An important part of Korean culture is the so-called Jjimjilbang. A Jjimjilbang is a public bathhouse consisting of traditional saunas and pools. The latter are not used to cleanse the body; this should be done thoroughly before entering the thermal pool.
Therefore, it is unsurprising that some establishments even allow customers to sleep there overnight. When visiting a traditional Korean bathhouse, certain procedures are expected, and strict rules must be followed.
Grey clouds, cold wind, pouring rain? I had already read a few things before my trip, but my very first visit still felt like a test of courage. Standing there like a clueless idiot and not understanding anything is embarrassing. Yet, being a butt-naked, clueless idiot is even more humiliating. As I had left my comfort zone several times during my trip to Korea, I dropped my pants — literally — and went head over heels for yet another adventure.
My initiation visit to a Mogyoktang was in Andong. I entered hesitantly. Sitting behind a dark reception desk was a young man, practically still a teenager. When he saw me, he hectically gesticulated. Oh, I should have taken my shoes off already as I entered the building, got it! However, what an embarrassing start. Quite a bargain. First, I had to lock my shoes in a small box. In exchange for the shoe locker key, the teenager handed me a key to a locker. The changing room, or better undressing room, that I now entered had absolutely nothing in common with the glitz and glamour.
A grumpy-looking old woman sat on a bench and watched TV. There were long rows of simple lockers. I looked for number 82, took off my clothes, and locked them in. The lady watching TV rolled her eyes dismissively and pointed wordlessly at a large glass door without even looking at me. I hesitantly opened the fogged door and peeked inside. Ah, so there was no separate shower area. Showering and soaking and sweating all took place in one single room.
