Sandra L.Korean beauty goes beyond makeup and fashion—spas are an essential part of the beauty routine for many Koreans. These popular spas offer facials, massages, hot steam, and clay saunas that detoxify the body, promote glowing skin, and help maintain a healthy figure. It’s a holistic approach to wellness that many locals swear by.
If you’re after the full Korean beauty experience, a visit to a traditional jjimjilbang (Korean sauna) is a must. Think of it as a rejuvenating retreat where you can indulge in everything from exfoliating scrubs to body massages, leaving you feeling refreshed and radiant.
1. Sulwhasoo Spa: Beauty Spa
Image credit: Sulwashoo
Sulwhasoo is one of Korea’s cult beauty brands that has a huge following. It’s no surprise that their flagship store is a gorgeous architectural feat. Gold, glitzy, and elegant, it reflects the quality of their renowned skincare products. It is no small compliment, then, to say that their spa treatment is just as luxurious.
I tried the Purifying retreat, which costs 150,000 Won, for brightening my complexion. They used five to seven of their high-end luxury products with very fancy names including the Sulwhasoo White Clay Mask and Hydro-aid Moisturizing Lifting Cream.
Image credit: Sulwashoo
They started with a red ginseng foot bath and ginseng seed peel foot scrub. You will find Korean ginseng in most of their products; the highly-priced plant is a key ingredient behind Korean ladies’ beautiful complexions. The masseuses were very meticulous and even dried my feet for me before letting me stand up. They then applied two different masks on me and gave me a décolleté massage.
Price: 100,000 to 250,000 Won
Opening hours: 10am to 9pm, everyday (closed every second Monday of the month)
Address: 18, Dosan-daero 45-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea Sulwhasoo Flagship Store
Contact: Call 02-541-9272 for Sulwhasoo Spa or 02-541-9273 for Sulwhasoo Balance Spa
2. Kwangdong Hospital of Traditional Korean medicine: Medical spa
Image credit: Kwangdong Hospital of Traditional Korean Medicine
Right on the other end of the healing spectrum are medical spas. If you have doubts about spas’ long-lasting benefits, then try this! They are super legit, like doctor-certified-legit. The spa technicians are actual doctors who use tried and true Korean medicine. A reputable one is the Kwangdong Hospital of Traditional Korean Medicine. Here, you can address medical concerns such as back pain or go for beauty treatments like weight loss treatments and facials.
I had the Petite Facial Acupuncture here because I struggle with dull skin (and mostly because I was curious). The doctor examined my face and pointed out that it was asymmetrical. She then proceeded to use needles to create a lifting effect on the right side of my face, which was “sagging”.
These treatments are highly raved and you can see results within three to four treatments. You can also treat wrinkles, tighten your skin and promote anti-ageing. If you are scared of needles, there are laser treatments too. For those of you who have medical ailments or want a beauty treatment with long-lasting results, this is it!
Price: 100,000 Won onwards
Opening hours: 9am to 6pm, everyday
Address: 612, Bongeunsa-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
Contact: Call +82-2-2222-4907 or email [email protected]
3. Pocheon Herb Island: Healing Spa
Image credit: Pocheon Herb Island
Trade retail therapy for real therapy at a healing spa. A great spa to try is the Herb Healing Centre at Pocheon Herb Island situated two hours away from Seoul at Pocheon, Gyeonggi-do. Instead of a hot sauna, picture a dreamy European wonderland with calming colours, white frescoes and soothing music…which actually have health benefits for you! Healing spas offer treatments like colour therapy, aromatherapy, music therapy, touch therapy and more.
You can choose a combination of different herbal therapies at the Herb Healing Centre, which grows over 180 varieties of herbs which are incorporated in treatments. I did the Namu Healing Course, which combines aromatherapy in the form of a foot bath, herb & hay therapy, and touch therapy.
The course started off with the most luxurious foot bath I’ve ever had in my life. I mean, how often do we pamper our feet? They had a jacuzzi just for my legs and poured herbal oils into the warm water to relax my muscles.
After that, they made me lie down on what looked like a casket stuffed with hay. It was a tad creepy (the rooms were quite dark and they used red lights), but the hay was infused with herbs and it was so comfortable that I fell asleep within five minutes of lying down.
Price: 120,000 to 336,000 Won
Opening hours:
10am to 10pm on Weekdays and Sundays
10am to 11pm on Saturdays
Address: 35, Cheongsin-ro 947 beon-gil, Sinbuk-myeon, Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do
Contact: 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330
TripZilla tip: You can make this an overnight trip and stay at their gorgeous hotel at night. After the spa, explore Pocheon Herb Island, home to a herbal restaurant and bakeries, a museum with 340 varieties of herbs, a Venetian-style village and more.
4. Homely Korean bathhouse (Jjjimji-bang): Spa Lei
If you’re not looking for high-end luxury, why not combine spa relaxation and a girls’ day out at a jjimjilbang? These public bathhouses have been all the rage lately, and one of the best is in Spa Lei. It is exclusively for women only and open 24 hours a day. If there was a (budget) spa utopia, this is it. They have a dizzying amount of facilities. We tried seawater, freshwater, cold and hot pools, jacuzzis, and charcoal, salt, clay, mist and stone saunas.
My friends and I enjoying a home-brewed Korean rice drink.
Local ladies spend all day, and even all weekend long, at jjimjilbangs. That is because Spa Lei even has quiet sleeping rooms for naps, an open-air deck, a restaurant that serves delicious and healthy food and an internet cafe. You can also choose to do your nails or ask for a plethora of massages, scrubs, and facials to get pampered from head to toe. I heard that office ladies come here after work and lounge all night before heading to work the next day.
Try this if you want a fun day at the spa to just relax.
Price: 14,000 won for the first 12 hours
Opening hours: 24 hours, everyday
Address: 5, Gangnam-daero 107-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul
Contact: 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330
5. Luxe pampering: S Class Spa
Image credit: S Class Spa
If you are looking for the most mind-blowing luxe experience, go to the S Class Spa. S stands for Sleek and Sexy. Ok, I made that up, but you can’t help feeling like you just walked into the spa equivalent of a Mercedes S-Class at the S-Class Spa.
Image credit: S Class Spa
The spa rooms are what I imagine Ritz Carlton to look like. They are lit with warm lights and made of wood, stone, and marble. They have premium jacuzzis that you can soak in while listening to classical music and soothing bird calls.
Image credit: S Class Spa
Price: 198,000 Won onwards
Opening Hours: 10am to 6pm, everyday
Address: 547 Samsung-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Contact: Call +82 2 556 8155
6. Spa Lei, Seoul
Image credit: Spa Lei Official Website
When searching for spas in Seoul, Korea, Spa Lei, is likely the first few that pop up. Located in the heart of Seoul, Spa Lei provides a peaceful retreat for women seeking relaxation. The spa is known for its European-inspired decor, creating a calming environment perfect for unwinding. A standout feature is its seawater baths, using mineral-rich water sourced from Korea’s West Sea to promote relaxation and well-being. Guests can enjoy various baths, saunas, and steam rooms for a complete spa experience.
Beyond the baths, Spa Lei offers a variety of treatments, including massages, body scrubs, and facials, tailored to individual needs by skilled therapists. I enjoyed exploring the various baths and pools, and the traditional treatments were truly rejuvenating.
7. Insadong Hanjeungmak
Image credit: Insadong Spa Official Website
Insadong Hanjeungmak offers a unique and traditional Korean spa experience, combining the old-world charm of a hanjeungmak (Korean kiln sauna) with modern amenities. The moment I stepped inside, I was captivated by the rustic charm of the interior and the warm, inviting atmosphere. The hanjeungmak sauna was a unique experience, with the heated stones and clay providing a soothing and detoxifying heat. I also indulged in a relaxing body scrub, which left my skin feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
Apart from the saunas, Insadong Hanjeungmak also provides body scrubs and massages, enhancing the overall experience. The rustic, cosy interior creates a warm, inviting atmosphere, making it a peaceful escape from the busy streets of Insadong!
Price: starts at 150,000 Won
Opening hours: 8am to 9pm daily
Address: South Korea, Seoul, Jongno District, Yulgok-ro 6-gil, 36 월드오피스텔 지하 1층
Contact:+82 2-765-8025
Also read: 24 Fun Things to Do in Seoul on Your Very First Visit
Korean spas can’t be beat! Honestly, I am tempted to move to Korea just so I can enjoy spas like these every week. For now, enjoy these top five Korean spas on your next trip to Seoul!
