The Truth About Korean Jjimjilbangs | A Sauna That’s Actually a Theme Park?
A Complete Guide Even for Beginners🐰
We are イェプリコ, your one-stop guide to Korea, where you can enjoy everything from Korean beauty and travel to gourmet food with peace of mind.
I actually visited “that place” you often see in Korean dramas🐰
A jjimjilbang.
Rather than just a Korean-style sauna,
it’s more like a relaxing theme park where you can spend the whole day✨
drink refreshing cold sikhye,
wrap your hair in a yangmeori (sheep’s head)…
Once you try this routine, it becomes addictive💫
This time, we’re bringing you everything you need to know about the appeal of jjimjilbangs—an absolute must-try experience on your trip to Korea🔍
🧖♀️ What Is a Jjimjilbang?
Jjimjilbang (찜질방) means “heated room” in Korean.
It is a facility similar to Japan’s large public bathhouses and wellness centers, but the scale and facilities are much more extensive.
🏛️ What Kind of Facility Is It?
✨ Basic Facilities at a Jjimjilbang
• Baths (separated by gender)
• Various types of saunas (unisex)
• High-temperature hanjeungmak sauna
• Lounges and sleeping rooms
• Restaurants and shops
• Massage and body-scrub rooms
• Entertainment areas (PCs, karaoke, etc.)
💫 Differences from Japanese Saunas
🌟 Features of a jjimjilbang
✓ Many facilities have mixed-gender areas (so couples and families can spend time together)
✓ Many facilities are open 24 hours
✓ Can be used as an alternative to accommodation
✓ Wear a designated uniform
✓ Comprehensive leisure facilities where you can spend the entire day
In Korea, jjimjilbangs have become an integral part of daily life as places where families and friends can relax and spend leisurely time together.
Recently, a new term, “jjimkance,” has also emerged.
Meaning a vacation spent at a jjimjilbang, it is incredibly popular among Korea’s MZ generation (Millennials + Generation Z)✨
📋 Beginners welcome! How to use a jjimjilbang
Even if it’s your first time at a jjimjilbang, there’s nothing to worry about.
Anyone can enjoy it once they master the basic steps🌟
🚪 Admission process
📝 Step by step
1. Pay the admission fee at the reception desk
2. Receive a wristband with an electronic tag
3. Receive indoor clothes (top and bottom set) and towels.
4. Go to the changing room for your gender
5. Leave your belongings in a locker
6. Change into the designated uniform
👕 What to Bring
☑️ Essentials
✓ A change of underwear
✓ Skincare products (facial cleanser, toner, etc.)
✓ Small change (for purchasing snacks inside the facility)
✓ (If available) Toothbrush and toothpaste
📝 Available for Rent at the Facility
• Towels (large and small)
• Facility wear (top and bottom set)
• Shampoo and body soap (provided in the bathrooms)
※ The items provided may vary by facility.
💳 Wristband System
✨ Convenient Electronic Payment System
• All food, drinks, and services inside the facility are paid for using the wristband
• Settle the total bill when leaving the facility
• It also serves as your locker key
• Be careful, as losing it will require you to pay a hefty compensation fee!
🌟 How to Enjoy a Jjimjilbang
Be sure to experience
that scene you saw in Korean dramas💫
🔥 Experience a Pulga-ma (fire kiln sauna)
The highlight of a jjimjilbang is undoubtedly the high-temperature pulgama (fire kiln sauna).
🔥 Various Types of Saunas
• Loess sauna: Uses traditional Korean loess
• Salt sauna: Uses Himalayan rock salt and helps improve skin
• Charcoal kiln sauna: Offers far-infrared and negative-ion benefits
• Amethyst sauna: A luxurious sauna using gemstones
• Ice room: A low-temperature room for cooling down
• Finnish saunas, Roman saunas, and other styles from around the world
The far-infrared rays and negative ions released by the charcoal may help promote blood circulation and refresh you✨
They are also effective for activating cells, promoting blood circulation, and relieving skin conditions✨
🐑 Try a Yangmeori (sheep-head towel)
The “yangmeori,” a towel wrapped to look like sheep’s horns, is often seen in Korean dramas.
In fact, it has practical benefits beyond its appearance.
🐏 The Role of a Yangmeori
• Protects your head from the heat
• Absorbs sweat
• Keeps your hair out of the way
• Looks amazing in photos📸
The facility staff can show you how to wrap one.
It’s also recommended to watch a tutorial on YouTube beforehand💕
🍽️ Classic Jjimjilbang Foods
After sweating it out, replenish your fluids and nutrients.
🥚 Classic Snacks & Drinks
✓ Smoked eggs (maekbanseok eggs): more springy than regular boiled eggs
✓ Sikhye: a sweet drink made from rice
✓ Misutgaru: a healthy drink made from roasted grains
✓ Roasted sweet potatoes and rice cakes: delicious snacks grilled over charcoal
✓ Tteokbokki and fried chicken
✓ Cup noodles and ice cream
Large jjimjilbangs may also have restaurants inside.
You can enjoy a variety of sauna foods🍜
💆♀️ Body Scrubs & Massages
✨ Beauty Treatments
• Body scrub: Approximately 15,000–30,000 won
• Full-body massage: From 30,000 won
• Mugwort steam baths (depending on the facility)
• Sea mud packs & loess packs
• Skincare & facial treatments
Enjoy authentic treatments by experienced staff at more affordable prices than in Japan💫
🏛️ Recommended Jjimjilbangs by Type
Seoul has many unique jjimjilbangs.
Choose one that suits your travel style🌟
🌲 For nature lovers: 「森の中漢方ランド」
🌿 森の中漢方ランド（스프속한방랜드）
📍 Seodaemun-gu, Seoul ・ Sinchon area
✨ Feature: A traditional style that warms the body with residual heat from a charcoal kiln
🔥 A one-of-a-kind facility with an outdoor charcoal kiln sauna
🍠 Enjoy roasted sweet potatoes and rice cakes grilled over charcoal
🌲 A nature-rich environment where you can enjoy the feeling of forest bathing
This facility is extremely popular among Koreans, offering an opportunity to enjoy forest bathing and a traditional charcoal kiln sauna experience in the heart of the city.
🏛️ For an authentic Korean experience, choose “SPAREX”
🏮 SPAREX Dongdaemun Branch
📍 Just steps from Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station
✨ Feature: Photogenic hanok-style interior
🕐 Open 24 hours
🛍️ Perfect for soothing your tired feet after shopping
🥚 Fully stocked with popular snacks such as yangmeori towels, sikhye, and maekbanseok eggs
🇯🇵 Extremely popular among Japanese travelers
Experience the jjimjilbang culture made famous by Korean dramas for yourself📺
💎 For luxury lovers, choose “Cimer”
✨ Cimer（シメール）
📍 Located inside Paradise City, Incheon
✨ Features: European-style modern design × Korean tradition
✈️ Approximately 10 minutes by car from Incheon Airport
🏊 Includes an infinity pool
💫 A luxurious space reminiscent of an upscale resort
🎬 Filming location for the dating reality show “Singles’ Inferno”
Perfect for a special treat before returning home or for use before or after your flight✈️
🌊 For the latest facilities, choose “AQUAFIELD”
🏊 AQUAFIELD Goyang Branch
📍 Inside Starfield Mall, Goyang
✨ Feature: A beautiful infinity pool
🎢 Attached to a water park
🛍️ Enjoy shopping inside the mall
✨ A clean atmosphere filled with a sense of luxury
👶 Also recommended for families with young children
Its luxurious and unique design and atmosphere have made it popular with tourists from around the world🌍
🌃 For a 24-hour facility, choose “Rasung Spa”
🌙 Rasung Spa
📍 Seongsu-dong (a trendsetting area)
🕐 Open 24 hours
🚇 2-minute walk from the nearest station
📚 Equipped with a book space, PC area, and karaoke
🛏️ Capsule rooms available
💰 A popular facility with many repeat visitors
It's perfect for stopping by before or after a late-night flight or after a tiring night of shopping🌙
💰 Estimated Prices and Etiquette
💵 Estimated Prices
💰 Basic Fees
• Admission fee: 12,000–18,000 won (approximately 1,200–1,800 yen)
• Scrub service: An additional 15,000–30,000 won
• Full-body massage: from 30,000 won
• Light snacks and drinks: approximately 3,000–8,000 won
you can use the sauna, baths, and nap rooms as much as you like,
which makes the great value another major attraction💕
It seems quite a few people use them as an alternative to accommodation.
Additional charges for late-night use vary by facility, so be sure to check in advance.
📝 Etiquette to Know
✅ Basic Etiquette
• Always wear the designated uniform (swimsuits are not allowed)
• The bathing areas are separated by gender, while the sauna areas are often co-ed
• Eat only in designated areas
• Keep things quiet (avoid talking loudly)
• Be considerate of those around you when taking photos
• Never lose your wristband
💡 Smart Ways to Use It
Many jjimjilbangs are open 24 hours a day.
We recommend incorporating one into your travel schedule🌟
✨ Recommended occasions
✓ Before or after late-night and early-morning flights (such as Cimer near Incheon Airport)
✓ On an evening when you're tired from shopping (such as SPAREX in Dongdaemun)
✓ Save on travel expenses by using it instead of accommodation
✓ As a shelter on rainy days
✓ For a refreshing break between sightseeing activities
✓ Enjoy a relaxing date with your partner or family
These are perfect spots for taking a “little break” during your trip to Seoul, without being affected by the weather☔
✨ Summary
Highlights of the jjimjilbang experience
• Korean-style sauna + comprehensive leisure facility
• Spend the whole day there for an admission fee of approximately 1,200–1,800 yen
• Many facilities are open 24 hours
• Enjoy various types of saunas
• Take commemorative photos with a yangmori (sheep-shaped) towel📸
• Smoked eggs + sikhye are a classic combination
• Scrub treatments and massages are also available at reasonable prices
• Couples and families can spend time together in the co-ed areas
• Can be used instead of accommodation
the Korean jjimjilbang experience.
Experience for yourself that scene
you saw in a drama💫
Your memories of traveling in Korea
are sure to grow by one more🐰
※Business hours and prices are subject to change. Please check the official website for the latest information before visiting.
Bringing Korea closer to you.
『イェプリコ』has brought you reliable Korean information you can enjoy with confidence.
Connect Korea and you through trends and exciting encounters with 『イェプリコ』.
Related Columns
- The Correct Seoul Taxi Fares and Late-Night Surcharges
- 4 medications for fever at midnight available at Korean convenience stores
- For a trip to Korea, the right amount of cash per person is 50,000–100,000 won.
- Jamso Bridge, where the cars disappear—the right choice for a Sunday afternoon
- 2026 Entry into Korea: Pitfalls of K-ETA Exemption
- Seoul Botanic Park’s Aquatic Plant Exhibition—the free area is the right choice.