Jjimjilbang (찜질방): Visiting a Korean Spa and Sauna in Seoul (목욕탕 - 실로암 사우나)

Nothing is a more immersive Korean cultural experience than to visit a Korean Jjimjilbang (찜질방) also known as a Korean bathhouse (목욕탕) and/or Korean sauna (사우나).
In this travel video from Seoul, South Korea we take you to our favorite Korean Jjimjilbang - Silloam Fire Pot Sauna ((실로암불가마사우나). Located from within walking distance of Seoul station this 24 hour Korean bath house is kind of known as my home away from home considering I've been going there almost daily.
Audrey, on the other hand, was a total Jjimjilbang newbie, and I had no idea how she would react to her first experience. Although she avoided the naked sauna section, my favorite part of the whole experience, we ventured upstairs to floors two through five to experience all of the unisex areas including the traditional Korean restaurant, snack bar, lounging and sleeping areas and rooms, gym, arcade, PC bang and sleeping caves.
The procedure for entering a sauna is always the same. First you pay at the counter, where you're handed your outfit, before entering the male or female changing room where you remove your shoes and place them into a small shoe locker. Once you retrieve the key from that locker you greet another attendant who hands you a key for your main locker where you change your clothes by either stripping down naked or putting on your shorts and t-shirt.
In the naked sauna bathing area you can go from various kinds of saunas (jade to minerals), steam rooms, hot tubs and showers.
When you get hungry consider trying any of the following Korean food staples found at a Korean Jjimjilbang:
식혜 (Sikhye) Korean sweet rice drink
팥빙수 (Patbingsu) Korean dessert with shaved ice, beans, fruit & syrup
미역국 (Miyeokguk) Korean seaweed soup
맥반석 계란 (Gyeran): slow cooked baked Korean eggs
Overall a stay at a Korean Jjimjilbang shouldn't cost more than ₩10,000 (day) to ₩15,000 (night). Be sure to check it out!
The Korean Sauna we visited (directions):
Silloam Fire Pot Sauna (실로암불가마사우나)
49, Jungnim-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, Korea
서울특별시 중구 중림로 49 (중림동)
Hanja (沐浴湯 - 房)
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Jjimjilbang (찜질방): Visiting a Korean Spa and Sauna in Seoul (목욕탕 - 실로암 사우나) Travel Video Transcript:
Well hello hello. For today's video we're going to take you to a Jjimjilbang (찜질방) which is a Korean bathhouse and spa.
Yeah, so this Korean sauna (사우나) is really popular - especially on the weekends with families. People of all ages. So we're going to give you a complete tour aside from the naked parts.
Yeah, because there is more to a bath house than just scrubbing down and getting naked. Apparently, they also have rooms where you can nap, watch Korean dramas, eat food. So we're going to show you all of that.
And the place we're taking you is probably one of the most famous bathhouses in all of Seoul. And it is massive. There is basically five floors. So we're going to give you a really good tour of that. Let's go.
So we've been in the Jjimjilbang for a few hours and I think we're ready to wrap up the experience. This was my first time here and it was pretty cool. Even though I didn't go in the showers or the sauna. Maybe next time. Maybe next time. Well, I got the full experience here and I have to say for the price you pay it is only ₩10,000. Ten thousand Korean Won. Which is about roughly say about nine US dollars.
Just a bit over that. It is incredible value. Like I think something like this maybe in North America or Europe might be fifty or one hundred dollars. So to be able to come here for such a cheap price and experience all of these cool rooms and get full access for the sauna and Jjimjilbang.
It kind of feels like you're going to a hotel for the weekend. Or like a spa. It really does Yeah, so you're just very relaxed and lounging around. It is a pretty cool experience. You can see why it is so popular here in Korea and if you find yourself traveling in Seoul or anywhere in Korea, because you can find these all over Korea, definitely check out a Korean sauna, Korean bathhouse and Korean Jjimjilbang.
This is part of our Travel in South Korea video series showcasing Korean food, Korean culture and Korean cuisine.
Music in this video courtesy of Audio Network

[@partenos]

Jjimjilbang? Oh what a wonderful thing i need one here! And the food looks delicious !

[@samuelandaudrey]

Yeah, they're really cool! I wish they existed in more places around the world.

[@ngothuyvann]

sam & Audrey. .you guys are awesome! !!

[@samuelandaudrey]

Thanks! We are really having fun making videos in Korea :)

[@Mrkennykwak]

I didn't know that Korean SPA is such a fun place like that, which might look some weird for you western people though. I hope to keep seeing how you are experiencing Korean fun culture through these series.

[@samuelandaudrey]

Thank you! We'll have plenty more videos to come. Yeah, the Korean spas are great and a fun way to spend an afternoon on the weekend.

[@tinahuttner7280]

Well its cause people in the states were able to bath in those big crates way back in the old farm days.people had excess to them.people in the Asian countries didn't so they all bathed in rivers, that's why they have these bathhouses, its part of their culture, they're used to bathing out in the public. They have the same concept in turkey although I don't know their reasoning in having them.

[@St0phatred]

I love your passion for Korean Food. You guys even learn the names of the dishes. Cheers!

[@samuelandaudrey]

Thank you! One of our favorite cuisines in the whole world :)

[@zenseed75]

Such a relaxing thing to do. ❤️

[@michellec6407]

Siloam is honestly the best jjimjilbang I've stayed at in all of Korea. I highly recommend it there and am so glad to see other travellers going there! :D

[@samuelandaudrey]

That is so cool to hear! Yeah, we loved it. I went several times a week.

[@MissHernandez27]

Loved the #ootd portion of this vlog! 😊 Again loving the vlog aspect of this video!

[@samuelandaudrey]

Thank you! I think we'll try to vlog more often. We enjoy that format as well from a filming point of view :)

[@speakerscoach]

Im super impressed with your knowledge and pronunciation of Korean food

[@HeL-qu8lb]

Awesome! Today I went to Korean sauna in Canada and pretty good. There are just a couple of rooms though, not that much compared to Korean ones. Think you guys really did a complete tour for people!!

[@r.c.a6751]

Thanks for visiting korea (Sorry for my English)

[@samuelandaudrey]

Thanks! We loved visiting!

[@Chiamex]

fascinating....thanks for sharing 👍

[@lukehinkle9614]

I was in Seoul but too long ago for me to appreciate in that I didn't go to a spa like you all went to. I was living 50 miles south in Osan Air Base area for a year, and it was a totally loud party atmosphere... Not my cup of tea, but that is how it goes in the military sometimes.

[@samuelandaudrey]

Oh, that is cool to hear. We used to visit Songtan to pickup deodorant and grab foreign food (especially Mexican) when I lived in Pyeongtaek back in 2012. Yeah, that area did have a party atmosphere. If you can revisit Korea again sometime maybe visiting places like Gyeongju or doing a Hanok stay will give you more of glimpse at traditional Korean culture.

[@Dingo7423]

Luke Hinkle You can find Jimjilbang all over US too. LA, Portland, San Jose, atlanta...

[@PradeepRaajkumar1981]

Fruit Glaceir Jelly with ICE wow... I feel cool now...Dears

[@samuelandaudrey]

So refreshing on a hot day :)

[@shinyshield6646]

That's g-r-r-r-r-e-a-t-e video. And you were look so funny! XD Also Korean foods are hot or spicy and cold or sweet. Well I think you'd better look forward to it. I hope you enjoy your stay in South Korea! :) -Korean who are not good at English

[@samuelandaudrey]

Thank you very much! We sure love being back in Korea and eating street food is always amazing.

[@Heavenandearth33]

Wow that was so cool to see!

[@Heavenandearth33]

I don't know if you follow FunForLouis, but he just went to North Korea. That was very interesting to see as well!

[@samuelandaudrey]

Thank you! We love going there :)

[@samuelandaudrey]

Ah, I do know of his channel but had no idea he was in North Korea right now.

[@Rosselyn73]

Thank you guys for sharing this fun experience for us. I Love every single one of your videos. I Really wanna go to S. Korea one day it looks amazing.

[@samuelandaudrey]

Thank you very much! We are really excited to be making as many as possible in Korea this year and next year. We hope to make a really long series that lasts for several years :)

[@blueberry28.]

I like the T-shirt. Go Cubs!

[@samuelandaudrey]

Thanks Keith! Maybe this is the year?

[@pelaoo000]

love your videos guys! regards from Chile!

[@samuelandaudrey]

Thank you very much!

[@jcbaily5559]

Great video, thanks.

[@samuelandaudrey]

Thank you very much!

[@iinindri5317]

audrey, she is very cute 😁

[@samuelandaudrey]

Thank you! :)

[@FunandBudget]

Here in the DC metro area, it's about $40 for 12 hours.

[@samuelandaudrey]

Oh, that is cool to know.

[@PradeepRaajkumar1981]

Loved the Crispy Rice...

[@samuelandaudrey]

Thanks!

[@traveltogether301]

cool... ☺☺

[@samuelandaudrey]

Thanks!

[@babosing]

I prefer you guys doing more vlogs type videos like this, instead of just food tasting

[@samuelandaudrey]

Thanks! That is definitely something we're planning for Korea. We'll mix it up more :)

[@richiesd1]

I agree. Food tasting.... Kinda boring BTW, cute couple. I love it that you guys are happy and positive about traveling the world.

[@bp3382]

Opposite for me, I always skip to when they are eating

[@PradeepRaajkumar1981]

I am eating SHIN RAYUN from South Korea from Asian groceries in Melbourne..Just adding with all white onions... BULGOGI and Korean Sushi and any rice based dishes and spices soups... KOREAN Hot pot and Dumplings Please....

[@samuelandaudrey]

Wow! Sounds like you're getting some great Korean food these days :)

[@sspiegler]

Audrey, your Canadian accent is so adorable that I am hoping you have a single, twin sister! :)

[@samuelandaudrey]

Thanks! No luck on that front ;)

[@LA7777777777]

I agree with +babosing , definitely prefer these videos!

[@samuelandaudrey]

Thank you! We enjoy this format as well. I think we'll do them more often :)

[@thatbitch8795]

i’m going to korea next fall, and i’m thinking of visiting a jjimjilbang! although as a finnish person i’d like to know, how hot are the saunas? if there aren’t any over seventy degrees i’m not sure if it’s for me.

[@samuelandaudrey]

Oh, they can be VERY hot. Forget the exact temperature but a good sauna will have warm, hot and super hot options.

[@PradeepRaajkumar1981]

WOW nice cool place Dears... SPA adn Sauna...

[@samuelandaudrey]

Thanks! We really enjoy going there :)

[@PradeepRaajkumar1981]

Samuel & Audrey yummy

[@PradeepRaajkumar1981]

Samuel & Audrey MY Korean Noodles in Facebook Page facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10210117505480028&set=pcb.1063796083700862&type=3&theater

[@PradeepRaajkumar1981]

Samuel & Audrey facebook.com/groups/Bangalore.Foodies/permalink/1063796083700862/

[@williamchoi808]

I’m Korean (living in US), but I don’t get the sleeping quarters. Why can’t they sleep at home? :/

[@samuelandaudrey]

Maybe a cab or the subway is either not available or expensive at that time of late night or early morning.

[@percyquea]

excelente ,

[@samuelandaudrey]

Gracias!

[@PiLavigne]

Hi, I want to ask about the food there at Siloam. Are they more expensive, compare to normal prices in normal restaurants in Seoul?

[@samuelandaudrey]

Maybe slightly but the quality is excellent. You can get meals for like 8000 to 10000 won if I remember correctly with lots of side dishes.

[@PiLavigne]

@@samuelandaudrey thank you for the info :3

[@A-Oreal]

SPA ...I could use one right now!:)

[@samuelandaudrey]

Great way to relax! :)

[@meishiru.0]

Quick question: when you put on the shorts and t-shirt they provide you with, do you keep your underwear on? Going there in November and didn't want to be a total newbie. Thanks.

[@samuelandaudrey]

Yeah, I would recommend doing that.

[@meishiru.0]

Samuel and Audrey - Travel and Food Videos That probably sounded like a ridiculous question but I thought they might want to strip you entirely of your outside clothes. But thanks for responding. I am a new subscriber and I love how multi-lingual you both are. You guys are living the dream!

[@더블디-z5u]

So cute!!!

[@samuelandaudrey]

Ah, thank you! :)

[@-namedactors3151]

Hello, this is the channel Nata Studio, where post the monologues of actors. The video you uploaded is so sentimental and nice, so can I use it as an insert for the upcoming video? It's a script about stories going on in the bathhouse. I will make sure to write down the source and use it. 안녕하세요, 배우들의 독백연기를 올리는 나타스튜디오'라고 합니다. 올려주신 영상의 느낌이 너무 감성있고 좋아서, 곧 올라올 영상에 인서트로 좀 사용해도 괜찮을까요? 목욕탕에서 일어나는 이야기들에 관련된 대본이라서요...! 출처는 꼭 기재하고 사용하도록 하겠습니다.

[@samuelandaudrey]

Send us an email please.

[@user-hd3mm6tg4e]

Welcome

[@samuelandaudrey]

Thanks!

[@AshiyaWhitley-ShawVeganAthlete]

"JEJU" in Atlanta(Duluth), is $25/24 hours. Much smaller than this one, but AMAZING nonetheless.❤🤗✊

[@samuelandaudrey]

That is cool to hear! That is a pretty reasonable price to be honest.

[@abuzarov]

So the saunas - not charcoal or ice or any of these, but real saunas - are in the male or female separate areas? And you go there naked? Another question - is that ok to wear slippers there? I don't want to get any fungi on my feet.

[@evakkosiili6390]

I's like to experience korean saunaculture when i have a chance. its lot of different than we have here (where the word sauna is also from :D), but we have saunas almost in every house and it changes whole consept a lot.

[@knowyourhistory]

Mmm the first thing I'd eat back in Korea would be the sam gyeop pork belly or the jajang noodles. I wonder if Korea has any decent pizza places now.

[@samuelandaudrey]

Ah, those are two of our favorites as well. A samgyeopsal video will be coming out very soon :) We'll try some pizza while we're here for sure.

[@MiskkaMuskka]

Wha! U guys know korean sauna!

[@samuelandaudrey]

We just loved that sauna. Miss it so much.

[@MiskkaMuskka]

Oh i love to very much im 14 :D

[@paulmanzano88]

Hello Samuel and Audrey, Do they offer body scrubs here?

[@samuelandaudrey]

Yeah, actually it is quite easy to arrange one and then you pay for it as you leave. Basically it is added to your tab.

[@tinahuttner7280]

They use mitts and since you off as they do it.they don't use any products, so pretty much its just your basic things, no extra stuff like doing your hair or doing hand and feet.

[@vunisnice]

hello guys does you know is there available for luggage storage? did you know how much is it? i have a plan to go there on 11 feb. thx. 😊

[@samuelandaudrey]

Sorry I'm not sure because we didn't stay overnight. I did notice people with luggage though so I'm sure it is possible for them to store it for you.

[@Dingo7423]

dewi vun-vun running 24 hours, charge more.

[@papitravel8409]

hello did you know, how about with luggage storage? is there any luggage strorage, and how much it is? i have planned to go there this feb directly after arrived in incheon airport. or does you know how to get there? :)

[@samuelandaudrey]

Thanks! I'm not sure about luggage storage but I've seen people at the sauna with suitcases before so that makes me think they offer it. In terms of visiting it is easy to reach from the airport because you can take the train to Seoul station and then it is walking distance from there.

[@Dingo7423]

papi travel I think runs 24 hrs, but charge little bit more. My friend came from Italy, stays in Jimjilbang one whole week. but it was Jimjilbang in New York. You can google and check it out.

[@김양수-o8p]

실로암사우나 이름부터 맘에 드는군요^^

[@samuelandaudrey]

고맙습니다! 나는 여러 번 재 방문했고 그처럼 좋은 장소입니다. 직원들은 친절하고 친절합니다.

[@JJ-yu6og]

Audrey, don't know how you sleep there. The ones I have gone to are so noisy. :(

[@samuelandaudrey]

She was really tired...hahaha

[@LaskimsCoreanas]

Is there anybody who watches this vidio in 2019??? hahaha

[@etto-unnie4630]

Las kims, Coreanas Here from Korea. I had to explain about Korean sauna to my French friend. I found this video from google and I immediately sent this to him. It’s a perfect one for his understanding about Korean sauna! haha

[@pamveeee]

you guys are back in korea?

[@samuelandaudrey]

Yes, we are :) So happy to be back!

[@estherhwang822]

HAVBBSBSBB i went to one near my house and it was fun but it was 12 and ovr so my bro couldn’t go, hopefully in korea he can!

[@cesarvaldivia7701]

How do you guys finance this lifestyle?

[@samuelandaudrey]

We work online with our blogs and videos and do some freelance things as well.

[@tinahuttner7280]

A lot of Korean bathhouses can be economical, just your basic stuff.entrance fee but then you pay for the body scrub, seems A lot cheaper vs your average western spa that have all the fancy services.

[@boomshroomgoonmoon]

If I had a dollar for every time Samuel blinked I would have no money

[@samuelandaudrey]

LOL

[@radhikapatel1221]

Why they eat in the spa?

[@samuelandaudrey]

A lot of people spend the whole day at the jjimjilbang, so there's a restaurant on site to enjoy your meals.

[@yesno9065]

목욕을 하고 땀을 빼고, 차가운 곳과 뜨거운 곳을 왔다 갔다 하면 배가 고픕니다.

[@joshpuffpufftekken]

Nothing like a smoking hot bath house tour

[@samuelandaudrey]

Hahaha...thanks!

[@kimmariam2626]

What about body scrub?

[@samuelandaudrey]

You can use a special hand towel for that.

[@김양수-o8p]

번역기 돌린건가요? 아무튼 재미있네요^^

[@samuelandaudrey]

이 비디오의 한국어는 자동 번역되었지만 우리가 직접 작성한 영어 원본입니다.

[@norah3874]

She looks like Amy Winehouse

[@markGil23]

Wonder if customers with tattoos can go😢

[@jongwooseo7010]

외국인들은 대부분 식혜 싫어하던데.... 알갱이가 씹히는 음료계열은 다 싫어하던데..... 이분들은 괜찮으신듯

[@samuelandaudrey]

어쩌면 그것을 좋아하지 않는 외국인에 대한 사실이다 그러나 우리는 정말 그 음료를 즐기며 한국의 주위에 여행하는 동안 우리는 자주 마신다.

[@SINGINGINPUBLICMaryLee]

Samuel and Audrey hahaha😜 Did you use Google translation~? this sentence looks so weird & cute at the same time.

[@GypsieGaming]

really not an emphasis on the spa/sauna. the food did look good though

[@georgec8210]

The one in Toronto looks nicer lol

[@noseefood1943]

discount simon and martina.

[@samuelandaudrey]

I think they moved to Japan these days.

[@noseefood1943]

yeah traitors.. j/k lol

[@SINGINGINPUBLICMaryLee]

Noseefood oh~ 그 표현은 좀... 본인들이 원한다면 어디든 갈 수 있죠~ 좀 껄끄러운 비교영상을 찍어서 욕을 먹었긴 하지만.. 그 동안 한국문화 알리는데 많은 공헌해주셨다고 생각합니다

[@기러기오빠-d9r]

한국문화 알리는데 공헌했다기 보다는 한류에 편승했었죠. 일본으로 간 뒤에 그들이 먹고 사는 방법은 .... 한국을 디스하면서 일본만세더군요.

[@김영민-v5s]

잇유어김치 사이먼마티나하고 헷갈리신듯

[@손현준-w9h]

Sadly, entirely the korean language (I think you use google translation or something) is incollect. It is not make sense.

[@corinnewendler8795]

Bim Bat

[@michaelewing6522]

I have to tell you the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I have never been to any spa nor a Korean spa. The only spa that I have is my bathroom with shampoo, conditioner and bubble baths

[@samuelandaudrey]

Want to try the public spa?

[@michaelewing6522]

@@samuelandaudrey No. I would prefer the Korean Spa

[@youngbcho7873]

서양사람은 생선을 못먹는 사람이 많던데 왜그런 건가요?

[@nonosimsim]

먹기 싫어서 스스로 못 먹는다고 생각하는거 같아요.. 동양쪽은 밥이랑 짭쪼름한 생선이 어울리지만, 서양은 빵이랑은 별로 안어울려서 익숙하지 않은 음식일테니까요..

[@내가니형이다]

어렸을때부터 먹어왔으면 잘먹는데 바닷가로부터 멀리 떨어진 내륙 지역에서 살아온 사람들은 해산물을 어렸을때부터 접해볼 기회가 적어 해산물을 잘 못먹습니다.

[@jongwooseo7010]

못먹는게 아니라, 익숙하지 않아서 그런거에요. 일단 서양 특히 유럽쪽은 바다를 인접한 국가들은 해산물 굉장히 많이 먹어요. 하지만 내륙쪽 국가들은 거의 안먹고, 미국인들 거의 안먹고, 익숙하지 않은 음식. 하지만 생선 전체가 아니라, 생선중에서도 도미, 동태, 연어, 같은 일부 스테이크 형태로 굽거나 스튜가 가능한 생선들은 많이 먹고, 갑각류 (새우, 게, 랍스터,) 많이 먹어요. 그 외에는 대부분 잘 안먹는다고 보면 됨. 아 그리고 굴이랑 홍합은 많이 먹음 모시조개나 백합 같은것도

[@MrRabbitMrYou]

🎉❤🎉❤ 첳아요

[@bluesky-pb9di]

What if someone has std ? 😲gross.

[@성이름-o8l8l]

뭐하냐 ㅋㅋㅋ