Korean Job Discussion Forums

[NYC_Gal]

After the initial shock of being completely nude around strangers (not American puritanism. Just the fact that they STARE if you're a foreigner), I've become quickly addicted to these lovely places. I don't go to the one near home, because I'd feel strange running into some of my elementary kids, but the one in Itaewon (Itaewon Land, just past Hooker hill) is fantastic! I'm especially fond of the puhan (cupping), which leaves me looking as though I'd gotten into a fight with a big octopus.
Does anyone know any other great ones in Seoul?

[Italy37612]

The jimjilbang in Itaewon *shudder*. I don't want to know how many STD's are breeding in that place.

[Saskatoongirl]

i go to one around the corner sometimes before work, my bathroom's sometimes freezing cold in the morning. its really nice to have as long and hot a shower and bath as you want, it does take some getting use to being the only naked white person.

[The Gipkik]

Watch out for the Athlete's Foot and foot fungus. Almost guaranteed if you go often enough. I don't know if you can wear plastic sandals inside, but it might be worth a try.

[GreenlightmeansGO]

Never going. I am a man.

[hellofaniceguy]

Hey baby, let it all hang out!

[soviet_man]

There are 2 notable saunas in Itaewon.

The Hamilton Hotel sauna is quite good, except for the mysterious pool containing green water, that I have never been able to figure out.

The sleeping area is quite gay with a fair amount of gay sex going on, especially after midnight. Although it is not as gay as the explicitly gay Hyundai Sauna across on the other side of the street and up the hill slightly to the left.

There used to previously be another good ground floor sauna behind behind Geckos down the hill a little on the right-hand side, but they have turned it into a resturant so that is history now.

I guess in terms of sauna traffic, there is always a lull at around 5pm-7pm when they empty out: the old ajosshis have finished for the day, but the twinks haven't arrived.

[Forward Observer]

[kimiki]

i used to love them too when i lived in a big city and i was also thinner. people were quite sophisticated there and rarely stared and in fact were usually very kind to me...sharing food with me, smiling, giving me those blankets that you have to pay for. i used to go every week and i looked forward to it so much-- it was truly the highlight of my life in korea, in many ways....

then i moved to a small town, injured my foot, stopped my regular workouts and started using junk food as a stress release. i have gained kind of an embarassing amount of weight and the koreans love to torture me about it. if i go to the jimjilbang here it's a very unpleasant experience. i miss the old days a lot.... so make the most of it, nyc gal, if you're enjoying it i'm happy for you....

[Illysook]

I used to go to Itaewonland and on the women's side, the tubs feature these fountains that are very large replicas of male genitalia and I always wondered if this was also true of the men's side, or if perhaps the guys were looking at large replicas of female pudenda. Does anyone want to answer this question? (I hope that it doesn't violate TOS.)

[JBomb]

I go down here in Busan all the time. Especially on Sundays after a weekend out on the piss.

[NYC_Gal]

Oh I carry a tube of Lamisil cream (8,000 won at Homeplus), which I put on before and after showering, then again in the morning when I leave. I wear slippers in the jimjilbang area, and go barefoot in the shower/tub area. My first month here I caught a wicked case of athlete's foot from a restaurant and had to use an entire aerosol spray can of Lamisil over the course of 3 weeks. I'd packed for "just in case."

The one in Itaewon is decent. I'm still careful where I sit! That's what towels are for!

A tip: put the cream on your toenails as well. I researched, and that nasty fungus you see on toes here (Women hide it with polish. Don't let that fool you!) is caused by the same fungus that causes AF. I recommend not wearing polish whilst living in Asia. I use the cream at least once a week to ensure I don't catch anything, and my feet look lovely.

[DorkothyParker]

What's the cost for these kinds of places? Do you pay for individual services or...? Are they fairly common? Like could I find a local one I could spend the afternoon at? Or would I have to go ALL the way to Itaewon or the like? Is there an easy way to recognize one at street level?

I ask questions because I am curious. Although, I am still to shy to even shower at my gym.

[PatrickGHBusan]

Went to the bath houses in Busan all the time when I lived there. Great places to relax.

The comment on athletes foot is valid. Just take measures against it like drying your feet completely, between the toes included. Have some cream on hand if something pops up and treat it right away...it then goes away before it spreads. I have been lucky and never had any issues with athletes foot. Some friends have however.

As for the staring...it varies and honestly it depends on what you do. If you look out for stares then guess what...you will see more and probably create more.

If you frequent the same places often, the stares stop quite fast...

Anyway, great places to go and relax for half-day.

Dorothy the price depends.

In Busan the largest spa (onchonjang) costs 8000 Won and includes access to the jimjilbang.

The newer place, Spa Land, that is part of the Shinseagea mall charges 8000 won before 8am and over 10 000 won after that time.

I do not remember the prices in Seoul however sorry.

[Kaypea]

Itaewonland is about 5000 won, isn't it? It's less that 10,000 won.

Does anybody know some good jimjilbangs around the Ilsan Lake Park/ La Festa area? For some reason, I'm really shy about going into strange jimjilbangs for the first time. I need somebody to reccomend one, or to take me to one.