Korean Sauna & Bathhouse Etiquette — Essential Manners for Foreigners

The single most important rule in Korean bath culture is: wash your body thoroughly before entering any shared pool. You sit at a shower station and soap up your whole body first, then get in. This keeps the shared water clean for everyone — getting into a pool without washing is a serious faux pas.

A bathhouse is a place to relax, so keep the atmosphere calm. Chatting quietly with a friend is fine, but avoid loud voices or phone calls. Since everyone is undressed, not staring is basic courtesy, and taking photos or video is strictly forbidden as a privacy violation. It is safest to leave your phone in the locker.

Seshin is a uniquely Korean service where an attendant scrubs off dead skin. To use it, sign up inside the bathhouse or at the counter (usually ₩20,000–30,000) and wait your turn at the scrub table. Soaking well in a hot pool beforehand makes the scrub far more effective. There is no tipping culture — just pay the set price — and afterward you rinse off lightly once more before leaving.