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Korea's public bathhouses disappear amid spiking energy prices, changing lifestyles

Published: 14 Apr. 2026, 06:00

A public bathhouse in Seoul [IM SOUNG-BIN]

Public bathhouses — long a communal hub for Koreans and a de facto welfare space for the socially vulnerable — are disappearing at a rapid pace amid spiraling energy costs linked to the Iran war.

One such establishment that is to close for good this year has operated in the Jung District, central Seoul, for nearly three decades.

The bathhouse survived the financial strain of strict social distancing regulations during the Covid-19 pandemic, but has recently been hit hard by rising oil prices tied to the Middle East conflict.

With its closure, the neighborhood — including nearby residents of low-income, single-room housing who frequented the bathhouse to wash and rest — will be left without a single public bath.

The number of bathhouse businesses nationwide peaked at 10,098 in 2001, but has declined steadily since, falling to 5,668 last year — nearly half have shut down, according to data from the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Sixty-nine closed between 2024 and 2025.

Industry officials say the pandemic dealt a major blow, forcing many operators out of business. Those that survived are now facing a fresh surge in operating costs driven by the recent conflict in the Middle East.

Son, a 75-year-old who has run a bathhouse in Mapo District, western Seoul, for 24 years, said monthly city gas bills reach around 12 million won ($8,800) in winter and 7 million to 8 million won in summer.

“From past experience, when wars break out overseas, international oil prices rise, and utility costs follow suit,” he said. “For businesses like ours, that means operating costs jump by hundreds of thousands of won each month, but we can’t raise prices immediately.”

He also noted that “customers drop off as prices rise across the board at times like these.”

Although the United States and Iran have agreed to a cease-fire, global oil prices remain higher compared to prewar levels.

According to the state-run Korea Statistical Information Service, heating gas bills were 0.3 percent higher last month compared to the same period last year.

Changing lifestyles are also eroding the role of public bathhouses, suggesting their decline is likely to continue.

Their disappearance marks not just the loss of a business, but of a shared space that residents use to gather and connect.

“I like coming to the neighborhood bathhouse because it’s a place where you can greet acquaintances and neighbors,” said a man in his 70s who has long frequented a bathhouse in Mapo District.

A man in his 60s surnamed Hwang who lives in Gimpo, Gyeonggi, said bathing is “almost [his] only hobby,” adding, “I go every day. I’ve made most of my local friends at the bathhouse, and it’s where I hear the most about what’s going on in the world. It’s a shame to see them disappearing one by one.”

Even the bathhouses that remain are struggling to stay afloat.

Facilities operated by public institutions or apartment complexes are also feeling the strain of rising costs, with some suspending operations temporarily or raising fees.

A public institution in the Seoul metropolitan area recently decided to temporarily close its in-house sauna facilities as part of energy-saving measures.

Another bathhouse in an apartment complex in Gimpo raised its monthly fee from 15,000 won per household to 15,000 won per person starting next month.

Son said more closures are likely ahead.

“Because bathhouses are already equipped with boilers and saunas, many are being converted into gyms or other facilities,” he said. “For those operating in leased spaces, the burden of rent is also rising, so many are choosing to shut down. I think we’ll see more closures going forward.”

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY IM SOUNG-BIN [[email protected]]