The decline of public bathhouses is becoming a neighborhood access issue

“Public bathhouses” emerged as a rapidly rising search term, and the trend-detection metadata provided also included the related query, “Is there really not a single bathhouse in the neighborhood?” The original incident associated with that exact wording could not be confirmed, but recently reviewed regional data shows both the decline of neighborhood bathhouses and public responses to it.

The number of public bathhouses in Gwangju fell 31%, from 208 in 2017 to 143 in 2025. In Jeonnam, the number fell 10% over the same period, from 309 to 278. The number of operating public bathhouses in Gangwon Province was also reported to have fallen by more than 50 over five years, reaching 289 as of January 2026.

Although the scale of the decline and the counting criteria differ by region, the verified data shows that access to public bathhouses is emerging as a local quality-of-life issue.

Rising fuel costs and declining visitors cited as causes of closures

In reports concerning Gwangju and Jeonnam, bathhouse operators cited rising fuel costs and declining visitor numbers as the reasons for closures. These cases show that private bathhouses are finding it difficult to remain open as operating costs rise and demand falls at the same time.

However, the figures for Gwangju, Jeonnam, and Gangwon come from different regions and counting standards. They cannot be added together or interpreted as the nationwide scale of the decline in public bathhouses.

Local governments respond through public services

Local governments and public institutions are offering different forms of support in response to the decline of private bathhouses.

  1. Taebaek City: The city is pursuing a public bathhouse on the parking lot site of the Cheoram Soebau Cultural Market, with operations reportedly scheduled to begin on February 25, 2026.
  2. Seoul Metropolitan Government: In 2025, Seoul provided regular bathing vouchers to residents of jjokbang communities through Donghaeng Bathhouses and said that some bathing facilities would operate as shelters during extreme nighttime cold and heat.
  3. Jeollanam-do: The province provides annual operating subsidies of 30 million won per rural public bathhouse, and 144 facilities were reported to be operating across 20 cities and counties.

These cases are not evidence of a single nationwide policy, but examples of regions responding according to local conditions through public bathhouse construction, bathing vouchers, and operating-cost support. There is no confirmed basis for assuming that eligibility, fees, or operating methods are the same in every region.

Points to keep in mind

The key issue is not simply nostalgia for public bathhouses. Taken together, the verified regional figures and policy examples suggest that the decline of private bathhouses is becoming an issue of access to sanitation facilities and everyday welfare, with some local governments seeking to supplement the gap through public services.

However, Taebaek City’s project was reported as being in the planning and pre-opening stages; this does not mean that public bathhouse construction has been confirmed or completed nationwide. Facility availability and support programs also vary by region, so residents should separately check whether facilities operate in their area and what conditions apply.