soak club ask, share, meet.

You pay at the front desk, get a locker key, towels and often a set of lounge clothes, then head to the gender-separated bath zone. There you shower, soak in hot and cold tubs, and can book a seshin, Korea’s traditional full-body scrub.

At a jjimjilbang, you then change into the lounge clothes and move to a shared floor with heated sauna rooms, an ice room, snacks like baked eggs and sikhye, and space to nap. Most people stay a few hours; some places let you stay the night.

Shower thoroughly before getting into any tub. Bath areas are naked and swimsuits aren’t worn, so leave your towel outside the water and keep your hair out of the tubs. Phones and photos are a no in the bath zone.

On the jjimjilbang floor, wear the lounge clothes you’re given, keep your voice down in rest areas, and take breaks between hot rooms. Tattoo rules vary by place, so check before you go.

Yes. The bath and shower areas are always separated by gender, and that’s where everyone is naked.

At jjimjilbangs, the sauna rooms and lounge floor are shared by everyone, which is why you wear the lounge clothes there. Couples, families and friends of any gender can hang out together on that shared floor.

Yes, in the bath area. Everyone bathes fully nude there, and swimsuits aren’t worn. Once you change into the lounge clothes you’re given, you can head to the shared sauna floor.

Very. It’s the most common worry from first-timers, and most say it fades within 10 to 20 minutes. Every age and body type is there, and locals treat it as an everyday routine, not something to look at.

You may get a few curious looks, especially at small neighborhood bathhouses where foreign visitors are rare. It’s curiosity, not judgment. Bigger, tourist-friendly spas see foreigners every day.

Yes. Private seshin shops give you a one-on-one room with your own tub and scrub table, by reservation. Many are women-only.

Yes, that’s common and completely fine. The no-clothing rule only applies inside the bath area.

Usually, yes. Most bathhouses and jjimjilbangs in Korea let tattooed guests in, and small tattoos are rarely an issue. A few places post no-tattoo signs, and rules can differ by venue or even staff on duty, so check the spot page before you go.

Older guests at traditional neighborhood bathhouses may look, since tattoos were long linked to gangs in Korea. Large modern spas are generally more relaxed.

A full-body exfoliation done by a trained scrubber (ttaemiri) with a rough mitt called an Italy towel. You soak first, then lie on a table while dead skin is scrubbed off from head to toe. It takes about 20 to 40 minutes and is done fully nude.

It’s firm and intense at first, and thin-skinned spots like the inner arms can sting. It shouldn’t be painful, though. Ask for lighter pressure any time: “salsal haejuseyo” means “gently, please.”

At a public bathhouse or jjimjilbang, a basic scrub is usually around ₩20,000–40,000 on top of entry. Add-ons like an oil massage or cucumber face pack cost extra. Private one-on-one shops usually charge ₩80,000–150,000.

Scrubbers sometimes suggest add-ons like an oil massage. You can say no. Check the price board before you start so you know what’s included.

Public bathhouses are cheaper and the real local experience. Private shops cost more but give you a quiet room, your own tub and no other guests, which makes them an easy first step.

Shower, then soak in the warm tub for 15 to 20 minutes so your skin softens. Take off jewelry and contact lenses. Get scrubbed before the hot sauna rooms, not after.

Overdoing it can irritate skin, so keep it to once a week at most. Skip it after sunburn or if you have a skin condition, and see a dermatologist if a rash or itching shows up afterward.

Cleaning of tables and towels varies by venue. If hygiene worries you, pick a private scrub shop that sanitizes the room after every session.

Put your shoes in a shoe locker, pay at the front desk, and collect your locker key, towels and lounge clothes. Undress in the gender-separated changing room and wash thoroughly before any tub. After the bath zone, change and head to the shared floor. Extras like food or a scrub go on your locker key and are paid at checkout.

Going straight to the shared floor without washing first is the most common first-timer mistake.

Usually ₩7,000–20,000. Small neighborhood bathhouses are the cheapest, often just a few thousand won. Big spas and overnight stays cost more.

A mogyoktang is a neighborhood bathhouse: tubs, sauna and scrub only. A jjimjilbang adds a shared floor with heated theme rooms, a snack bar and places to nap. Small mogyoktangs are the most local experience you can get, and they’re busiest in the morning.

Towels and lounge clothes are provided. Small neighborhood bathhouses often only have bar soap, so bring shampoo, body wash and skincare, plus a hair tie.

Rarely. The routine is simple, and big spas are used to foreign visitors. At small local places, take a photo of the price board and point to what you want.

Try sikhye, a sweet cold rice drink, with baked eggs. It’s the classic jjimjilbang snack.

Many are open 24 hours and let you stay overnight for a night fee. You sleep on mats on heated floors or in shared sleeping rooms. It’s cheap, but it’s not a hotel.

Generally, yes. Pick a place with a women-only sleeping room or a women-only jjimjilbang. Keep valuables in your locker, not beside you, and ask the front desk about luggage storage.

Maybe not. Common complaints are late-night talking, hard floors and weekend crowds. Bring earplugs and an eye mask, and arrive before late evening to get a good spot.

Often not. Many places don’t allow re-entry once you leave, so check before stepping out.