In Korea, one can rarely go down a major street without seeing the candy-strip barbershop poles spinning. But these are often not for haircut and shave. Often you will see huge poles spinning or several around one location. Basically, if you see these really standing out like this, or glowing away in the middle of the night, or basically in front of any establishment that does not overtly look like a Blue Club, then it usually can mean only one other thing.

Barbershops for hair are usually written as miyongsil (미용실). The risque versions are often referred to as (ilbalso) 이발소 or (iyongsil) 이용실. Both terms traditionally used to refer to places to get your hair cut, but frequently used to denote a front for the massage parlor version.

In these kinds of massage parlors, you can often expect some variations from one place to the next. But on average, you are taken to a massage table and a woman (usually aged from 30s-50s) will begin to wash your feet in a sink at the edge of the table. After, she begins massaging you (not as thoroughly as some trained masseuses, but loosens you up a little). Sometimes, hot towels are then piled all over your body. After this usually follows some form of sexual activity. If they charged you 70K or less at the outset, it will likely only be handplay. Some places only leave it at that. Anything 80 or higher is usually full-service and after the massage, you'll be led to a backroom with a new massage table and shower, and you'll receive a nude body massage and full service.

You're then led back to your original massage table, given an obligatory Vita 500 and are ready to leave. Depending on the place, you may be allowed to doze there for a bit, before leaving.