Han Song Bathhouse, Song-So, Daegu

(First visited in April 2001 – last visited October 27th 2012) Han Song is not the most modern of bathhouses but being the third sauna I ever visited, the other two now closed, it has a special affection for me. It is directly next to the school I worked in when I was in Song-So in 2000 and 2003 and I wallowed in its water every afternoon for a year and from time to time, I still pay it a visit.

It is a smallish sized bathhouse with friendly staff and fresh towels. I have a very sensitive nose and find not all towels smell fresh. I stopped using one gym because its towels smelt of marmite (similar to Australian ‘Vegemite’).  In the bathhouse, the ceiling could do with a clean and some paint here and there and occasionally the drains are a little smelly.  Apart from being a little old, Han-Song  is  clean  and  tidy. One of my favourite amenities here, and one which makes a visit worthwhile, is the salt sauna which has charcoal walls and small logs to sit on though you usually need to drape a towel over them as they can burn your backside.There is also a hot tub usually containing an enormous tea bag of green tea and the temperature is at the hot end for a hot tub.

The changing room, open planned, is bright and clean with large lockers and  central slatted benches. The rest area is again open planned with comfortable sofas and a television. There are also adjacent sleeping rooms. Very close to several apartment blocks, Han Song can get busy and it seems frequented by a clientele that are seriously into cleaning. I see much less lazing here and a lot more serious scrubbing with the Italy Towel.

Han Song, Song So, Next to a small Home Plus Store

Location – from the Mega Town complex, (Lotte Cinema), down towards Keimyung University, passing McDonalds on your left with Baskin Robbins directly opposite. A few minutes work further and you will see a Tesco, Home Plus store, a small one; if you face Home Plus the bathhouse entrance is on your left with a small flower shop at the top of the stairs on the 1st floor (ground floor). The payment booth is on the third floor, next to the women’s bathhouse while the men’s bathhouse is on floor 4.  (Wiki Map link )

Times – Very early morning, around 5.30 – until 8 or 9 pm.  Double check opening and closing times as they occasionally change. It is closed on Tuesdays.

Facilities – bathhouse.

Jjimjilbang – none.

Bathhouse (men) – around 25 stand up shower facilities and around the same number of sitting down shower units, event pool, (이벤트탕) which is a jacuzzi, hot  green tea pool ( 열탕), large cold pool (냉탕), larger jade bath (옥탕), jade steam room, bamboo sauna, salt room (소금방) with charcoal walls, sleeping area with infra-red heating and jade sauna, heated sleeping area.  A television is located in the dry sauna.

Other Amenities – Large relaxation area room (휴게실) with television and sofas.  Sleeping room with blankets and  wooden head rests.  Hairdresser and shoe shine. A sports complex and bowling alley are in the same building.

Cost – 4500 Won often free tickets given for future visits.

Ambiance – relaxing when not busy. Mid-level lighting, could be cleaner but not unpleasant. Great for the salt room!

Address – next to a Tesco, Home Plus convenience store.

Waygukin – Over a 12-year period, I have only ever seen 2 westerners, an American boy and a Mexican student, both back in 2001.

Han Song Updates

November 2012 – update.

© 林東哲 2010 Creative Commons Licence.