This is the English verstion of 한국 전통 목욕탕 & 세신 체험, 외국인이 가장 신기해하는 투어 (3).
One of the cultures that foreign tourists find most interesting to visit Korea is none other than "traditional bathhouses and seshin." Beyond just washing the body, a bathhouse is a special place with Korean living culture and emotions. It has become a more mysterious and unique experience for foreigners, especially with the appearance of a seshin scene in the movie “Kedeheon”.
In this article, we will introduce in detail what Korean traditional bathhouses and Sesin culture mean, how foreigners can experience them, and how to organize an actual tour course.
History and Meaning of Korean Traditional Bathroom
Bath culture has evolved with a long history in Korea. Although public baths did not exist during the Joseon Dynasty, every house had large bathrooms and enjoyed bathing as a family. Later, during the modernization process, public baths took place in various residential areas for the common people, and they became a social venue for communicating with neighbors beyond just washing spaces.
The bathhouse was a place where generations and classes met, and it was also a place where parents and children went together to wash their bodies and make precious memories in their daily lives. It may seem like a simple sanitary facility to foreigners, but to Koreans, the bathhouse was more than a "part of life."
1. Seshin Culture, Korea's Unique Experience
Se-shin can be said to be a symbol of Korean bath culture. The act of 'picking the dirt' is regarded as an act of getting rid of old fatigue and stress in the body beyond mere cleanliness.
◎ the skill of a gentleman
Using a rough dirt towel, Seshin removes dead skin cells and waste products by rubbing them like massaging the skin. It may feel a little strong to foreigners who are experiencing it for the first time, but after the experience is over, you will feel both refreshed and refreshed.
◎ combination with wellness
In recent years, spa treatments combined with aroma massage, scrubbing, and skincare have also become popular. These programs allow foreign tourists to experience Korean traditional culture more smoothly.
👉 For foreigners, Se-shin is a great attraction to the travel course in that it is a "special experience only available in Korea".
2. The reason why foreigners are fascinated by the world
◎ an unfamiliar cultural shock
In Western countries, it is not common to leave one's body to a stranger. Therefore, the bodyguard turns into a shocking but interesting experience at first.
◎ a definite effect
Anyone can feel that their skin becomes smooth and light after receiving a body wash. These 'immediate effects' leave strong memories for travelers.
◎ a chance to catch a glimpse of the lives of the locals
In that Koreans can actually experience the culture they enjoy in their daily lives together, it is not just a sightseeing experience, but a cultural experience in life.
Seshin Tour Recommendation Schedule
If you organize a one-day course for foreigners, I can recommend it as follows.
✅ AM: Exploring traditional markets
Before visiting the public bath, enjoy a simple breakfast at the Gwangjang Market or Tongin Market. The lively atmosphere of the market is enough to show the daily lives of Korea.
✅ Afternoon: Traditional Bath & Sesin Experience
You can experience Seshin at a representative traditional bathhouse or jjimjilbang in downtown Seoul. You can feel the essence of Korean-style wellness by going back and forth between hot and cold baths before and after Seshin.
✅ Evening: Finishing at the jjimjilbang
After washing up, I relax while enjoying sikhye and grilled eggs in the rest area of the jjimjilbang. For foreigners, it is a time to experience scenes that have only been seen in movies or entertainment shows.
Recommendation of a representative Seshin Experience Place
▷ Dragon Hill Spa (Yongsan, Seoul)
As one of the most famous jjimjilbangs for foreigners, it also comes with a service called Se-shin. It has a variety of sauna and convenience facilities, making it great for tourists to use.
▷ Siloam Sauna (Jung-gu, Seoul)
It is a place where you can experience traditional Korean jjimjilbang and bath culture at the same time. It is easy to meet your travel schedule with its 24-hour operation.
▷ Haeundae Spa Land in Busan
It is a high-end jjimjilbang that is good to enjoy while traveling by the sea, and a program that combines saeshin and spa is popular.
Tips to make the Seshin Tour even more special
▷ Advance Notice Required
Se-shin can be an unfamiliar and somewhat intense experience for foreigners. A simple guide to the process and intensity before the experience can reduce inconvenience.
▷ Combined with Wellness
Rather than simply ending with a shoving experience, it is upgraded to a 'Korean-style spa tour' if you connect it with massage and skin care.
▷ Highlighting Storytelling
If you connect it with the scene in the movie Kedeheon and explain it in a way that "the three gods on the screen are this experience," the level of immersion increases.
The completion of Korean healing
The Seshin Tour is a unique travel course where you can experience the lives and emotions of Koreans beyond simple hygiene activities. It remains an unfamiliar but intense experience for foreigners, and it reminds Koreans of the importance of daily life.
The Seshin scene shown by the movie Kedeheon was not just a directing, but a cultural symbol containing the lives of Koreans. The Seshin Tour, which actually experiences this, can be said to be a representative example of "Korea in the movie → Korea through travel."
In the future, K-culture tours centered on Seshin will continue to be greatly loved by foreign tourists and will become a special attraction for traveling to Korea.