Korean bathhouses (jjimjilbang) have earned recognition overseas, not for being flashy or luxurious (though they can be), but for the communal experience they offer. Though many feature restaurants, computer rooms and small theaters, one thing remains simple -- the scrub, or "seshin."
courtesy Dragon Hill Spa
First, soak —
Before getting worked on by a scrub mistress -- who work in black, lace underwear, by the way -- patrons soak in a pool for at least 30 minutes, preferably in medium-hot water.
Courtesy Spaland
Skip the shower gel —
Scrub mistresses say bar soap, not liquid shower gel, should be used in the pre-soak shower. "If you use body shampoo, the skin gets too slippery to scrub properly," says one veteran scrubber.
CNN
Pick a pool —
All jjijilbang have different pools. Water temperature ranges from arctic cold to molten hatefulness.
courtesy Dragon Hill Spa
Bed time —
When it's scrub time, customers lay down naked on plastic beds and wait for the scrub mistress to work her painful magic.
CNN
Weapon of choice —
The "Korean Italy towel" has a sandpaper-like texture that scours dead skin off the body. Imagine you're the engine block of a '92 Hyundai -- now how would you clean that?
Elizabeth Eun/CNN
Relax! Relax! —
Although the process can be awkward and painful, relaxing the muscles helps the scrub mistresses get at every nook and cranny.
CNN
It's fruity vinegar time! —
After the scrub, weary customers can reward themselves at the snack bar. Fruity vinegar drinks are popular -- they're said to be good for the skin.
