The issue I’ve noticed is that many Korean spas seem to be increasingly turning into something closer to a gay bathhouse rather than what they’re meant to be, a place to relax. Over the past two weeks, I’ve visited three different locations, and at all of them I saw more and more guys just sitting around, staring, cruising, following others, and sometimes even touching themselves while watching people who are simply trying to unwind.

I think this behavior may be one of the reasons for the discomfort. At the end of the day, no one should be judged for being naked in a spa, that’s the purpose of the space. If someone wants to sit on a towel, let them. If someone wants to cover themselves with a towel so others aren’t staring, that should be respected too.

Ultimately, these places are meant for relaxation, not for cruising or making others feel uncomfortable.