On the February 11 episode of “Conan,” Korean American actor Steven Yeun took late-night host Conan O'Brien on his first Korean spa outing.
Yeun stars Glenn Rhee in the post-apocalyptic zombie thriller “The Walking Dead” which airs on AMC. In the segment, O'Brien meets the star at Wi Spa in LA Koreatown.
The sketch begins when O'Brien asks why he seems afraid of visiting a Korean spa when he battles zombies on “The Walking Dead.” In response to O'Brien, Yeun said, “You walk around here naked.” The statement serves as the set-up for the ten minute sketch in which the stars explore the spa, while pretending to avoid the sensitive topic of their mutual nakedness.
The segment explores the various aspects of the spa including the incorporation of uniforms for co-ed floors. O'Brien is instructed in Korean terminology for the sauna rooms and the various treatments he receives.
Korean spas can be shocking for first-time visitors. K-Dramas often portray scenes in which the characters are enjoying steam rooms or resting on mats. However, most Korean spas feature non-coed therapeutic pools. Visitors who choose to enter the pools must strip down prior to entering the pools, where swimwear is prohibited.
Recently, the tvN drama “Perseverance, Goo Hae Ra” tackled the sensitive subject of nudity at Korean spas. In the drama which is also referred to as “Sing Again, Hae Ra Gu” Henry of Super Junior-M accompanies his mentor Tae Poong (Shim Hyung Tak) on a spa trip. As a character who has recently relocated to Korea from the United States, Henry is surprised by the nonchalant nudity of other spa visitors.
In November 2014, Yeun appeared with 2NE1's Dara (Sandara Park) in a three episode series for Funny or Die known as "What's Eating Steven Yeun?" In the series, he wanted to pursue fame in Korea at the expense of dumping his girlfriend portrayed by Dara.
