You’re all booked for your first jjimjilbang (Korean Bathhouse) experience and you couldn’t be more excited to get started. But before you head over all decked out in a swimsuit expecting a western-style spa experience, here’s a heads-up: Asian bathhouses involve a very different set of dressing and behavioural etiquettes altogether. To avoid making some embarrassing faux pas, here are some important pointers to prepare you for your first time there:
1. Locker rooms are gender segregated—don’t walk into the wrong one!
There will be 2 entrances into the bathhouse after the initial check-in - one will lead to the men’s locker room and the other, the ladies’. Although this is fairly straightforward, foreigners have been known to step into the wrong room because they were labelled purely in Korean characters. Just in case English translations aren’t provided at your jjimjilbang, here are the characters in Korean for your reference - 남 for men and 여 for women.
2. Don’t wear your shoes past the locker room area
Asians don’t like having shoes indoors, and the bathhouse is no different! Leave your shoes in the locker room together with all your clothes and belongings; most likely there will be towels and/or an extra outfit for you to wear in your time there.
3. Be prepared to go in your birthday suit
The bathing areas are often gender-segregated, because no clothing of any kind are normally permitted within. That’s right—you have to be prepared to go fully nude into the communal bathing area. Whilst this is often a very uncomfortable affair for foreigners, there’s no need to feel self-conscious as locals are used to it and nobody is particularly fazed by anyone else’s nudity. After a brief moment of awkwardness, you would likely get used to it as well.
4. Wash off before getting into the communal baths
As a courtesy to the many people who soak together in the hot baths, all bathers are expected to take a shower before getting in the water. You don’t necessarily need to use soap and shampoo on this initial rinse-off, so leave your full shower for when you’re done soaking. On this note, you’re also advised to bring your own soap and shampoo just in case none of these basic supplies are offered in the jjimjilbang.
Whilst service staff may be around to offer body scrub or massage services (for a fee) don’t be too surprised if other locals visiting the bathhouse alone take the initiative to scrub your back, in exchange for your repaying the favour in kind. Korean bathhouses are a communal gathering area, where everybody helps each other out.
5. Lastly, don't forget to bring a water bottle and hydrate!
Don’t underestimate the effects of dehydration when you’re soaking in hot baths or lolling in steam rooms. As you sweat, you lose water and excessive dehydration may lead to symptoms of dizziness, a headache or lightheaded. Avoid these nasty side effects by bringing a water bottle into the spa.
Now that you've got all the essentials checked, you're more than ready to embark on your first jjimjilbang experience. Don't worry, we guarantee you'll love it!
