If there was one thing I said I would never do in Korea, it was go to a Jimjilbang. The whole concept was alien to me and, honestly, I found the idea of it kinda freaky. The word
jimjilbang translates loosely as "heat room," and that's exactly what it is: an extremely hot and claustrophobia-inducing structure that has the feel and appearance of a giant oven. Actually, it is an oven. An oven for slow-cooking a human being...that is, if you don't have the sense to follow the suggested time limit of 15 minutes. Attached to every proper jimjilbang is a sauna and bathhouse, and though they are gender-segregated, my Western-raised self was still kinda distressed at the idea. Yup, you were never going to find me in one of those.
However, one must never underestimate the power of peer pressure. As you may have already figured, something must have given out because I have written this blog post. It would be foolish for me to commentate on something with which I have absolutely no experience, so I am writing in all transparency to state simply that I not only went to a jimjilbang, but I have become an all-out fan. Allow me to explain why:
Going to a jimjilbang is like entering another world, completely separated from the stressful hustle and bustle of everyday life. When first you enter, you take off your shoes and put them in their own little locker for safekeeping. You won't need them again until you leave. You are given a set of small towels, a locker key you can wear around your wrist or ankle, and a comfy uniform to wear. This is when you tell the members of your group that are of the opposite gender what time you will meet again, and you enter the locker room.
You will find no photos of this part of the experience, for obvious reasons. After you find your locker and unload all your belongings, you make your way over to the sauna and baths. Depending on the individual jimjilbang, you may find multiple hot tubs at various temperatures, a cold pool, massaging jacuzzi jets, dry and wet saunas, and various "event baths" containing water treated with such things as green tea, herbs, charcoal, or flower extracts. Sometimes the baths contain saltwater, sometimes they have purified or spring water. I remember being so excited when a friend of mine invited me to use their hot tub in the past, imagine my excitement when I have as many as ten different variations to choose from!
Anyway, after getting yourself thoroughly washed and soaked, you go put on your fancy jimil garb and rejoin your friends in the common area. Now there can be photos.
The jimjilbangs themselves
Another lovely jimjilbang; temperature reads 79 degrees Celsius!
A row of delightful massage chairs
Although it may seem strange, spending some time relaxing in a jimjilbang and sweating can be an extremely refreshing experience! Gets your blood circulating, and, especially in winter, it's just really cozy. Whole families can be seen lounging around on bamboo or plastic mats in the common area, snacking, talking, reading, or just spending time together. Often, people are just zonked out on the floor all over the place, getting their beauty sleep. It doesn't matter what time you go, most jimjilbangs are open 24 hours a day, which means it's perfect for when you need a place to stay the night! The best part about that is that the cost ranges from 6,000 won to 15,000 won, so it never costs you more that $14 to secure accommodations wherever you are in Korea.
My friends were kind enough to model the provided outfits
Stylin'
Inside a heated salt room
The obligatory snack bar, well-stocked with ramyeon, baked eggs, and sikhye (sweet rice punch)
It is helpful to know a little about a jimjilbang before you decide to patronize it, because the quality and cleanliness of the places sometimes vary. What I find most important are the sleeping arrangements. Some places offer bunk beds in quiet sleeping rooms, while others have you sleeping on the hard floor with only a small cushion for your head.
This one offers your own personal cave!
This was home, sweet home for a day :)
This one had a comfortable mat on the floor, and provided two blankets!
If you need to use a computer or play an arcade game, they've got that covered, too!
Other services provided by many jimjilbangs include massages, hair treatments, pedicures, and manicures. These usually cost extra, but are reasonably priced. It's the ultimate spa experience on a budget! If you're a courageous soul with a penchant for new cultural experiences, be sure to add visiting a jimjilbang to your bucket list!
