The Aclipse Blog is Produced by Current Teachers in Korea!

The Korean jimjilbang is right up there with kimchi and they may in fact both compete for the top spot. They are well-known elements of Korean culture. Jimjilbangs are large public bath houses (mostly gender-segregated) and can be found on almost every street in Korea. Some are more fancy than others, but most have a handful of hot baths, showers, saunas, massage tables, lockers, sleeping areas and social meeting spaces. Jimjilbangs are usually open 24 hours a day and many people visit them to bathe, relax and sleep. Many rooms, including the saunas, have special minerals, woods and stones to create a soothing sanctuary and provide elements of traditional Korean medicine. The Korean jimjilbang is a familiar and calming oasis for all Koreans. Each is a mini spa that caters to your every need. They are more prevalent than Starbucks shops and you can spend a day in one for the cost of a latte and a snack. They sound perfect, right?

Most neighborhoods have similar stuff going on unless you get to live in one of the more exciting areas of Seoul like say Hongdae (university party scene.) But a lot of times teachers get into a groove and don't even explore their immediate location. Just to educate and maybe motivate, here is a short list of what I dig around Pyeongchon and Beomgye station.