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Business & Tech

Sujung Sauna: A Unique Korean Spa

Owner says the spa started for passers-by but has become a local hangout and popular place to beautify.

Life-sized porcelain goddesses stand gracing the Sujung Suana's exterior, just minutes from Historic Norcross. Fittingly, one the services offered is the "Goddess Body Treatment," a full-service Asian massage and scrub provided at the sauna.

The idea for this Korean-style sauna originated with Byoung Kang after living in Norcross for some time and realizing that Atlanta was a frequent pit-stop for travelers going between Florida and New York or Virginia. Sujung Sauna, which is open 24 hours a day, would offer the visitors a place to relax, eat and sleep for a relatively low-cost admission.

Visitors take note: Korean-style saunas are not for everyone. Upon entrance, visitors are asked to leave their shoes at the door and given sauna uniforms and slippers. The uniforms are worn instead of clothes around all public areas. Separate male and female lounges are available and entrance into the Mok-Yuk-Tangs (washing areas) is available only from the lounges. Visitors are asked to remove absolutely all clothing, including bathing suits, in order to utilize the washing facilities.

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Korean Mok-Yuk-Tangs have existed since the 1960s and traditionally people without baths at home had frequented these facilities. However, present-day Mok-Yuk-Tangs have evolved to become a popular place to relax with friends or family. Many people choose to go to a Mok-Yuk-Tang, though they can bathe at home, for the services provided on site.  

A Korean-style body scrub uses rough scrubbing pads to exfoliate the entire body of dead skin cells. Those getting this service lie naked atop scrubbing tables and all parts of the body, are scrubbed clean thoroughly.

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Ji-ap, a Korean-style massage, is very similar to shiatsu. Translated as "accupressure" in English, it applies pressure using the thumbs, fingers, the palm and elbows over knotted muscles to bring relaxation. Ji-ap is also practiced by many Koreans for overall health and even as a solution for the common cold and other ailments.

At Sujung Sauna, the massage is combined with aromatherapy, facial mask and hair massage and shampoo. Visitors can choose between individual services or a packaged deal that ranges in price from $40 to $160. Visitors can also choose between having the cucumber pack, Dead Sea mud masque, Darphin, red clay masque, collagen or vitamin-C applied along with their therapeutic massage.

Deep cleansing as provided by the Sujung Sauna can be done on a monthly or a bi-monthly basis for a glowing skin and a healthier body. However, most visitors who frequent the sauna go to just gossip with their friends or to lie down inside one of the steam rooms. The walls of these rooms have been applied with nature's clay, jade or salt and the room can get quite hot. Visitors go sit inside one of these steam rooms in order to raise the body's metabolism and sweat.

A one-time admission fee allows for an unlimited stay. There are vending machines serving fresh or canned fruits, beverages and yogurt in the public area. Traditional Korean dishes are also served restaurant-style. There are two separate, nails and hair, salons that operate on different business hours within the Sujung Sauna building. 

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