A Jjimjilbang (찜질방) is a large, gender-segregated public bathhouse in Korea, furnished with hot tubs, showers, Finnish-style saunas, and massage tables, similar to a Korean sauna or mogyoktang. Jjimjil is derived from the words meaning heated bath. However, in other areas of the building or on other floors there are unisex areas, usually with a snack bar, ondol-heated floor for lounging and sleeping, wide-screen TVs, exercise rooms, ice rooms, heated salt rooms, PC bang, noraebang, and sleeping quarters with either bunk beds or sleeping mats. Many of the sleeping rooms can have themes or elements to them. Usually Jjimjilbangs will have various rooms with different temperatures to suit your preferred relaxing temperature. They inlay the walls with different woods and minerals to make the ambient mood and smells more natural.
Some Jjimjilbangs are themed. In Jeju-do in the south there is a Coffee themed Jjimjilbang that has a coffee bath. Many have what can be called an international style with a general theme but no set look to it. It can seem random until you uncover the inspiration.
Most jjimjilbangs are open 24 hours and are a popular weekend getaway for Korean families. During the week, many hardworking Korean men, whose families live out of the city for cost savings, stay in Jjimjilbangs overnight after working or celebrating with co-workers late into the night. Jjimjilbangs are also popular with Korean women, and traditionally, Korean mothers used to take care of themselves in rooms made of red clay for three weeks before giving birth.[1]
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Jjimjilbangs are always to be kept very sanitary and are often cleaned constantly. This must be done as for the overall health of patrons, no harsh chemicals are used in the waters or saunas.
All wet areas are nude for safety. With the extreme heat of the baths and steam rooms, it is believed that chemicals can leach out of swim apparel and toxify the body. It is also believed that if you are in a swimsuit or cover up you may be trying to hide a disease.
Recently, the hygienic quality and healthiness of some jjimjilbangs were questioned, especially about the jjimjilbang clothes not being washed properly. Concerns about the clothes increasing atopic symptoms in patients, or even of accidentally hosting parasites, were voiced, although inconclusive. [2]