Decent Exposure: The Korean SPA

There is a mysterious place known as the Korean SPA.  I’m going to de-mystify the legend so that you can prepare yourself to indulge!  This is typically a day spa, run by Korean people, that offers saunas, massages, body scrubs and hot tubs.  I’ve been to several in America and they range from a large one-room setting where all the stations are visible to one another to a multi-level building with separate floor for each delicious relaxation chamber.  Prices vary but these are places of VALUE.  Whatever you pay, you will get MUCH more for your money than at any other kind of spa.  In Korea, these types of spas are frequented weekly so the cost has to be appropriate! This all sounds fantastic but it is not for the modestly inclined.  It is different from an American spa in that you walk around COMPLETELY NUDE, save your little issued locker key bracelet.

The experience begins at the check in desk where you pay your entry fee and receive said-locker key bracelet.  You can add on services like body scrubs and massages.  Again, all are experienced completely nude.  Once you have paid, you are led to the locker room.  There are separate areas for men and women.  Here, remove your shoes, walk to your assigned locker and place ALL of your belongings inside.  WELCOME TO THE KOREAN SPA!!!  Congratulations, you are naked! Try not to make too much eye contact or bump into other bodies around you.  Look confident as if you’ve done this before.  I must mention that there will be a wide variety of body hair choices, so whatever you choose, it’s perfect.  Now to the showers.

There will be multiple shower locations with all the soaps and shampoo you’ll need.  Here you will wash off prior to entering one of the hot tubs.  It is necessary to soak for 15 minutes so your skin gets very soft so it is primed for the sloughing of the scrub.  I HIGHLY recommend you indulge in the scrub and massage if you can!  A person of the same sex will call your locker key number when it is your turn for your treatment.  The person will be dressed in a bathing suit.

For the scrub, you will be taken to a massage table that is covered in plastic.  You will lie on the table while the professional scrubs your ENTIRE body with an exfoliating rag.  The process will take about 30-45 minutes.  You will be instructed when to lift your arms, spread your legs, flip over etc.  Your southern private parts will not be scrubbed but expect an entire chest and inner leg exfoliation!  You will see lots of dead skin in the form of little grey pills all over the place.  You will have water poured over you occasionally to rinse this off.  It is amazing how much comes off!  Your hair and face will also be washed for you.  Some places will even do a mini facial with cucumbers over your eyelids.  My favorite extra is when they pour milk and honey all over you at the end.  Often you will be covered with a moisturizing oil.  Ta-da!  You’ll be smoother than a baby’s bottom.

Now if you opted for the massage, prepare yourself for very deep tissue/acupressure type of work.  Now it is a good time to take another quick shower and hit the saunas.  There may be one sauna or there may be theme saunas with jade, salt, aromatherapy or other treats infused into the room.  Now some of the bigger spas may have a co-ed restaurant area where can eat while clothed in one of the spa’s robes.  Remember, you will be clothed in any co-ed areas!

I am proud of you!  This takes some guts and the reward for the brave can’t be compared to any other type of treatment.  Tell me how it went!