Bang Installment #1: Jimjilbangs (Saunas)
Bang in Korean (pronounces like “bong”) literally translates to room. The bang is much more that a mere word for room in this country though….upon arriving in Korea you quickly learn that the bang is a culture of its own here. There are PC Bangs (internet and gaming rooms), Noreabangs (karaoke rooms), DVD Bangs (where you can rent a movie with a friend and watch is on a big screen in your own private room), and of course there are the jimjilbangs (saunas).
Bath house and sauna culture is something I experienced many places in Europe, from the luscious Hungarian baths in Budapest to the crazy Turkish bath experience I had in Istanbul. A 60-year old turkish man beating me into a marble slab and then tossing scolding hot water on me….not my idea of a relaxing time, although oddly enough I felt better afterwards.
I almost feel sorry for my American friends back in the states though, that this isn’t a part of the culture there. I think many Americans carry a negative and dirty connotation to the idea of going to a bath house or sauna, probably because they’ve never been to one, or at least never to a legit one like in Europe or Asia. Anyway, the jimjilbangs here are really quite an experience. They are not strictly saunas and baths, there are other components as well.
The sign for jimjilbangs is universal throughout Korea (featured here), so if you’re unable to read Hangul you can look for the trademark sign and you’ll know you’ve found one. When you’re told what the sign is, you start noticing these places everywhere you look!
They are a great place to just get away and relax for a few hours. The best jimilbangs are the ones with about 6 or more levels with a wide array of things to keep you relaxed and happy. First things first though, you walk in, put your clothes in a locker and take a shower (by now the men are separated from the women, it’s not co-ed here, haha). Then you can enjoy any number of baths ranging from different temperatures…some are green tea filled, some have special minerals, some are freezing cold while others boiling hot. Many Koreans will spend a few minutes in the super hot bath, and then go straight into the freezing cold one, hopping back and forth a few times. This is really difficult to do, but I tried it and it definitely opened my circulation and is supposed to be really good for you!
One of my favorite parts is the salt sauna. You walk in and rub yourself down with salt, which is sitting in this giant bowl in the center of the sauna. Then you just sit there and sweat it off in the heat. Man oh man does your skin feel good afterwords!! Contrary to the traditional sauna, they also have “ice rooms” that you can sit in and freeze your butt off! These are great for the summer months.
When you’ve had your fix with the baths and saunas, you can change into some pajamas and go get your haircut at the barber, have a manicure/pedicure/massage, relax on the rooftop terrace, grab something to eat at the restaurant, or go to the sleeping rooms and take a nap (heated floors in the winter so this is super nice!).
Jimjibangs are so cheap (the most expensive are around $10) that this is often a great option if you’ve been out partying with friends in the city and don’t feel like taking a subway back home. You can all go to a jimjibang and sleep in the sleeping rooms, then eat and shower the next day before you head back home! There is probably more to say about the Korean saunas that I’m forgetting….although talking about them makes me want to go again. I’ve only been a few times, but they are so nice that I really should take advantage of them more now that I live here.
In fact, there is one in the building right next to mine! I haven’t been yet, but the pictures look really nice so maybe I’ll check it out. All the pictures in this entry btw were not taken by me. Something tells me they wouldn’t like me walking around taking pictures of naked people, haha. That being said, jimjilbangs are frequented by families who will make it an entire outing. The women will go off to their designated levels for bathing, as will the men. Then you can reconvene in one of the TV rooms and hang out together in the full recliners. This is actually one of the reasons I haven’t visited the jimjilbang next to me yet, or one in my area for that matter. I’m too scared I would run into one of my kids there. Can you imagine relaxing in the sauna by yourself, the door swinging open and hearing “LOREN TEEECHA!!! HELLO!!!” No thank you.
Alright, well I’m off. Tomorrow I’m going to Damyang and Boseong with some friends to visit the big Bamboo Forest and the green tea fields. It’s all supposed to be very picturesque, and you-know-who is bringing his camera!