure to check before entering. If you enter a room with a high temperature, be careful not to have your phone with you for a prolonged time. You may want to keep your phone in the locker if you are concerned about using it inside.
In a large jjimjilbang, you may find an internet cafe, arcade, restaurant, and karaoke boxes. They usually have a snack bar that offers many kinds of food. The favorite items for Koreans at jjimjilbang are eggs baked on elvan stone and sikhye (Korean rice drink). Try these as well when you visit a Korean spa!
We hope you have a memorable experience as you make yourself warm in the freezing weather!
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