Korea treats rest as something you go out for: public bathhouses open all night, hot-spring towns, temple meditation, forest-therapy trails and clinics of traditional medicine. These are the places the Korea Tourism Organization has vetted for its own wellness list — a shortlist, not a search result.
Destinations from the Korea Tourism Organization's wellness tourism register. Details change — confirm hours and programmes with each place before travelling.
Volcanic and mineral hot springs, many of them the anchor of an entire town. Bathing is nude, gender-separated, and preceded by a thorough scrub at the wash stations — arrive knowing that and everything else is easy.
21, Apgujeong-ro 29-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
67 Asanoncheon-ro 157beon-gil, Eumbong-myeon, Asan-si, Chungcheongnam-do
288 Gwangwang-ro, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do
202, Geumseongsanseong-gil, Damyang-gun, Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City
924, Deokguoncheon-ro, Buk-myeon, Uljin-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do
197, Alpeuseuoncheon-ro, Ulju-gun, Ulsan
1418 Donghaean-ro, Buk-gu, Ulsan
13-12 Haeannam-ro, Gilsang-myeon, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon
555 Jangyu-ro, Gimhae-si, Gyeongsangnam-do
402 Sanjeonghosu-ro, Yeongbuk-myeon, Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do
888 Sicheong-ro, Paltan-myeon, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do
11, Seongchon 4-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul
32 Oncheonjang-ro 107beon-gil, Dongnae-gu, Busan
56-1 Hwanggol-gil, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do
1210 Hwadong-ro, Ildong-myeon, Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do
271 Gonghang-ro, Yeongjong-gu, Incheon (Incheon International Airport Passenger Terminal, B1F)
876 Daehae-ro, Boryeong-si, Chungcheongnam-do
565, Nonhyeon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul-si
192, Sagyebuk-ro 41beon-gil, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do
11 Palgongsan-ro 185-gil, Dong-gu, Daegu
296 Haeundaehaebyeon-ro, Haeundae-gu, Busan
300 Hallyu world-ro, Ilsanseo-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do
1459 Oncheon-daero, Asan-si, Chungcheongnam-do
34 Daecheongbong-gil, Seo-myeon, Yangyang-gun, Gangwon-do
176 Dogooncheon-ro, Asan-si, Chungcheongnam-do
2139 Seobu-ro, Jangan-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do
8 Samseong-ro 133-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul-si
67-16 Aeryeonjeong-ro, Icheon-si, Gyeonggi-do
494-1 Juwangsan-ro, Juwangsan-myeon, Cheongsong-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do
406, Gangnam-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
45-7, Oncheondanji 3-ro, Yesan-gun, Chungcheongnam-do
808 , Taejong-ro, Yeongdo-gu, Busan
1083-4 Jidojeungdo-ro, Jeungdo-myeon, Sinan-gun, Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City
984 Sasil-ro, Icheon-si, Gyeonggi-do
295, Soho-ro, Yeosu-si, Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City
33 World cup-ro, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do
5 Beodeul-ro 1597beon-gil, Paltan-myeon, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do
524, Bongeunsa-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
864 Gangmun-ro, Gangcheon-myeon, Yeoju-si, Gyeonggi-do
516 Bogyeong-ro, Songna-myeon, Buk-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
434-14 Oncheon-ro, Paltan-myeon, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do
Bongmyeong-dong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon
Oncheon-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon
The all-hours Korean bathhouse: hot rooms of salt, clay and charcoal, cold plunges, sleeping floors and restaurants, entered in the cotton uniform handed to you at the door. Families spend whole Sundays in them.
13 Neungheodae-ro 165beon-gil, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon
61, Seoksan-ro, Hampyeong-gun, Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City
30 Yongyuseo-ro, Yeongjong-gu, Incheon
2nd basement level, 45, Guuigangbyeon-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul
5, Gangnam-daero 107-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul
75-7 Bongwonsa-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul
40 Geolchondong-gil, Gangcheon-myeon, Yeoju-si, Gyeonggi-do
630, Seohaean-ro, Jeju-si, Jeju-do
Forest-bathing trails, healing forests and seaside therapy centres, most run by the national forest and park services.
455 Samhwa-ro, Donghae-si, Gangwon-do
834 Uisangbong-gil, Gajo-myeon, Geochang-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
152 Mireuksan-gil, Sanyang-eup, Tongyeong-si, Gyeongsangnam-do
532 Yuhak-ro, Seokjeok-eup, Chilgok-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do
353 Bangjang-ro, Bugi-myeon, Jangseong-gun, Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City
225-92 Daeunsangdae-gil, Onyang-eup, Ulju-gun, Ulsan
1237-89 Sudo-gil, Jeungsan-myeon, Gimcheon-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
590 Hakhyeonsoya-ro, Cheongpung-myeon, Jecheon-si, Chungcheongbuk-do
651-230 Jungyeong-gil, Miro-myeon, Samcheok-si, Gangwon-do
2271, Sallongnam-ro, Seogwipo, Jeju-do
253 Yeongdan-ro, Dansan-myeon, Yeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
85-59 Dalsanpo-ro, Nam-myeon, Taean-gun, Chungcheongnam-do
100 Haeyangchiyu-gil, Sinji-myeon, Wando-gun, Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City
Meditation halls, temple programmes and quiet retreats. This is where a templestay's early-morning stillness is available without the overnight commitment.
201-61 Useong 1-gil, Noeun-myeon, Chungju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do
113 Seomjigol-gil, Sangdong-eup, Yeongwol-gun, Gangwon-do
329-126 Daesan-gil, Ungchi-myeon, Boseong-gun, Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City
21 Wolsanjeosuji-gil, Jipyeong-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do
95 Yeongdong healing-ro, Yeongdong-eup, Yeongdong-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do
1150 Chisanhyoryeong-ro, Bugye-myeon, Gunwi-gun, Daegu
Anti-aging and Healing Service Experience Center, 248 Tapgol-gil, Yangsan-si, Gyeongsangnam-do
Clinics and centres of hanbang — Korea's tradition of herbal medicine, acupuncture and cupping — many offering first-timer programmes with diagnosis and treatment explained rather than assumed.
72 Jangpa-gil, Gui-myeon, Wanju-gun, Jeonbuk-do
60 Seokchonhosu-ro 12-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul
44-34, Gyemyeong-ro, Ulju-gun, Ulsan
56-53, Jungang-ro 787beon-gil, Yangdo-myeon, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon
Skincare and spa treatments from the country that exports its beauty routine to the world — from clinical facials to full traditional court-style rituals.
2F, Kang-san Bldg., Suseong University, 15 Dalgubeol-daero 528-gil, Suseong-gu, Daegu
365 Geumbong-ro, Baegun-myeon, Jecheon-si, Chungcheongbuk-do
16-10, Oesayang-gil, Jinan-eup, Jinan-gun, Jeonbuk-do
152 Taepyeong-ro, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do
34, Hangnideungdae-ro, Ilgwang-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan
416 Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
35 Centum nam-daero, Haeundae-gu, Busan
153 Convensia-daero, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon
186 Yeongjonghaeannam-ro 321beon-gil, Yeongjong-gu, Incheon
33 Sangmuyeonha-ro, Seo-gu, Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City
Wellness places that fit no single box — healing villages, kilns, therapy farms.
101 Cheolmacheon-ro, Gijang-gun, Busan
8 Samnangseong-gil, Gilsang-myeon, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon
121, Rohaseu-ro, Anyang-myeon, Jangheung-gun, Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City
72-5 Daeheulbuk-gil, Jocheon-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do
716 Chuam-ro, Seosam-myeon, Jangseong-gun, Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City
427-128 Indeok-ro, Ingye-myeon, Sunchang-gun, Jeonbuk-do
793 Songgye-ro Buksang-myeon, Geochang-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
35 Jujeongsan-ro, Suanbo-myeon, Chungju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do