The interior of a restaurant that has transformed a bathhouse into a meat restaurant. (Yonhap)
GIMHAE, Aug. 11 (Korea Bizwire) — In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, public bathhouses across South Korea have seen a decline, but in Gyeongnam’s Gimhae city, former bathhouse structures are being creatively repurposed for new businesses, gaining popularity through word of mouth.
On August 8, a Yonhap News team visited a building in Jeonhadong, Gimhae, which still resembled a traditional bathhouse. The entrance read “Cheongsutang,” and behind it, a chimney—typically associated with bathhouses—stood as a symbol of the former business.
However, a closer look revealed a sign that read “Cheongsutang Back Meat,” indicating the transformation into a back meat (baski) restaurant.
The building had operated as a local bathhouse for 35 years, serving as both a sanitary facility and community gathering spot. However, it closed last year due to economic downturns, and in February, the owner’s daughter repurposed the space into a restaurant serving back meat.
The interior retained classic bathhouse features such as a counter, changing rooms, and bath tubs, though now complemented by restaurant tables, chairs, kitchen equipment, and, notably, meat.
Couple Kang Yong-geun (46) and Ju Kyung-hee (48), who run the restaurant, explained that instead of making a large investment, they chose the distinctive concept of a bathhouse-turned-restaurant.
A typical public bathhouse. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the public bathhouse industry has been on a decline. (Yonhap)
They noted that their middle-aged and older clientele often return for the nostalgic feeling of the former bathhouse.
Other bathhouses have followed suit. Bonghwangdong’s Seobu Bathhouse has been transformed into a café, while Namsan Bathhouse in Samjeongdong is now a pub selling beer. Gimhae’s first bathhouse-themed bar, “Kkalong Beer,” opened last year.
Owner Kim Gyeong-hye (44) explained that after closing her bathhouse, she sought ways to repurpose the building, retaining the bath tubs and tiles for a fun and nostalgic atmosphere.
As of last month, Gimhae city reported 57 registered bathhouses, a sharp decline from 106 in February 2019, before the pandemic. Bathhouses have distinct plumbing and boiler systems, which make demolition costly. Keeping the original structure intact provides both financial and environmental benefits when converting to other businesses.
Professor Oh Se-kyung from Dong-A University’s urban planning department noted that bathhouses, as secondary neighborhood facilities, can easily be repurposed into other commercial spaces.
In the context of their gradual decline, maintaining the structure and creating a nostalgic atmosphere offers a creative and environmentally sound solution.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
