While South Korea is widely known for its food and influence of K-Pop culture, the country also has many facilities that shape their daily lifestyles. These facilities include spas with unique sauna rooms that you’d be hard pressed to find in Singapore.
If you’re making a trip to Busan, visit SPA LAND Centum City, one of Korea’s largest spas with themed sauna rooms and zen dining areas for a therapeutic experience.
The current exchange rate is ₩1,000 = ~S$0.98 as of 18th September 2024.
Image credit: @sasayajin_ via Instagram
If it’s your first time visiting a Korean Jjimjilbang or bathhouse, here’s a few things you should know. At SPA LAND Centum City, there are lockers provided for you to place your shoes and clothes inside. You will be expected to change into the shorts and t-shirt provided, and don’t worry if you have tattoos as this place has no regulations on it.
You won’t have to bring cash or your wallet inside as you will be using an electronic-key wristband to purchase food. The amount you spent will be tabulated at the end of the day when you exit the spa.
To enter the spa, you’ll have to buy a ticket for ₩23,000/adult (~S$22) which entitles you to a 4-hour stay and access to all the facilities inside. If you want to extend your stay, you have to spend ₩10,000 to enjoy an additional 2 hours.
Note that unlike most other Korean spas, this Jjimjilbang is not open 24 hours and children under 7 years old won’t be allowed to enter either.
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Located inside Centum City’s Shinsegae Department Store, this 2-storey spa can be reached within 1 bus stop away from the Centum City subway station. The spa offers a total of 18 different hot springs and 13 sauna rooms, of which the water in the pools are pumped from hot springs 100m underground.
There are 2 types of water being pumped: sodium carbonate that is believed to remove dead skin cells, and sodium chloride that is said to be good for blood circulation.
Outdoor foot baths.
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Before you explore the various sauna rooms on the first floor, check out the outdoor foot bath area first. The pools are lined with pebbles to massage your feet while you walk, and you can also find heated and cold bath areas based on your preference.
Salt Room.
Image credit: @zenobia.ccc via Instagram
Some of the 13 themed sauna rooms include the Salt Room, which is built from pink Himalayan salt blocks. Kept at a temperature of 53.4°C, the warm salty air is the first thing you will pick up as you enter the room. These salts are said to help with various skin conditions and improve your immune system.
Roman Room.
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Another room that cannot be missed is the Roman Room, a steam sauna that replicates the design of old public baths in Rome with its blue marble tiles and a fountain filled with mineral rocks. At a comfortable temperature of 35.8°C, the steam here is meant to eliminate body fats by triggering your metabolism.
Pyramid Room
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The Pyramid Room is meant to help you receive “universal energy” with the ceilings designed at a 52° angle. The design of this ambient room is meant to isolate noise outside, bringing you back down to earth literally, as you meditate. Note that the temperature here is a searing 53.8°C, so go ahead only if you can handle the heat.
Sev Room.
Image credit: Ray Chen via Google Maps
One of the more popular rooms here would be the Sev Room, which makes use of patented technology to generate healthy electrons for our bodies. By compounding the natural ores and metals in the room, these electrons are proclaimed to help energise our bodies by boosting metabolism.
Image credit: Pierce Peng via Google Maps
Apart from simmering in the sauna rooms that offer different benefits, you’ll find the Entertainment Zone on the second floor. The facilities in this zone include a Snack Bar where you can redeem your complimentary Sweet Rice Punch Drink that comes with the entry fee. The iconic hard boiled eggs are sold here as well, so you can easily get one on the go.
Restaurant at SPA LAND Centum City.
Image credit: Chris Tan via Google Maps
There’s also a cosy restaurant here that serves Korean banchan (side dishes) and noodles with a price range of around ₩10,000. Their must-try dishes would be the Cold Noodles and Gyoza Dumplings that pair well together.
Relaxation Rooms.
Image adapted from: @jinhee16233, @lokamama.tw via Instagram
If you’re feeling tired from all the sweating in the saunas, have a seat and cool down at the Relaxation Room. The comfortable recliner chairs here are equipped with mini TV screens for you to watch movies, so you’ll be kept occupied. With large glass window panels, you can also admire the view or simply decide to doze off and take a nap.
Self Ramen Cafe.
Image credit: @thiefjennyrue via Instagram
Last but not least, this spa also has a ramen station where you can make your own cup noodles. They provide a wide selection of ramen for you to choose from with plenty of toppings as well as side dishes like rice cakes, fishballs, and sausages .
Image credit: @nobu1k via Instagram
With a wide range of sauna rooms, food options, and facilities for entertainment, SPA LAND Centum City is a spa you have to visit. You can easily spend a full day here with the many activities to do, and it will go easy on your budget as well.
For more articles on things to do in Korea:
Cover image adapted from: @sabrina__ortega, @awesomeamyy, @christinesicle via Instagram
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