Korean Spa: Jjimjilbang

Who wouldn't want to wind down after a long week, just detoxing and relaxing? Although most people would think of only a massage or a hot bath when we say this, there is an ultimate alternative that prevails over all other choices: A Korean Jjimjilbang!

A Jjimjilbang is a Korean traditional bathhouse. It is a place where you can find everything you need to relax. In a Jjimjilbang, you can find hot and cold baths, the traditional Kiln Sauna (한증막), massage areas, communal sleeping rooms, dry heated rooms, wet rooms, and many more. You can also find treatments that ensure stress relief, circulation, or rejuvenation.

Usually open 24/7, Jjimjilbangs are places where you can spend the whole day (and even spend the night). If you have seen at least a few K-Dramas, you might have seen some ultimate relaxation moments while sweating the toxins off in the sauna with a snack in hand. That's because Jjimjilbangs can also have snack bars or even TV rooms.

For a full experience, you can grab Korean Sauna Eggs (맥반석 계란) and Sikhye (식혜) (Sweet Rice Punch) from the snack bars!

Of course, when we hear about such places, that certain question arises: Do we take our clothes off?

Although, upon entering, you are given a set of clothing that you can wear in the communal areas, in the bath areas, it is nakey nakey. During my research, I've read that, as one might expect, many foreigners were too shy to go naked, but, on the bright side, many stated that the shyness didn't last long, as everyone is in the same boat in a bathhouse.

Now, we know the basics of a Jjimjilbang. So, let's take a look at some features of them in detail.

Kiln Sauna (한증막)

A Kiln is a thermally insulated chamber, a type of oven (Wikipedia). Mostly shaped like cones, they are basically huge ovens in which you sweat profusely to perfect detoxification.

Red Clay Sauna

Red Clay Saunas are saunas in which the average temperature is 70-80 Degrees Celcius and the floor is covered by red clay balls that help detoxify your body.

Charcoal Sauna/Room or Salt Room

With temperatures ranging from 60-70 Degrees Celcius, this type of sauna is filled with minerals like calcium, magnesium, and sodium, helping the body to maintain electrical balance and relax.

Seshin

Seshin is the practice of scrubbing off dead skin, usually done by a Seshin worker. In a Jjimjilbang, you soften your skin in warm water beforehand so that the dead skin can be scrubbed off easily.

Having many different features that may vary from bathhouse to bathhouse, Jjimjilbangs are awesome places to spend a relaxing day!

Note!

That famous towel bun you see in K-Dramas or reality shows is called Sheep Head (양머리)! You can check out ways to fold it before going to Jjimjilbang.

Images
1- travel-stained.com
2- True Beauty, Netflix.
3- koreaherald.com
4,5- spalei.com
6- korea.net
7- joongang.co.kr

Sources
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travel-stained.com
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lonelyplanet.com
korea.net
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wikipedi.org