Jjimjilbang in Korea: should Muslim travellers go?

A jjimjilbang is a Korean public bathhouse and sauna complex, and it appears on some itineraries as a local experience. Whether to join is your own decision. You can take part at your own level, or skip it, without ruining the day for anyone.

What does a visit actually involve?

Most of the visit happens in two kinds of space. The bathing areas hold the hot and cold pools, and they are normally separated by gender. Guests bathe there unclothed, so it is a place where the body is seen by other people of the same gender.

The lounge and rest areas are different. Guests usually wear provided clothing, and these areas can be shared between men and women. Rules, layouts and what you must wear vary by facility, so read the facility’s own page or ask the operator in writing.

Should I go?

It depends on how you cover yourself in front of others, which differs between Muslims and between families. Some travellers are comfortable in the lounge areas and skip the bathing. Others skip the whole stop. Both are reasonable choices.

If you want a ruling, ask your own ustaz or the state mufti office. We explain the practical side only.

• You wear hijab and keep covered around other women: the bathing area will probably not suit you. Check whether the lounge is open to you.
• You are a couple: the bathing areas will split you by gender, so agree beforehand where you will meet.
• You travel with teenagers: talk about it before the day, not at the door. Our guide to teenagers on a Muslim family holiday covers shared decisions.
• You travel with older parents: hot rooms can tire them, and a changing area may be hard to manage. Ask what seating and help exists.

What can I do instead?

You do not need a replacement that sounds like a punishment. Plan something you actually want, in the same time slot.

• A slow afternoon at your accommodation, with a long soak in your own room bath if it has one
• A visit to Seoul Central Mosque in Hannam-dong, which opened in 1976¹
• A cafe stop, a walk or a rest while the group is elsewhere
• A massage with a same-gender therapist, if you have confirmed that is available

Our Seoul guide for Muslim travellers lists areas to base yourself, so an alternative can be close to where you sleep.

What should I send the operator?

Copy these before you pay.

• “Is there a bathhouse or sauna on any day? Is it compulsory?”
• “If we do not join, where do we wait and for how long?”
• “Can we take a different activity in that slot, and is any refund or credit involved?”
• “Please confirm the answers in writing.”

The list of arrangements to confirm in writing shows what else belongs in that message.

What next?

Decide your own level first: none, lounge only, or whatever your ustaz advises. Then check each day of the itinerary against it with the prayer-stop itinerary checklist. For the wider planning, read our South Korea guide and the country and city guides.