Relax: South Korean Spa Guide

Renowned for its advanced technology when it comes to beauty treatments as well as preserving its traditional wellness culture of jjimjilbang (traditional, gender-segregated Korean bathhouses), South Korea is the place to go for some proper pampering treatments!

Let's get one thing straight - Koreans are damn serious about taking care of themselves. Many of their spas and wellness retreats are round-the-clock and feature calming hot and cold soaking pools, places to bathe and have a massage, as well as saunas, entertainment areas and communal sleeping rooms. What more could you ask for?!

It may be tough to pick one of the many options out there. So, we’ve listed some different beauty treatments and spas across various budget ranges in Korea worth checking, many that are located conveniently in Seoul! We'll also give you some handy tips on etiquette and how to have the most authentic spa experiences in South Korea!

You've probably visited, or at least heard of, at least one hot spring or hot spa in your life - for most Aussies and Kiwis, places like Mornington Peninsula or Rotorua are the first names that come to mind. These oases of wellness can be found throughout many countries, and are definitely a highlight to add to any travel itinerary.

With that being said though, the traditional Korean spa jjimjilbang may not be as well-known. Derived from the words jjimjil ('heated') and bang ('room'), jjimjilbangs are a one-stop shop for wellness and relaxation, and are popular as weekend getaway for many Koreans.

We don’t want to spoil the surprise, but it’s nice to have a heads up as to what you can expect when you visit a traditional Korean spa. So here are some things to look out for. Jjimjilbangs are so popular; it’s common for mates to meet up in them on a Friday night. The fancier spas have restaurants, places to get your hair and nails done, outdoor swimming pools and karaoke facilities on top of saunas and baths. If you want to level up even further, there are also luxurious spa retreats operated by some of the most high-end Korean skincare brands - South Korea is truly a mecca for skincare and beauty fanatics!

If you’ve seen a traditional South Korean bathhouse experience on a K-drama or movie, you’ll know these bathhouses are more than spas and saunas. With your Admission Ticket To Dragon Hill Spa, you’ll get a taste of why these places are such an important part of Korean culture. Dragon Hill is a Seoul spa, and one of the best examples of Korean wellness culture, a huge facility featuring various saunas and baths with various temperatures, an outdoor pool, scrub rooms, massages and sleeping spot to name just some. If you're visiting this place in a group, whether with family or friends, it's also worth mentioning that they have a huge arcade games room, as well as a children's playground. With so many options available for all visitors, it’s easy to spend a whole 24-hours here. Convenient location, transport accessible and a cheap hotel alternative. Aaaaaaand… exhale!

If you find yourself in Busan, there’s an activity you need to be part of. Get your Hurshimchung Spa Experience with Jjimjilbang Ticket in Busan and visit one of the oldest and largest spa facilities in the country. This is an authentic spa with an incredible 40 baths where you can relax inside a cave! Klook this one-of-a-kind activity and enjoy 5 wonderful and rejuvenating hours.

Step into the traditional oak wood sauna of Traditional Korean Bathhouse in Insadong. In this beautifully decorated Korean-style bathhouse, you can treat yourself to a massage, facial, hair scrub and more.

Feel yourself relax as you make your way from the hot tub to the Korean kiln sauna and massage tables. After you’re feeling calm, have a Korean exfoliator give you a full body scrub, using a Korean exfoliating mitt. The pampering continues with a soothing oil massage to release the knots in your muscles while a cucumber or seaweed face pack is applied. And your hair isn’t left out either – treat your scalp to a spa rinse and conditioning treatment. Best of all, it won’t even make much of a dent to your wallet!

After a day at this spa, you’ll be sure to feel as great as your skin looks! Whether you’re looking for a little boost of health, a chill place to hangout with friends and family, or looking to pamper yourself with some beauty treatments, this is the place to be!

Located just a little outside of Seoul is a German-style spa resort which is the Icheon Termeden Spa, which feature indoor and outdoor pools. What started out as a hot spring spa has now turned into a multi-resort complex complete with hotels, a golf driving range, horseback riding and more. A sight to behold is its outdoor pool, surrounded by a thick forest.

Enjoy the steaming waters of the bade pool, where water jets provide an underwater massage and revitalize the skin. Swim, play, or soak in this Incheon hot springs water stream pool, or try one of the many sporting facilities and its arcade. If it looks familiar to you, it’s because you might have recognised it from hosting the popular reality show, Running Man!

Sometimes the best beauty treatment you can get is just a nice warm soak in the hot springs!

You can easily visit Termeden Spa & Resort on a day tour from Klook to wind down after a shopping marathon at Yeoju Premium Outlets.

...then Sulwhasoo is certainly a name that’s no stranger to you! Now imagine a spa using all Sulwhasoo products. Is that heaven or what? One of the few spas in the flagship store, the Sulwhasoo Balance Spa is great for visitors of all ages looking to relax and restore balance into their bodies.

Choose from various packages best suited for your needs, such as Vitality Care, a four-layering mask treatment, Calming Care, which helps maintain a soft and supple skin texture, and many more! After experiencing the products for yourself, you can also shop and bring home those Sulwhasoo products.

Enter one of the most luxurious and high-end spas in South Korea where you will experience a pampering treatment like no other! Let your skin be treated by the medicinal herb products from premium cosmetic brands like OHUI, Whoo and SU:M.

Whoo Spa is also a favourite spot amongst Korean celebrities and visitors from around the world namely for its stellar reputation, quality products and proven results. Whichever package you opt for, the expert hands of the professional beauty therapists will definitely have you feeling like a celebrity as well.

When you first get there, you’re likely to find lockers. Open it up, put your shoes inside and head to the front desk to pay and hand over your locker key. Depending on the establishment, you’ll either be given a new key for the changing room or you can use your shoe locker key throughout. Front desk should give you a towel and some cotton PJ’s. These days, loads of jjimjilbangs have electronic keys which act as your tab, and staff will add services to it during your visit. If it’s not pictured, remember nam (남) is for men and yeo (여) is for women.

Most jjimjilbangs are split into two areas: baths for same-sex and communal saunas. Most opt to wash, sauna, wash, so the sweaty bit is in the middle! The changing room is where you’ll first have to drop your dacks in public, so take a deep breath and just do it! If you’re headed for the baths, you’ll need to get nude and bring only a small towel and toiletries. If you’re headed for the saunas, kit up in your PJ’s and wear your locker key around your wrist. 

It’s time to bathe, so wash up. See the washing stations and stools? Sit on one and use the soap and wash yourself. Make sure your hair is tied up, then you’re tub-ready. Bath temps range from 38°C to 42°C, with a cold tub too, and most jjimjilbangs have indoor and outdoor baths. Remember, the perfect soak-time is 20 minutes, and remember to keep your heart above water to stay safe. Koreans love exfoliating, so have a Korean body scrub once – those ajumma’s (aunties) wearing scrubbing mitts will give you a scrubbing to remember.

Korean saunas, known as hanjeungmak, are clay or stone kilns which are heated from 50-90°C, so not too hot. Lie down on your hemp mat, and you’ll feel the heated stone warming you gently as your troubles slip away… ahhhh! Make sure you hydrate with sikhye (a sweet traditional fermented rice drink), or grab an egg that’s been sauna-steamed – ask for maekbanseok gyeran.

Jjimjilbangs are open 24-hours, and for marginally more than your entrance fee, you can choose a sleeping room. These vary with each establishment. From a little room with a thin mattress to a capsule-like hotel with a little privacy. You may be able to ask for a women-only or a non-snorers room, and some have blankets for rent. You can also use the mixed, common room to watch some communal TV and enjoy the massage chairs.

It’s time to leave your spa experience behind. Hand your locker key in at the front desk and settle your tab. When you’re square, get your locker key and be reunited with your shoes.

Before you set foot in a jjimjilbang, get acquainted with the unspoken code of manners and customs. Here are some simple rules to follow to make sure you’re spa-ready. 

Don’t fight the naked thing. In a jjimjilbang, status quo is nudity, so get your gear off and join in. Pretty soon, you’ll lose your inhibitions and forget there are nude strangers all around. And don’t try and keep any of your kit on – it won’t fly!

Make sure you’ve taken your makeup off because when you get there, it’s mandatory to shower. After that, you’ll be in and out of saunas, baths, steam rooms, and there’s nothing worse than mascara-smudge panda-eyes. 

Locals are so used to being naked together, they don’t bat an eyelid. The areas are often under bright lights, and you may get lots of looks. Your best bet is to try not to stare, look down, after a while, you won't care anymore.

Get to know your body and how you’re reacting to the saunas and hot tubs. Don't be a hero; know your limits in terms of scalding hot temperatures and switching between degrees. Don’t push it. 

Don’t miss out on an oil scrub. But be warned – this is not your average scrub – it’s the most vigorous rub down you’re ever likely to have. The good news is it’ll take off all your dead skin and leave you silky smooth.

Don’t be ‘that person’ who talks loudly and spoils the silence. People go to the spa to relax and get away from all the noise. Respect the quiet and go with it. 

Korean spas are no place for your device, so put it in your locker. Besides, it’s way creepy to have it with you when everyone’s nude! And besides, the high temps aren’t good for your tech, and you’ll want to stay in the moment if you want to get the most out of your visit. 

Don your clothes again before you eat. You may have spent a good degree of time naked, but there is a line, and eating is it. Don’t eat nude, it’s that simple. And besides, you’ll save yourself from any unfortunate chopstick spillage!

Korea is full of surprises, and has a lot of hidden gems! Want to learn more about Korea? Plan out any future explorations with our other guides.