Cultural Experiences in Korea

South Korea offers a plethora of unique cultural experiences that are hard to find elsewhere. These experiences offer a deep dive into South Korea’s unique and rich cultural heritage, providing memories that last a lifetime. Here are a few that stand out. I hope you can experience all of them while staying in Korea.

jjimjilbang(찜질방):Korean Hot Spa

A jjimjilbang is one of the distinctive cultural experiences in South Korea, evolving from the country’s traditional public bathhouse culture. It serves as a comprehensive wellness center where visitors can bathe, relax, and engage in health-promoting activities. After taking a thorough bath, individuals typically proceed to lie on heated floors, which helps to warm the body from the inside out and facilitates the sweating out of toxins. Jjimjilbangs are not just about physical cleansing; they are considered social spaces where people can recover from physical and mental fatigue, and connect with family and friends in a communal setting.

These facilities boast various rooms with differing temperatures and themes, often constructed from natural materials like salt, clay, charcoal, and jade, each offering unique health benefits. Some jjimjilbangs also feature cold rooms, such as ice rooms, to provide visitors with the health benefits of temperature contrast. Beyond these thermal experiences, jjimjilbangs are equipped with amenities like dining areas, resting spaces, libraries, and even entertainment options including karaoke rooms, making them a versatile destination for leisure and relaxation.

Etiquettes and precautions for Jimjilbang

Visiting a jjimjilbang is highly recommended for those looking to immerse themselves in a unique aspect of Korean culture. However, there are some etiquettes and precautions to keep in mind:

Hygiene: Before entering the communal baths or jjimjilbang areas, a thorough shower is mandatory. This practice ensures cleanliness and respect for shared spaces.
Clothing: In the gender-segregated bath areas, nudity is the norm. However, jjimjilbangs provide uniforms for the mixed-gender communal areas, and it is important to wear these properly.
Noise Levels: While jjimjilbangs are social spaces, maintaining a respectful noise level is crucial, especially in rest areas designed for relaxation and sleep.
Personal Belongings: Most jjimjilbangs provide lockers for storing personal items. It is advisable to keep valuables locked up and to carry the locker key with you at all times.
Health Considerations: Spending prolonged periods in high-temperature rooms can be challenging for those with health issues. It is essential to listen to your body, stay hydrated, and take breaks in cooler areas as needed.

Overall, a visit to a jjimjilbang offers not just an opportunity to relax and detoxify but also provides a deep dive into a significant aspect of Korean culture. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, it’s an experience that can offer physical and mental rejuvenation.

Red Ginseng Charcoal Kiln Sauna:

Cultural Experiences — Jjimjilbang in “Kingderland”, Source: Netflix

One jjimjilbang that stands out, particularly among foreign tourists in Seoul is “Red Ginseng Charcoal Kiln Sauna.” In the drama “Kingderland,” this sauna is featured as the place where Guwon goes to meet his love.

The “Red Ginseng Charcoal Kiln Sauna” is a high-quality relaxation space, unique in Korea for having an indoor genuine charcoal kiln, as part of a traditional Korean spa.

Spanning over 1500 pyeong, it is the largest of its kind in Korea.

Open 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.

Contact Information:

Website: Red Ginseng Charcoal Kiln Sauna : Korean only

KakaoTalk:Korean Cultural Experiences for Communication

KakaoTalk, often simply known as “Kakao,” is a ubiquitous messaging app in South Korea, seamlessly integrating into the daily lives of Koreans. Beyond being just a messaging app, KakaoTalk serves as a comprehensive platform for a wide range of services, including financial transactions, scheduling, gaming, and more. Its importance in South Korea cannot be overstated, as it effectively functions as a digital Swiss Army knife in the palm of your hand.

To start using KakaoTalk, one needs to download the app from the App Store or Google Play Store, sign up with a mobile phone number, and create a profile. Once set up, users can add friends via their phone numbers or through Kakao ID, a unique identifier each user can create. The app supports individual and group chats, voice and video calls, and even allows for the sending and receiving of photos, videos, and various file types. Its user interface is intuitive, making navigation and usage straightforward for newcomers.

One of KakaoTalk’s standout features is its “Plus Friends” functionality, which allows users to follow their favorite brands, celebrities, and media outlets for exclusive content and updates. This feature exemplifies how KakaoTalk blurs the lines between social media and messaging platforms.

In addition to messaging, KakaoTalk is integrated with various other Kakao services. For instance, KakaoPay allows for easy and secure financial transactions directly within the app, enabling users to send money to friends or make payments at a wide range of businesses. Similarly, KakaoTaxi (similar to Uber) can be accessed through KakaoTalk, allowing users to conveniently hail cabs.

The app’s widespread use in Korea means that it’s not just a convenience but a necessity for daily communication. It’s common for businesses, from small shops to large corporations, to use KakaoTalk for internal communication and customer service. Socially, it is the primary means of coordinating gatherings, sharing news, and staying connected with friends and family.

For foreigners in Korea, adopting KakaoTalk is crucial for integrating into Korean social and professional circles. Its all-encompassing nature means that not using KakaoTalk can result in being out of the loop, both socially and professionally. In essence, KakaoTalk is more than an app; it’s a vital component of contemporary Korean life, facilitating communication, entertainment, and a myriad of services with a few taps on a smartphone.

Cultural Experiences to the Number 4 in South Korean Building Floors

In South Korea, a unique cultural and architectural practice exists concerning the numbering of floors in buildings. Instead of using the number ‘4’ to denote the fourth floor, it is common to see it replaced with the letter ‘F’. This practice stems from a combination of linguistic and superstitious reasons deeply rooted in Korean culture and shared with other East Asian societies.

The Korean word for ‘four’ is “사” (sa), which sounds similar to the word “사” (sa), meaning ‘death’ in Chinese character. This phonetic similarity has led to a widespread aversion to the number 4, considered unlucky or an omen of death. This superstition is not unique to Korea; it is also prevalent in countries like China and Japan, where the cultural context has similarly negative connotations associated with the number 4. As a result, in these countries, it is not uncommon for buildings to skip the fourth floor, similar to how some Western cultures might avoid the thirteenth floor.

In Korea, the approach to this superstition is somewhat pragmatic. Instead of omitting the fourth floor entirely, which would be impractical and confusing, the letter ‘F’ is used as a substitute. ‘F’ stands for “Four”, allowing buildings to maintain a sequential order without directly invoking the number 4. This practice is widely observed in residential, commercial, and public buildings across the country.

This substitution is a fascinating example of how cultural beliefs and superstitions can influence architectural and societal practices. For foreigners living in or visiting Korea, this might be a curious and interesting aspect of Korean culture. It reflects the deep-rooted cultural sensitivities and the ways in which societies adapt to accommodate such beliefs. Understanding this cultural nuance can provide deeper insights into Korean values and traditions, highlighting the importance of respect for local customs and beliefs. While it may seem like a small detail, it is a significant representation of the interplay between language, culture, and superstition in shaping everyday practices in South Korea.