Jjimjilbang

Jjimjilbang never operate 24 hours a day. In the entrance, there are the doors labelled “men” or “women” and shoes are to be stored using a given key. Once inside, the shoe locker key is exchanged with another locker key to store clothes and belongings. Afterwards bathers walk into the gender-segregated bathhouse area (children of both genders below seven years of age are free to intermingle) and take a shower. Then, one should wear the jjimjilbang clothes (usually a T-shirt and shorts, color-coordinated according to gender), which are received with the locker key. In the bathing areas, there are kiln saunas with themes including a jade, a salt, or mineral kiln: the dome-shaped inside the kilns are plastered with jade powder, salt and mineral respectively. Often there are several kilns with temperatures ranging from . The temperature of the kilns is displayed on a sign at the entrance. == Hygiene ==

Some jjimjilbang have had their sanitary condition questioned, both in terms of facilities, clothes, and of food offered at the venue. Concerns about the clothes increasing atopy symptoms in patients, or even of accidentally hosting parasites, have been voiced, although evidence was inconclusive. Currently, health control standards are set by the Public Health Control Act. ==Korean sauna==

Hanjeungmak () is Korean traditional sauna. Intensely hot and dry, it uses traditionally burning wood of pine to heat a domelike kiln made of stone. Nowadays, hanjeungmak are incorporated into jjimjilbang rather than being independent facilities. Bulgama installed in jjimjilbang is a variety of hanjeungmak, heated with higher temperature. Sometimes the dome-shaped walls of kiln rooms are plastered with loam, salt, minerals. The first mention of hanjeungmak, initially referred to as hanjeungso (), is found in the Annals of Sejong in the 15th century. The record also states that the Korean kiln saunas were used for medicinal purposes. At that time, hanjeungmak were state-supported kiln saunas maintained by Buddhist monks. Since 1429, saunas have been built as separate facilities for men and women. ==See also==