Travel, Teach, Live in Korea
Whether you're living in South Korea or visiting on a budget vacation, here are some fun things you can do while traveling in almost any area of Korea that won't empty your wallet.
Tip: This is an especially fun activity after an evening of Korean food and soju.
How much: Between 15,000 and 30,000 KRW for an hour or two (the larger the group, the cheaper per person!)
If you have a whole day at your disposal, why not take a bus ride to see some new scenery? If you come to something that seems intriguing, get off, check the schedule so you will know when the bus will be back, and have a look around. The nice thing is that at some point, if you stay on the same bus route, you will end up back where you started.
Tip: Start out early enough that you don't get caught on the last circuit for the day (in which case you might NOT end up where you started), and don't forget your bus number or the names of your stops! (If you can't read Korean, copy down the letters exactly.)
How much: 1,200-6,000 KRW, depending on how many times you get on and off the bus.
Korea's jim jil bang, or public bath house, is one of the most delightful vestiges of traditional Korean culture. What better way to spend a chilly evening than to soak in an herb-infused hot tub or sweat in a stone sauna? The bathing area is sex segregated since you have to get completely naked (unnerving at first, but you stop thinking about it after a while since everyone else is also naked). The saunas are co-ed, and proper attire is a set of baggy orange or pink clothes which are available for rental at the time of admission. Most of these bath houses include other amenities such as a PC/ Internet room, a concession stand, assorted single-use soaps and shampoos for sale near the bathing area, and workout rooms. Open 24 hours a day and found in nearly every South Korean city, a jim jil bang can also be an inexpensive last resort as a place to spend the night, and mats are provided in a public sleeping room for this very purpose. For those brave enough to attempt communication (or who speak Korean), the jim jil bang is also a wonderful place to get a massage.
Tip: Take off your shoes and store them in a locker when you enter the male- or female-only area, and be sure to shower with soap before entering a tub.
How much: 5,000-10,000 KRW for bath only, 10,000-15,000 KRW if you need clothes (for the sauna or to spend the night). Additionally, 30,000-60,000 KRW for a massage.
