Why You Should Visit a Jjimjilbang (Public Bathhouse)

If you walk down a side street in Seoul or Busan, you will inevitably spot a sign featuring the character ♨ or the word sauna blinking in neon. Beneath it, you will likely see the term jjimjilbang (찜질방). While it is often translated simply as a “public bathhouse” or “sauna,” the reality is a multi-story ecosystem that serves as a cornerstone of Korean leisure culture.