Sauna Cultur

I understand where the Germans' desire toward Sauna come from, and I can argue that Koreans' love toward Sauna could perhaps be greater than that of Germans. When I lived in South Korea, they had all sorts of Sauna. Each Sauna would be built from different materials: bricks, mud, wood, etc. Another characteristics of Korean Saunas is that chamber that contains different types of Saunas would also accommodate huge bath tubs, about the size of a regular house's pool. Each bath tubs would vary in temperature, ranging from a cool 60 degrees to a steaming 100s. These plays would thus provide different ways to sweat: dry in a Sauna or wet in bath tubs. Koreans usually bring a rough clothing with them into these tubs because once their skin gets exposed to hot warm water, they are easy to peel off. Then the men and women come out of the tub and rub their skin with the rough clothing, rubbing away the old skin and feeling fresh. What's more intriguing of these places is that they also sell healthy food and drinks, while providing rooms where one can literally sleep overnight. This one place even had computers that allowed you to play computer games. Of course, you couldn't be naked in all of these places. In communal areas such as food&drink bars and lodging places one had to wear a certain type of clothing that these places provide. These places have numerous names, such as Jjim-Jjim-bang which literally translates to hot and humid room or just plain sauna. They are enjoyed by all demographics, and sometimes when students kicked out of their houses or just wanna hang out with their friends, they go here. For old people, it's a place of pleasure and revival.