Rushan Ziatdinov is a professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering at Keimyung University, Daegu.
How to modernize traditional Korean bathhouses
"Jjimjilbang" are bathhouses in Korea that gained popularity in the early 20th century. By the late 1990s, many jjimjilbang had evolved into recreational complexes, and going to a jjimjilbang became a part of Korean social life. The jjimjilbang are still as important for socializing as they are for spa experience.
I first landed in the Land of Morning Calm in the summer of 2010, and jjimjilbang became one of the most enjoyable places for me to improve my health in preparation for the workweek ahead. Since 2010, I've visited many public bathhouses, mostly traditional and a few very modern ones, in various Korean cities, and I've really enjoyed each of them.
Since my first visit to a public bathhouse, I also began observing different bathhouses' environments. They have many things in common, and I would like to focus on these to provide some ideas for the development and modernization of traditional Korean public bathhouses.
Entrance and facilities
Upon entry, guests are given a uniform. But often there are no larger sizes, especially for tall people. Also, both shirts and pants could have more comfortable pockets for cash, coins, a cell phone and a charger. Sometimes, they give towels, which I personally find small. Can't towels be a little bigger?
Guests also put their shoes in a small box with a lock. The door of a locker sometimes has a small window, which I think is not necessary. Instead, these lockers could have a smart system that dries shoes and could probably be used for antibacterial cleaning. It is also possible to implement touchscreen lockers for easy access and security. There is also a need to install self-washing shoe machines that visitors can use.
Visitors then place their clothes in larger boxes. These boxes can also have self-cleaning or heating systems. Since there are many customers, this can help prevent the spread of viruses, bacteria and unpleasant odors. Once in Japan, I visited a public bathhouse that had a special room for washing and drying machines so that I could wash my clothes. Unfortunately, I have never seen washing and drying machines in traditional Korean public bathhouses.
Bathhouse employees often wear the same colored uniforms as other customers, but it would be better if their uniforms were different and easily distinguishable so that visitors can ask for help if needed.
Bathing areas
Unfortunately, I've only experienced seawater baths in a bathhouse in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, but never in other cities, which is strange for a country surrounded by seas. Another option is to install an ice bath.
Currently, baths have a fixed temperature that cannot be changed. In the future, smart bathhouse technologies such as advanced temperature control systems for sauna and bathing areas that allow users to set their preferred temperatures can be implemented. It would also be wonderful to have special baths designed for children, with safer surfaces, cleaner water, toys and other child-friendly features.
Some dirt is often found on the surface of the water, which autonomous robotic cleaners can help get rid of. Such robots are already being used in swimming pools and are available online. Robot cleaners can also be used for floors with a lot of foot traffic. There are even cleaning robots for toilets these days.
Unfortunately, I have never seen foot-washing or disinfecting pools or baths here, which can be useful in preventing the spread of fungal infections.
Sauna rooms
New and more efficient types of saunas can be introduced to offer visitors a variety of novel experiences. These include herbal saunas infused with the aroma of medicinal herbs like eucalyptus, lavender or ginseng; infrared saunas that provide deep tissue heating at lower temperatures for muscle pain relief, detoxification and improved circulation; and forest saunas that create a calming, nature-connected experience.
Other options include sound therapy saunas for relaxation through auditory stimulation, vitamin C saunas that use vitamin C-infused steam for skin care and thermal stone saunas that offer consistent, soothing heat for enhanced relaxation and detoxification.
Additionally, themed saunas can enhance the experience in unique ways. Ocean saunas might feature marine themes with blue lighting, wave sounds and mist machines to simulate ocean spray. Futuristic space saunas could offer a space-themed environment, while Russian saunas might incorporate traditional bath brooms. Each of these concepts can provide a distinct and enjoyable sauna experience for visitors.
From time to time, sauna rooms can be cleaned with specialized purifiers to eliminate viruses, bacteria and unpleasant odors.
Common rooms and sleeping quarters
More stylish designs for mattresses and pillows, such as bamboo mattresses, special pillows made of stones or wooden cubes and more items made of natural wood, would also help modernize Korean bathhouses.
Gender-separate sleeping quarters are often dark, so installing night lights and more USB ports for cell phone chargers would be nice.
In addition, having a small library inside the bathhouse would give people space to read books or manga quietly without disturbing others.
I've heard much positive feedback about how wonderful Korean bathhouses are. Only one professor told me in the past that Chinese bathhouses are even better and can occupy larger spaces than those in Korea. In my childhood, I visited wonderful sanatoriums in the Soviet Union, which are similar to a spa, but with medical services, including peloid therapy, which I never saw in Korea.
There is also a need for all public bathhouses to design and use a new emblem or symbol that is different from the traditional Japanese symbol for hot springs, which will help people easily identify public bathhouses.
We sometimes just have to open our eyes and look around us to find ways to improve what's already there. I believe traditional Korean bathhouses can become better in the near future and help promote Korean culture worldwide.
Rushan Ziatdinov (www.ziatdinov-lab.com) is a professor of industrial engineering at Keimyung University/