What is a Korean Spa?

I visited my first Korean spa several years ago. I had heard about them, mostly through posts on the internet or just word of mouth. One Sunday, I was sore from a particularly tough workout I had in the morning. I happened to be running errands in the Valley when it occurred to me that a Korean Spa was somewhere in the area, and a good steam and soak would feel good at that time. I honestly didn’t know what to expect, but I’m also a nudist and was hoping that what I’d heard (that everyone’s nude there) was true. Still, I was a little nervous, not really knowing what to expect, or proper etiquette, etc., but my fears were unfounded and I had a nice relaxing time there.

I am not Korean, and the Korean spas seem to be a part of the Korean culture. I suspect that there is more to the spas than just “go sit in whichever sauna or pool you feel like at the moment.” But that’s what I do, and nobody’s given me a dirty look, so I guess it’s not all bad.

So, what kind of amenities can one expect at a Korean spa?

• Showers: One of the purposes of these places is to get clean. They pretty much all have two types of showers: Upright showers (the ones we westerners are all familiar with) and sit-down showers. I’ve never used a sit-down shower… something I’ve been meaning to do sometime.
• Saunas: Every spa I’ve been to has at least a dry sauna and a steam room in the men’s area. Some have even more: different temperatures, different materials for the walls and floor, etc. For those spas that have a coed area, most of the saunas (other than the basic dry sauna and steam room) are located in the coed area. 
• Pools: Pretty much every Korean spa has a hot whirlpool and a cold plunge. Some have multiple hot pools (like a warm and a hot). Learn more about Wet Areas.
• Locker rooms: a place to stash your clothes. You never have to bring anything to a spa; everything you need will be provided by the spa. The sink area usually has shaving supplies and hair products. 
• Spa treatments: Yes, it’s a “spa.” You can get things like massages and facials. A popular treatment at Korean spas is the body scrub: you lay down on a table (completely naked) while a Korean man (for men) or woman (for women) scrubs every inch of your body, getting you cleaner than you’ve been in a long time. And yes, they clean everywhere. The body scrub is usually done in the gender-specific area, but other spa treatments are usually done in coed areas.
• Sleep/relaxation area: Most spas have a dimmed room to rest, either on floor mats or in reclining chairs, or both.  

One thing about Korean spas is that, in the gender-specific area, it’s all nude. Many even have signs that state that bathing suits or shorts aren’t permitted in the spa area. These places are not for the modest. At some of them, it’s not unusual to see families together in the spas.

Some Korean spas have a coed area, called a Jim Jil Bang. These areas usually have more relaxation areas, saunas, and even restaurants. For the Jim Jil Bang, the spa will provide shorts and t-shirts to wear… the coed area isn’t nude.

In terms of etiquette, the primary rule is, shower! Once you strip off your clothes and leave the locker room area, your first stop should always be the shower. Never, ever enter a pool without having showered first, especially if you’re coming from a sauna or steam room. In a nutshell, the rule is: if in doubt, shower.

Find a Korean Spa near you: Kspa Finder