South Korea's hot springs are oncheon, and at least 10 of them sit in this directory, most paired with jjimjilbang bathhouses. The vast Hurshimchung complex in Busan runs about 40 pool types, while Bugok Oncheon near Changnyeong taps the country's hottest documented spring at 78 degrees Celsius. 1 of the 10 listed here is free to reach. Oncheon spas and bathhouses, not wild soaks, define the country.
Central and western Korea, in the Chungcheong provinces and near Seoul, hold a cluster of oncheon towns and water parks. The hot spring water park Asan Spavis and the certified Paradise Spa Dogo sit in Asan, while the free foot spa at Yuseong Hot Springs in Daejeon, the mountain baths of Suanbo Hot Springs, and the sea-facing Seokmodo Mineral Hot Spring near Incheon round out the region. Five of the directory's Korean springs cluster across this central-western belt.
The southeast, around Busan and the Gyeongsang provinces, holds the largest documented spas and the hottest documented water. The Hurshimchung bathhouse in Busan draws on alkali spring water, Bugok Oncheon runs Korea's hottest documented sulfur spring, the K Hotel Gyeongju Spa taps deep alkaline water, and Deokgu Oncheon Spa World in Uljin is a rare natural geyser spring. Four of the listed Korean springs sit across this southeastern region, a belt of long-established oncheon towns stretching from the coast to the inland mountains.
The east coast, on the flank of Seoraksan, holds a distinctive carbonated spring. The pools of Osaek Hot Springs near Sokcho run from 27 to 43 degrees Celsius with naturally carbonated water, paired with a gender-segregated jjimjilbang. This mountain spring rounds out the directory's Korean entries.
Korean thermal bathing joins the oncheon (온천), a developed hot spring, with jjimjilbang bathhouse culture, where pools sit beside saunas and heated rooms. Most are large paid spa complexes and water parks rather than wild springs, which sets South Korea apart from countries with free backcountry soaks. 9 of the 10 springs listed in this directory charge entry. Swimwear is often required in the mixed pools. These sit within the wider hot springs in Asia.
