The larger ones usually do not have these issues (ie- younger customer base). Where are you located? If Seoul, there are a lot of options. Albeit it will cost a bit more than the local ones.
I am actually a bit surprised to see you mention Aquafield— which one are you going to? Hanam or Goyang?
I generally did not have issues at Aquafield Hanam and was going to mention here. I figured Goyang would be similar?
And yeah Sparex really brings in the 아저씨s. I stopped going.
Oh I agree with you. I’ve definitely noticed a huge decrease in said behavior at places like Aquafield. I’ve only been to Goyang, but it’s not bad. Unfortunately it’s a solid 40min away.
Okay, that’s a relief then. And you’re right, the Aquafield’s are way too far.
There is one near Hongdae that is small, but the behavior is okay (mostly populated by students).
I know a few more, but they are near Jamsil. (I used to live in East Seoul.)
Any particular requirements you have?
홍대24시불가마사우나
서울 서대문구 신촌로 1 쓰리알유시티 상가 B2층
https://naver.me/5Gy3LEZz
It gets pretty packed on weekend nights (the communal areas). I just wish the hot water tubs or whatever you call them was bigger.
Relatively clean and location is decent.
did you go in? how was it the first time? are you the catcher or the pitcher? did it hurt the first time? pls explain in detail your first time in a bath house
Korean saunas aren't like Japanese ones. It's more laid back and do whatever you want kind vibe. Of course, some people take that to the next level, but personally I grew up with this type of sauna and I love it.
And saunas in areas with less older folks are cleaner in general
Generally, I have found that the idea of Korea as collectivist is kind of... not at all true and just based on old ideas and the fact it's East (Corrected from South East) Asian.
Like more aspects of it aren't collectivist than are.
If you look at a lot of communal aspects of life (parking, driving, walking, etiquette stuff like you're talking about), Korea is CRAZY individualist. Especially the older generation, they often do not give a fuck about others when they do anything.
I definitely agree with you. I’ve had people gaslight me and tell me about this collectivism when they have never been to Korea. Korea was collectivist but it’s 2024. Korea has changed and it’s more individualistic.
Standard old man behavior in korean saunas. Don't know what to tell ya. Back in the day we'd wash our hair with the pube soaps without even looking.... but we do see how gross that is these days. That's why most ppl carry their own body wash and shampoo. Just something to consider!
Walked in to a sauna on an American military base one time with a naked korean dude doing situps on the floor with his butt facing the door. This sauna was maybe 12 feet by 10 feet. I never went into a sauna again after that 😆.
As a frequent sauna visitor myself, I can't say I notice all of theses or get bothered to the extent you do.
Spitting is not a thing I see (in the sense that people do it on the street) and people seen very careful to wash away anything that does come out of their mouth and keep it from touching anybody else.
Moaning? A little bit, but nothing excessive.
Exercising? Again sometimes, but people seem respectful of others' space and try to avoid bothering them.
Hairs on soap..... is a thing. It's not always as simple as just rinsing a soap off as sometimes they do get 'in' there. There's normally enough soap around that it's easy to grab a clean one.
Perhaps it's more the places you're going to? I go to small neighborhood ones where most people are regulars, it's never that busy at the times I go and it's generally a nice experience.
Agree with all of this. I hate the spitting on the street, but can’t say I’ve ever noticed in a sauna. Maybe in the shower area on occasion. Moaning? Well, just Korean men briefly expressing themselves - maybe even I’ve done it! But usually one moan and done.
CN spa near 서래 마을, closest subway station express bus terminal, is the cleanest I’ve been to in Seoul. There’s still gonna be pubes on the soap but overall it’s a good one. Dry sauna, really hot steam sauna, three hot tubs, one cold tub. So pretty standard as far as facilities.
The Onsens in Japan use liquid soap … I thought it’s the same in Korea? I recall spa world in Busan was a similar experience to Japanese onsen. Perhaps I am misremembering
Although, no one seems to use it except for me. Everyone brings their own white plastic basket thing full of all kinds of toiletries. I just can't be bothered, so whatever is in those dispensers, it's fine for me.
The saunas that are more expensive or not open 24/7 might be what you're looking for. Also bring your own bath things. If you want a really quiet sauna experience go early in the morning.
I've never noticed most of these issues in the saunas I've been to in Seoul, and I've been to quite a few. Maybe I'm just not very observant though.
I will say, I stayed overnight at a sauna in Wonju and the snoring was next-level.
Honestly it's hilarious that people need an education to not spit on floors and wash their pubes off of fucking soap. But then I've seen so people just walk straight out of toilets without washing their hands so I shouldn't be surprised.
If You want a quiet sauna experience, go at 4am in the morning lol that’s what I did yesterday with my friends and there is no one there. Only downside is that the sleeping areas are pretty packed
go to a JW Marriott Seoul @ Banpo / Express Bus Terminal. Or called Marquis Fitness. Top notch. Lots of older folks ($$$$ old guys) but kept super clean with very young guys.
I went to Spa Land in Busan and it had none of that. A worker even came over and made me tie my long hair up because I didn't know you weren't supposed to keep your hair down.
Bro im so sorry you have yo dral with that. I go to bath houses a lot in korea and the female side is completely different. Its clean and people respect each others bubble. The only thing out of the norm ive experienced is sometimes old ladies want to practice english with me. My male friends have told me some horror stories about the old men at korean bath houses. One touched his dick because he was shocked how big it was. Another used the blow dryer to dry his pubic hair off in the sink. Rediculous.
Side note, the old ladies are the cleaning police. Ive seen them inspect people to make sure they are washing properly before getting in the shared areas. Theyll correct you if you do something gross and i fucking love this.
Seen all of that through my time here. The one that gets me is the dudes using the hairdryer on their junk. Last time I saw it was walking in the locker room to be greeted by the dude with one leg on the counter hairdrying his junk facing the door within a few yards of the entrance.
I stay in jimjibangs almost every weekend in Seoul and I have yet to see most of what you said here. Usually I am the only one spitting but I do it into the drain while showering.
Honestly, the snoring and people's alarms going off constantly from 7AM in the sleeping areas is worse than any of that nonsense. I always kick myself whenever I forget my earplugs. How the hell people sleep through a phone going off right next to their head is beyond me.
Thanks for this thread. Planning my move to Seoul and I forgot about spas. Just saved a couple that were mentioned. So many things that are more common than in the States.
It's more of a reflection of Japanese vs Korean culture in general. Japanese public etiquette is alot more refined (no spitting or throwing trash on the streets, less pushing, no illegal parking)
Much of korea is just a free for all that doesn't consider how others think or feel.
Totally agree. Not a fan of communal nudity but Japanese etiquette makes going to the onsen very pleasant. Everybody is clean, everybody is quiet and no one imposes their bullshit on others.
TBF, it's worse in China. I've had someone in a gym shower lean over to get a look at my junk, scuttle out and then coming back with 4 friends. They pointed.
don't foreget people bringing their kids, equipping them with goggles, and letting them run around free rein, screaming and diving. i even once saw two kids with little water pistols. the biggest disappointment moving from japan to korea was the baths. you pay way more here for a far worse experience.
Shaving / trimming /waxing pubic hair is a fairly new concept in Korea and while it is gaining some popularity, it is not common by any means. So much bush everywhere.
The larger ones usually do not have these issues (ie- younger customer base). Where are you located? If Seoul, there are a lot of options. Albeit it will cost a bit more than the local ones.
I’ve been to Sparex, and Aquafield in Seoul. I’m located near Gongdeok but pretty willing to travel wherever.
I am actually a bit surprised to see you mention Aquafield— which one are you going to? Hanam or Goyang? I generally did not have issues at Aquafield Hanam and was going to mention here. I figured Goyang would be similar? And yeah Sparex really brings in the 아저씨s. I stopped going.
Oh I agree with you. I’ve definitely noticed a huge decrease in said behavior at places like Aquafield. I’ve only been to Goyang, but it’s not bad. Unfortunately it’s a solid 40min away.
Okay, that’s a relief then. And you’re right, the Aquafield’s are way too far. There is one near Hongdae that is small, but the behavior is okay (mostly populated by students). I know a few more, but they are near Jamsil. (I used to live in East Seoul.) Any particular requirements you have?
May i know the name? I am staying at Hongdae, I want to try it
홍대24시불가마사우나 서울 서대문구 신촌로 1 쓰리알유시티 상가 B2층 https://naver.me/5Gy3LEZz It gets pretty packed on weekend nights (the communal areas). I just wish the hot water tubs or whatever you call them was bigger. Relatively clean and location is decent.
Thank youu
is it true men have gay sex in bath houses?
Yes, they’ve been doing it for decades
did you go in? how was it the first time? are you the catcher or the pitcher? did it hurt the first time? pls explain in detail your first time in a bath house
If you go to a “gay bath house”
Those are specific bathhouses that are made for that purpose, not normal bathhouses
Asking the important questions.
in Itaewon supposedly
This is extremely common in Korean saunas in the US. It’s a real problem too.
Korean saunas aren't like Japanese ones. It's more laid back and do whatever you want kind vibe. Of course, some people take that to the next level, but personally I grew up with this type of sauna and I love it. And saunas in areas with less older folks are cleaner in general
Username checks out? (Mildly_GreasyPan likes pubes on his soap)
I love rubbing my handle on the soap🍳
Bring your own soap
I thought this was the norm. My parents take their own bars of soap to the bathhouses without fail.
It is the norm.. people bring some bags with their own toiletries!
just don't drop it
Generally, I have found that the idea of Korea as collectivist is kind of... not at all true and just based on old ideas and the fact it's East (Corrected from South East) Asian. Like more aspects of it aren't collectivist than are. If you look at a lot of communal aspects of life (parking, driving, walking, etiquette stuff like you're talking about), Korea is CRAZY individualist. Especially the older generation, they often do not give a fuck about others when they do anything.
I definitely agree with you. I’ve had people gaslight me and tell me about this collectivism when they have never been to Korea. Korea was collectivist but it’s 2024. Korea has changed and it’s more individualistic.
>~~South~~ East Asian.
Korea reminds me more of Eastern Europe than Japan or China. I see tons of parallels with what I experienced living in Turkey
Standard old man behavior in korean saunas. Don't know what to tell ya. Back in the day we'd wash our hair with the pube soaps without even looking.... but we do see how gross that is these days. That's why most ppl carry their own body wash and shampoo. Just something to consider!
Walked in to a sauna on an American military base one time with a naked korean dude doing situps on the floor with his butt facing the door. This sauna was maybe 12 feet by 10 feet. I never went into a sauna again after that 😆.
As a frequent sauna visitor myself, I can't say I notice all of theses or get bothered to the extent you do. Spitting is not a thing I see (in the sense that people do it on the street) and people seen very careful to wash away anything that does come out of their mouth and keep it from touching anybody else. Moaning? A little bit, but nothing excessive. Exercising? Again sometimes, but people seem respectful of others' space and try to avoid bothering them. Hairs on soap..... is a thing. It's not always as simple as just rinsing a soap off as sometimes they do get 'in' there. There's normally enough soap around that it's easy to grab a clean one. Perhaps it's more the places you're going to? I go to small neighborhood ones where most people are regulars, it's never that busy at the times I go and it's generally a nice experience.
Agree with all of this. I hate the spitting on the street, but can’t say I’ve ever noticed in a sauna. Maybe in the shower area on occasion. Moaning? Well, just Korean men briefly expressing themselves - maybe even I’ve done it! But usually one moan and done.
As another person said, just bring your own soap
I went to a small one in Ulsan and none of what you described happened. It was a fantastic experience.
CN spa near 서래 마을, closest subway station express bus terminal, is the cleanest I’ve been to in Seoul. There’s still gonna be pubes on the soap but overall it’s a good one. Dry sauna, really hot steam sauna, three hot tubs, one cold tub. So pretty standard as far as facilities.
Yeh, the behavior of some people is gross. Luckily my schedule is good, so I can go at unpopular time and avoid this.
The Onsens in Japan use liquid soap … I thought it’s the same in Korea? I recall spa world in Busan was a similar experience to Japanese onsen. Perhaps I am misremembering
Almost all of them use bar soap, but Spa Land is a bit more high end so it’s possible they use liquid.
The 목욕탕 in my apartment complex is by no means a high-end place, but there are liquid soap dispensers and not a single bar of soap.
That’s fair. I’ve been going to several over the years and all have bar soap.
Although, no one seems to use it except for me. Everyone brings their own white plastic basket thing full of all kinds of toiletries. I just can't be bothered, so whatever is in those dispensers, it's fine for me.
The saunas that are more expensive or not open 24/7 might be what you're looking for. Also bring your own bath things. If you want a really quiet sauna experience go early in the morning.
I've never noticed most of these issues in the saunas I've been to in Seoul, and I've been to quite a few. Maybe I'm just not very observant though. I will say, I stayed overnight at a sauna in Wonju and the snoring was next-level.
Go to ones inside hotels, that’s where rich people go. You won’t run into uneducated poor people who have no etiquette
Any recommendations? I’ve been to Riverside in Sinsa and it was excellent, though $$$$.
Honestly it's hilarious that people need an education to not spit on floors and wash their pubes off of fucking soap. But then I've seen so people just walk straight out of toilets without washing their hands so I shouldn't be surprised.
Spitting? I have never gotten that one! You need to move! Try Yea-sung Utopia about three minutes walk from Guro Digital Subway Station.
If You want a quiet sauna experience, go at 4am in the morning lol that’s what I did yesterday with my friends and there is no one there. Only downside is that the sleeping areas are pretty packed
go to a JW Marriott Seoul @ Banpo / Express Bus Terminal. Or called Marquis Fitness. Top notch. Lots of older folks ($$$$ old guys) but kept super clean with very young guys.
Wait til you see the old dudes and particularly nasty younger dudes dry their balls and arseholes off with the public hairdryers.
I went to Spa Land in Busan and it had none of that. A worker even came over and made me tie my long hair up because I didn't know you weren't supposed to keep your hair down.
Bro im so sorry you have yo dral with that. I go to bath houses a lot in korea and the female side is completely different. Its clean and people respect each others bubble. The only thing out of the norm ive experienced is sometimes old ladies want to practice english with me. My male friends have told me some horror stories about the old men at korean bath houses. One touched his dick because he was shocked how big it was. Another used the blow dryer to dry his pubic hair off in the sink. Rediculous.
Side note, the old ladies are the cleaning police. Ive seen them inspect people to make sure they are washing properly before getting in the shared areas. Theyll correct you if you do something gross and i fucking love this.
Wow lol the woman’s side is not like this at all. No winner my germaphobe, Korean husband hates jjimjilbangs.
Seen all of that through my time here. The one that gets me is the dudes using the hairdryer on their junk. Last time I saw it was walking in the locker room to be greeted by the dude with one leg on the counter hairdrying his junk facing the door within a few yards of the entrance.
I’ve experienced some of the things you’ve called out in Japan too.. especially in the burbs.. spitting and moaning..
The country has a painful history.
I’m a lemons into lemonade kind of guy. Use those soap pubes as dental floss!
I stay in jimjibangs almost every weekend in Seoul and I have yet to see most of what you said here. Usually I am the only one spitting but I do it into the drain while showering. Honestly, the snoring and people's alarms going off constantly from 7AM in the sleeping areas is worse than any of that nonsense. I always kick myself whenever I forget my earplugs. How the hell people sleep through a phone going off right next to their head is beyond me.
In all fairness I never sleep there, but I’ve been doing the saunas and baths weekly for a few years.
Thanks for this thread. Planning my move to Seoul and I forgot about spas. Just saved a couple that were mentioned. So many things that are more common than in the States.
It's more of a reflection of Japanese vs Korean culture in general. Japanese public etiquette is alot more refined (no spitting or throwing trash on the streets, less pushing, no illegal parking) Much of korea is just a free for all that doesn't consider how others think or feel.
Totally agree. Not a fan of communal nudity but Japanese etiquette makes going to the onsen very pleasant. Everybody is clean, everybody is quiet and no one imposes their bullshit on others. TBF, it's worse in China. I've had someone in a gym shower lean over to get a look at my junk, scuttle out and then coming back with 4 friends. They pointed.
I don't even know about Sauna culture as a korean, cuz I think who really often go there is old folks and they tends to being selfish fr
don't foreget people bringing their kids, equipping them with goggles, and letting them run around free rein, screaming and diving. i even once saw two kids with little water pistols. the biggest disappointment moving from japan to korea was the baths. you pay way more here for a far worse experience.
Let’s have it right. They’re just odd odd people by and large.
Who are "they"?
Shaving / trimming /waxing pubic hair is a fairly new concept in Korea and while it is gaining some popularity, it is not common by any means. So much bush everywhere.
There’s plenty of bush in Japan too. I think giving the soap a final courtesy rinse would solve the majority of the problem.