Steamy ways to ward off winter : Gangwon Charcoal Kiln Sauna in Hoengseung
Interview with Suh Jeong-won, owner of Gangwon Charcoal Kiln Sauna
Our charcoal kiln sauna is a family business that was started by my father, Suh Suk-gu, and Choi Heung-won, who is now the chairman of the company. They started the business when they were young and they only had one sauna during the first year. Now we have 38.
The charcoal kiln saunas are 150 degrees to 300 degrees Celsius on average. This is the best temperature for people to detox and get the full effect of this type of sauna.
After going in and out of the hot sauna, you will feel a sting on sore spots, as if you’ve received acupuncture. This means that the toxins from the area have loosened up and are ready to be released.
After around five to six o’clock in the evening, the charcoal cools down to around 70 to 80 degrees Celsius.
Even if you sweat inside a charcoal kiln sauna, there will be no particular stickiness or odor from the sweat - which is why there isn’t a shower facility in the sauna.
However, we do recognize there are people will want to take a shower after spending so much time in the heat. I advise that men wait two hours after they have been inside the sauna before showering while women should wait four hours after being in the sauna before showering.
Gangwon Charcoal Kiln Sauna is located on the edge of the mountainous area in Gapcheon Village, Hoengseung, Gangwon. The facility usually operates two saunas (one sauna can hold up to 15 people) on weekdays and three to four saunas on weekends. The entrance fee is 5,000 won per person and there is an extra 2,000 won charge for those who want to borrow sauna attire and towels. All guests must wear socks inside the sauna. The sauna is open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the winter. On Saturdays, the sauna is also open at night from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The sauna facility also has a restaurant specializing in “three-second samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly),” which is made on a charcoal grill. The cost of dinner for four is 60,000 won. For more information, call (033) 342-4508
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
To write comments, please log in to one of the accounts.
Standards Board Policy (0/250자)