Warm Up in Cold Weather - Jimjibang Korea

Hot and cold pools at the jimjibang for balneotherapy

Scenes from Korean drama

After watching numerous Korean dramas with scenes of the characters taking off to the jimjibang (sauna) to calm down or relax with a face mask and towels wrapped around their heads Star Wars Princess Leia style) I made a point to include the jimjibang in my itinerary. Actually on further research this Star Wars Princess Leia towel hat became a hit after it first appeared in Korean drama My Lovely Samsoon and is worn at most jimjibang since then.  

Alas My Jimjibang Experience
As the hotel I was staying at is in the outskirts of Seoul, I was brought to a neighbourhood one about 10 minutes drive away.

Instead of being ushered into a warm room with people lounging around with cute Princess Leia towel-buns, I was ushered into the women only part of the jimjibang, where fellow bathers striped to their birthday suit in front of their locker. That was a rude shock to me as Korean movies I watched only showed the unisex sauna rooms where both sexes share after donning the jimjibang's colour-coordinated cotton shorts and tee. 

Just like how our army boys keep their eyes above the navel in the communal army bathroom, in the same way I practiced the same respect towards my fellow bathing beauties by keeping my gaze on the faces only. 

My consolation during my 1st visit to a jimjibang is that there wasn't anyone whom I will see again once I leave that place (I seem to hear some close friends echoing this same thought as I write).

What's So Great?
The end result of warming up your body through the various hot and cold pool dips, body scrub and lounging in sauna or rooms set at various temperatures, one can seek refuge from the freezing cold outdoors. These warming up of the body and boosting of blood circulation was so good that I was dressed in summer clothes after an hour at the Incheon Airport  two days later, while other fellow tourists were still wrapped in their winter clothes. 

According studies on balneotherapy, dipping in hot pools filled with spring water is said to soothe arthritis and lower back aches, as well as heal skin conditions like eczema. Although I've yet to find out if all the jimjibang pools are filled with spring water, a few hours at the bath house with all these facilities starts from about 8,000 won and more for body scrubs and massages. And it's good enough to get my body all warm and fuzzy again.

Dreamy Relaxation
While soaking in the hot and cold pools I recalled scenes from Chinese period movies I had watched before - rooms packed with concubines strutting around in their Chinese lingerie, flowing curtains in bright colours decorating the Harem's bath as steam rose from the hot pools and giggles float across the room. Of course, this is all part of my imagination. I was surrounded by aged Korean grannies and a couple of guests in their late 20s or early 30s who spent the night at the jimjibang. How do I spot them? They saunter into the bath area armed with their mugs, toothbrush and toothpaste amongst their toiletries. Apparently, as Matilda, my Korean friend shared, locals prefer to stay at a jimjibang as compared to booking into a motel for reasons ranging from convenience to the cheaper rate. Just do not expect a cushy mattress for a bed as you'd be lying on a heated floor (please see the visual of one sauna above).

Other Therapeutic Services

Just like a visit to any spa, there is a choice of other services like body scrub by a professional, massage and hair treatment at additional charges. The body scrub reminded me of the Turkish bath in Istanbul (left), except that the bed at this jimjibang is as narrow as a standard beauty salon bed wrapped with a thick plastic. I kept preventing myself from slipping off the bed each time I turned over. 

During the massage, the therapist unknotted my muscles just like every other spa massages and even stepped on my back as she used her feet to massaged by very stiff shoulders. I must admit that she has very good body scrub and massage skill, and was kind enough to keep an eye out for me as requested by Matilda. Now, how often do we meet such kind souls in our lives - Matilda and the therapist?

Result of the body scrub and massage
I was amazed and embarrassed to find such as huge amount of gunk on the bed at the end of the massage and scrub. Trust me, I had been scrubbing with the Korean scrub towel supplied by our hotel every day and just before the dips in the pools too. My session also included a light facial massage and crushed cucumber face mask, and shampoo and hair mask. I am not sure if Matilda made that request.


In short a trip to the jimjibang completes any Korean trip. An experience not to be missed.




ref: http://asiaenglish.visitkorea.or.kr