Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Billy Danze]

I'm black? I get a lot of stares as it is, and it's kind of funny to me, doesn't bother me at all. However, my friend wants to go to a jimjilbang this weekend and I've never been. Some people have said I'd probably get a lot of stares, and it might be uncomfortable. Do you guys have any thoughts on this?

[Khenan]

You won't get many more stares than us white folk... Which is to say not many. This depends on where you are, of course, but I'd definitely recommend trying it at least.

[daemyann]

Probably no worse than any other foreigner, although exceptions for idiots are obviously possible. Just remember, they look at you a lot less when you're not looking at them to see if they're looking at you.

[schwa]

[Joe Boxer]

Don't listen to these guys, you're going to get tons of stares! It sounds like you're ok with it, though, so have fun

[mcviking]

Just don't do any meat spins and I think you will be ok.

[verloc]

I went to two jimjilbangs with a black mate who was visiting from Japan. We went to Dragon Hill in Yongsan, which is probably the most foreigner visited one in Korea, and Central Spa at Express Bus Terminal. He wasn't made to feel uncomfortable in either place, but then again he's been to onsen all over Japan and doesn't have any issue with staring (which happens there as well).

In short, don't pay too much heed to any scare stories; those who tend to spout them are not regular bathhouse patrons and offer inaccurate advice. Staring happens, it's rarely meant with the same connatations as it is in the West, but if you are still worried, go to Dragon Hill (if you're in Seoul, that is).

[Alphabet_Stew]

The only time I have been stared at in a sauna was once in a sauna next to Mongchontoseong station (near Olympic park sports university)

and a group a young Chinese adolescents came into the sauna.

They were a visiting sporting team over here for some kind of training or sport game and once they spotted me in the sauna, they came right up to me and with eyes open as wide as possible and their mouths open as if in shock, literally stared right at my body parts.

I just walked out and thought maybe they had never seen a nude non-asian before.

However, Korean people rarely stare in the sauna.

[Stalin84]

[Illysook]

Last year, I loved the sauna. This year, I find myself uncomfortable.

What changed was my location. Last year, I was in an area that was more remote. No one tried to talk to me. I've been to the sauna once in the last three months. The women there were teling me about memberships and exercise classes and how they go there every day. All this chit-chat with naked strangers was a little out of my comfort zone.

[sigmundsmith]

not in a jimjilbang but in a gym. the first time i joined and worked out i was the novelty. everyone was impressed how this foreigner could lift so much weight without looking in the mirror and rolling up their sleeves to see if their muscles have gotten bigger in the last minute

and then i went to the shower and of course the looks were there. i shave (and trim) so am not a forest. but then they saw my tattoo on the small of my back. nothing too intimidating just something personal

ever since then no one tried to talk to me.

so maybe you could get a tattoo if you are worried about attention

[mc_jc]

I loved it when an idiot used to stare at me when I went to a sauna in Korea.
What I used to do was that if a person stared at me hard, I would simply stare back, lower my gaze and raise my eyebrows a few times. They would then look at me in disgust and call me a "pyuntae" and look away.
They never stared at me again

Worked like a charm

[notafbiagent]

This is a terrible story but I have a black GI friend who I used to go to jimjilbang with. We used to get stares pretty much all the time, but eventually after a few looks they won't really care and just tend to do their own business. Even Korean ajjushi's know it's not polite to stare in the tub. Eyes on the road and all that jazz.

Well, this one time we went to this awesome seawater jimjilbang in Incheon. After showering we go to soak in the HUGE indoor saltwater tub with jets. We slide into it and as soon as we do a few people got up to leave. Walking away from us they said in Korean "damn n****r is going to dirty up the water." Thankfully my GI friend didn't speak korean and I didn't have to heart to tell him what was said. It really sucked since most of the time jimjilbang is such a pleasant, racismfree experience. We don't go jimjilbang in Incheon anymore.

[Caffeinated]

[Harpeau]

The Hamilton Hotel Sauna is very foreigner friendly. I see people from every nation of the world there. It's a good JimJillBang. But be aware that some may consider it a quazi gay pick-up joint. If someone should approache you and that's not your thing, just simply tell them that you don't bat for that team. They'll leave you alone.