Korean Job Discussion Forums

[juskajo]

heading to busan this weekend... would rather not shell out the cash for a hotel..

what exactly is the procedure for staying at a jimjibang? and how do i spot one? i know they're inexpensive, and i guess i don't really have any issues with public nakedness. what do i need to know?

[Bibbitybop]

http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/03/17/curiosity-killed-the-cat-or-made-you-touch-the-foreigners-johnson/

[genezorm]

your could go crazy and spend an extra 20,000 won on a cheap motel

[victorology]

There's a jjimjilbang in Busan above Haeundae that's quite famous. It's on the hill that overlooks Haeundae opposite from the Chosun hotel. You should check it out. Great view.

Anyway, you won't be naked while you're sleeping unless you want to sleep in the bath area. They give you clothes to wear while you're in the communal areas.

There really isn't anything you need to know. You could always just hop in a cab and ask them to take you to the closest jjim jil bang.

[sirfro]

Yeah, I reckon pay a little extra and sleep on a bed with some privacy.
In the jimjilbang you'll sleep on the floor with a wooden block for a pillow. Some places have vinyl covered cushions for pillows if you're lucky. Plus with people coming and going at all hours, you need to be a heavy sleeper if you want to get a good rest.

[pidgin]

Other places have large-scale bedrooms with single beds....comfy!

You'll be fine OP.

[talltony4]

naw bro, forget the jimjilbang, what you want is a Sauna. That "Sa-u-na" in korean.

look for a place that says Sauna 24hr. There will be separate mens and womans mok-yok-tangs (bathhouse) and attached to the bathhouse will be a sleeping room. Well that's for men, I don't actually know if they have the same thing for women, I presume they do.

Go up to the attendant and say "Jam-il ja go ship-ai-yo". I want to sleep. Thats so they will charge you the right amount and give you the t-shirt and shorts.

aw, but there are all sorts of variations. Some places don't have t-shirt and shorts, they just have robes that you can grab from next to the sleeping room.

Anyway, point of the story is the jimjilbang has mens and womans bathhouses, but communal sleeping. So there's people moving around and talking (women). The sauna is just a bunch of inebriated dudes getting some sweet, sweet shut-eye. They even have little sleeping mats and blankets and ondol heating. Usually pillows too. Like I said, sweeeet.

For that sort of a place I would expect to pay around 8000, maybe a little more. That is way cheaper than 30,000 for a yogwan.

Good luck!

p.s If you're female I think jimjilbang might be the only choice

[fortysixyou]

OP: Are you a light sleeper? If so, forget about trying to sleep at a jimjilbang.

Or prepare yourself for a night of listening to thirty old Korean men snoring, sneezing, slurping, grunting, farting, moaning, and talking in their sleep, while laying on a hard mat in a 35 degree celsius room.

I've tried several times to crash at a jimjilbang, and always ended up going home at 4:35 AM. Once I even brought earplugs, which were useless against the unbearable heat. Then some ajussi woke me up to tell me to put my cell phone in my pocket. Thanks, buddy.

Jimjilbangs are great, though....during the day.

There's a cheap yokwan right near haeundae beach, for like 20,000 a night. Private bed and bath, and climate control.

[daemyann]

Honestly, just go for a motel.

When I was there three weeks ago, I only paid 25.00/night for my hotel.

I can't remember the name, but it was in the foreigner area (Texas street).
Also, there were many others close by.
Coincidentally, it was right beside a jimjilbang.
As long as you aren't looking for much, (bed, standard basic amenities) you'll be fine.

[bassexpander]

You'll sleep on a hard floor in a sauna or jimjilbang. It's fun to do at least once though.