Korean Spas Guide: Pampering the Korean Way
It’s not just you. Summer days do feel far away. If the cold season seems especially tough this year, do yourself a favor and take a Korean spa day. How are Korean spas different from American spas? Well, a meal at a conventional restaurant or at a Vegas buffet are both meals out, right? Technically yes, but the experiences are worlds apart.
Rather than choosing between just a few pricey service options, Korean spas offer a bounty of wellness treatments and choices that will soak, plunge, steam, scrub, knead, then feed your stress away.
Instead of a waiting room between your massage and/or facial, Korean spas encourage patrons to luxuriate in specialty rooms dedicated to wellness (with heated floors or walls made of clay, jade or other crystals.) In addition, there are hot tubs, cold plunges, steam rooms and saunas. And most spas also feature a cafe with hearty soups, dumplings and Korean BBQ to help deeply nourish yourself on your day of rejuvenation.
The Nakedness Factor
That’s all well and good but what about the nakedness? It’s true that customarily, everyone is nude when using a Korean spa’s single-sex plunge pools and saunas. Most veterans will tell you that any shyness you feel will be gone in 30 seconds as nakedness is just the norm in these places. You can always use a towel for some strategic cover, and these days, some facilities allow bathing suits for more modest patrons. If, however, semi-public nudity really isn’t your thing, it’s a good idea to check the spa’s policy first. (Korean spas generally offer both conventional massages in private rooms and open-room massages combined with a scrub.)
The Famous Korean Scrub
It might feel a little awkward at first being naked and scrubbed down with exfoliating mitts by a brusque ajumma or ahjussi. But it’s uniquely cathartic and a trademark service of the Korean spa experience. And there’s no arguing with the baby soft result when years of dead skin are expertly sloughed off.
Getting up on a plastic-covered hip height table is a slippery business, although I’ve been assured by more than one expert scrubber that no one’s fallen off yet. And the periodic rinses from a nearby bucket filled with warm water? Thoroughly cleansing. Your worries, along with mounds of brown dead skin, drain away. Do yourself a favor and build in a 30-minute, at minimum, soak/steam before a scrub. It’s essential. Removing many layers of dead skin is sticky work, even for a professional scrubber, and loosening those layers is key.
After the scrub, the cold plunge would be next must-do item on your Korean spa day. Koreans are not the only ones to recognize the rejuvenating act of submerging in an icy dip. Centuries of youthful Asian and Nordic faces and bodies should be proof enough of its regenerating effect. In fact, the installation of cold baths in high-end homes and spas are quite the trend these days. (Check out our deeper dive into the cold plunge craze.)
At most Korean spas, the entrance fee is waived if you book services. But if you’re pressed for time or aren’t in the mood for a massage or treatment, it’s completely fine to forgo services and just go for the hot tubs, cold baths, saunas, specialty rooms and delicious Korean food.
For a frame of reference, in Korea, frequent visits to a spa are much more of an everyday, and less of a special occasion, sort of thing.
What is a Jjimjilbang?
Traditionally, the term “jjimjilbang” referred to the shared coed spaces and specialty rooms that induce wellness through a variety of means. Jjimjil refers to a healing poultice that can be in the form of heat, cold, or other substance that reduces inflammation and cure illness. But now many Korean spas refer to the whole spa facility as a jjimjilbang. Seeing entire families napping on the heated floors is not uncommon at a Korean spa. And while the crystal, salt, volcanic rock, oxygen or clay rooms may seem a little hippie-dippie, people swear by them.
Relish the Food at the Korean Spa
Cafes are generally not something you’d expect inside a conventional Western spa. But if there is one on the premises, a small and green menu comes to mind. Salads or pressed juices and the like could be what’s available at a Western spa. But jjimjilbangs opt for a heartier take on nourishment. There, savory Korean menus offer meals that will truly feed the body and soul. Think meaty soups, spicy “street food,” Korean BBQ, etc. You could opt for a smoothie or a small side dish but why would you want to? An exception to the go-big approach, however, is enjoying the popular Korean shaved ice dessert, patbingsu, between rounds in the hot and cold rooms/baths.
Next Level Korean Spas and Jjimjilbang
Just to be a little extra, the evolution of the Korean spa in LA has ballooned to include gyms, lap pools and golf ranges in addition to the traditional spa services. (Century Day & Night Spa and Aroma Spa & Sports are popular examples of this trend.)
But for a truly immersive experience, staying overnight in a 24-hour Korean spa would be the next level. Opting to spend the night at a spa rather than go to a hotel on layovers or between parts of a multi-city vacation has long been a pro tip. An overnight spa night could be the ultimate staycation or it could be a deeply restorative way to start or end an urban adventure.
Dos and Don’ts: Korean Spa and Sauna Etiquette Tips
Dos
- Do Shower Beforehand: It’s customary to take a thorough shower before entering any communal baths or saunas to maintain cleanliness.
- Do Get Naked Where Appropriate: Unless there is a swimsuit policy, nakedness is the norm in the gender-separated bathing areas.
- Do Wear the Provided Clothing: In communal, co-ed areas like the jjimjilbang, wear the shorts and t-shirt provided by the spa.
- Do Tie Up Long Hair: Long hair should be wrapped in a towel or otherwise tied up when using the plunge pools.
- Do Respect Quiet Zones: Many areas in a jjimjilbang are designated as quiet zones, especially where people are resting or sleeping.
- Do Stay Hydrated: With various saunas and steam rooms, it’s easy to get dehydrated, so drink plenty of water.
- Do Try Different Rooms: Take advantage of the variety of saunas and rooms available, each offering different health benefits.
- Do Use Towels Appropriately: Small towels can be used for modesty in the gender-segregated areas and for wiping sweat in the saunas. Place used towels in designated bins.
- Do Follow the Scrub Process: If you opt for a scrub, soak beforehand as advised, and be prepared for a vigorous, though refreshing, experience.
- Do Relax and Enjoy: Take the time to unwind and enjoy the various facilities available at the jjimjilbang.
Don’ts
- Don’t Use Phones: For privacy reasons, cameras and phones are usually not allowed, especially in bathing areas.
- Don’t Be Loud: Jjimjilbangs are places of relaxation, so it’s important to keep noise to a minimum.
- Don’t Skip the Shower: Always shower before using communal facilities. It’s both a matter of hygiene and respect for others.
- Don’t Wear Shoes Inside: Shoes are generally not allowed inside the jjimjilbang. Your locker key should also unlock a smaller shoe locker at the entrance of the spa.
- Don’t Bring Outside Food or Drink: Most jjimjilbang and spas have cafes and bringing outside food or drink is typically frowned upon.
- Don’t Ignore Cultural Norms: On top of the posted signs, look around and follow other Korean cultural norms and customs within the spa.
- Don’t Stay Too Long in Saunas: For health reasons, it’s advisable not to stay too long in high-temperature rooms.
- Don’t Disrespect Personal Space: Especially in the bathing areas, respect others’ personal space and privacy.
Recommendations for the best Korean spas in the US:
Los Angeles
Wi Spa (24 hour)
2700 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90057
(213) 487-2700
Descanso Garden Spa (9:30am-10pm)
7226 Foothill Blvd, Tujunga, CA 91042
(818) 352-2500
Century Day & Night Spa (6am-12a daily)
4120 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90019
(213) 693-1523
Aroma Spa & Sports (6am-10pm M-F, 7am-10pm Sat, Sun)
3680 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010
(213) 387-2111
New York Metro Area
King Spa (9am-2am)
321 Commercial Ave, Palisades Park, NJ 07650
Free daily bus service from Manhattan K-town to King Spa
(201) 947-9955
The SPA Club (8am-12am) (No cold baths)
22 W 32nd St, Suite 4F, New York, NY 10001
(212) 502-4185
Spa Castle (Temporarily closed for renovations)
13110 11th Ave, College Point, NY 11356
(718) 939-6300
DC Metro Area
King Spa (Sun-Thurs 9am-11pm, Fri-Sat 9am-12am)
25330 Eastern Marketplace Plaza, Chantilly, VA 20152
(703) 957-3010
Parkside Spa & Sauna (9am-10pm)
4371 John Marr Dr, Annandale, VA 22003
(571) 378-0235
Atlanta
Jeju Sauna & Spa (24 hours)
3555 Gwinnett Pl Dr NW, Duluth, GA 30096
(678) 336-7414
Chicago
King Spa (9:30am-11:30pm)
809 Civic Ctr Dr, Niles, IL 60714
(847) 972-2540
San Francisco
Pearl Spa & Sauna (Women only) (7am-7:45pm, By appointment only)
1654 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 580-7142
