The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Woman killed in stopped car struck by bus on highway

  • 3

    Yoon faces strong political backlash after Tokyo summit

  • 5

    Korea sets record of half million economically inactive youth

  • 7

    Video footage highlights details of stepmother's fatal abuse of 12-year-old

  • 9

    Actor Yoo Ah-in to appear for questioning Friday over alleged drug use

  • 11

    INTERVIEWNorth Korean-born chef delights Southerners' taste buds, breaks down cultural barriers

  • 13

    KAIST student becomes first Korean recipient of Apple Scholars fellowship

  • 15

    North Korea fires ballistic missile as US bombers join drills

  • 17

    UBS eyeing swoop for Credit Suisse, sources say, amid fears of banking contagion

  • 19

    Could Doosan Robotics be valued at 1 trillion won in IPO?

  • 2

    Koreans wish to work less than 40 hours per week: survey

  • 4

    Mask mandate on public transportation to end Monday

  • 6

    Apple Pay's imminent launch in Korea draws mixed responses

  • 8

    Centre Pompidou's Korean branch to open in 63 Building

  • 10

    Commuters still wear masks despite end of mask mandate on public transportation

  • 12

    New EU trade policies unnerve Korean firms

  • 14

    ANALYSISYoon-Kishida summit may 'raise ceiling' for trilateral cooperation with US: expert

  • 16

    Land minister fortifies city building cooperation with Indonesia

  • 18

    Whisky sales at E-Mart outlets exceed soju sales in Jan.-Feb. period

  • 20

    Trump expects to be arrested Tuesday as DA eyes charges

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Tue, March 21, 2023 | 19:01
Public bath can offer authentic experience, lodging
Posted : 2016-08-18 17:24
Updated : 2016-08-18 17:37
Kim Se-jeong
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Dragon Hill Spa & Resort's common hall is where people gather to talk and sleep. The two domes are heated rooms, and sweating inside is believed to be good for people's health. / Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government
Dragon Hill Spa & Resort's common hall is where people gather to talk and sleep. The two domes are heated rooms, and sweating inside is believed to be good for people's health.
/ Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government


By Kim Se-jeong


Park Yong-chul, 54, a Seoul resident, visits Dragon Hill Spa, a Korean-style public bathhouse, called "jjimjilbang," every month. He goes there during weekends and either his son or wife tags along.

Last weekend, he was with his teenage son. "He is in high school and super busy," he said. This summer, the family took a vacation to the jjimjilbang. "It's too hot wherever you go. Here, it is cool and relaxing. Why go somewhere else?"

A jjimjilbang is probably one of the most common elements in ordinary Korean life. They are everywhere in the city, from affluent districts to the least privileged quarters. People come for a short stay of a couple of hours or to spend the night with friends or family as an outing. It is also often an option for travelers who can't afford a hotel room.

For travelers looking for a true Korean experience, this is a must, and here is what you can expect from a jjimjilbang.

Dragon Hill Spa & Resort's common hall is where people gather to talk and sleep. The two domes are heated rooms, and sweating inside is believed to be good for people's health. / Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government
Guests eat baked eggs, one of the representative snacks in jjimjilbang, in Traditional Oriental Forest Land.


1. Clothing

Upon arrival at the counter, you will receive a shirt, pants and towels. Keep a hold of the towels; they will be useful later in the tub or in the heated rooms.

2. Heated rooms

You will see several rooms around the common hallway. Rooms are mostly hot, and they're intentionally kept hot for health reasons. Each room is heated with different materials which are believed to have different health effects. Take your pick, and give it a try, but don't try too hard. It takes practice to get used to it, and if you try too hard, you can end up in an emergency room. In most jjimjilbang, you won't see wood burning, but there are places where you can, including Traditional Oriental Forest Land in Sinchon near Yonsei University.

Dragon Hill Spa & Resort's common hall is where people gather to talk and sleep. The two domes are heated rooms, and sweating inside is believed to be good for people's health. / Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government
Visitors sweat in a heated room of Traditional Oriental Forest Land. A shirt and pants are given to all patrons, along with towels.

3. A lot of food, but pricy


You can sample different Korean food at jjimjilbang, from simple snacks to a full meal. Dragon Hill has a canteen where you can pick up cookies, chips, beer and other drinks, and restaurants that serve bulgogi, bibimbap, ramen, cold noodles, and chimaek (fried chicken and beer). At the Traditional Oriental Forest Land, you can try baked potato, sweet potato and pumpkin. But bear in mind that you will pay more for food there than outside. In all jjimjilbangs, you are allowed to bring your own food, so if you are a budget traveler, it can be a good idea to bring food with you.

4. Crowds and sleeping on the floor

People will be sleeping on the floor and surrounded by strangers at all times, even when lying down for a nap. It is a very ordinary Korean scene. It can be uncomfortable at first, but worth the experience.

5. Entertainment

A jjimjilbang is full of entertainment to try. If you haven't tried a singing room, or karaoke, it's time to do so. Dragon Hill has one of the city's most diverse entertainment options. Other than karaoke, it has a swimming pool, a gym, a library and a game room where you will find all types of computer games.

Visit www.dragonhillspa.com for more information about Dragon Hill Spa. For Traditional Oriental Forest Land, visit http://www.hanbangland.co.kr. For other spots in the city, visit www.visitseoul.net and type "jjimjilbang."

Emailskim@ktimes.com Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
LG Group
Top 10 Stories
1Woman killed in stopped car struck by bus on highway Woman killed in stopped car struck by bus on highway
2Korea sets record of half million economically inactive youth Korea sets record of half million economically inactive youth
3Commuters still wear masks despite end of mask mandate on public transportation Commuters still wear masks despite end of mask mandate on public transportation
4[INTERVIEW] North Korean-born chef delights Southerners' taste buds, breaks down cultural barriers INTERVIEWNorth Korean-born chef delights Southerners' taste buds, breaks down cultural barriers
5KAIST student becomes first Korean recipient of Apple Scholars fellowship KAIST student becomes first Korean recipient of Apple Scholars fellowship
6COVID-hit Myeong-dong bounces back as tourists return COVID-hit Myeong-dong bounces back as tourists return
7Public officials reluctant to dine with coworkers Public officials reluctant to dine with coworkers
8Brides in early 40s outnumber those in early 20s Brides in early 40s outnumber those in early 20s
9OTT service providers negatively impacted by illegal streaming website OTT service providers negatively impacted by illegal streaming website
10[ANALYSIS] Yoon-Kishida meeting raises expectations of 3-way summit with China ANALYSISYoon-Kishida meeting raises expectations of 3-way summit with China
Top 5 Entertainment News
1Centre Pompidou's Korean branch to open in 63 Building Centre Pompidou's Korean branch to open in 63 Building
2Celebrities head back abroad to film K-food reality shows Celebrities head back abroad to film K-food reality shows
3Park Sung-woong talks about filming 'Woong Nam' with comedian-turned-director Park Sung-woong talks about filming 'Woong Nam' with comedian-turned-director
4Kwon Sang-woo's new series to stream on Disney+ this year Kwon Sang-woo's new series to stream on Disney+ this year
5From sky to deserted islands, two artists' documentation of nature adds surreal touch to reality From sky to deserted islands, two artists' documentation of nature adds surreal touch to reality
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group