Tonight, on the 23rd, MBC's 'Save Me! Holmes' (hereafter referred to as 'Holmes') takes a dive into the 'bathhouse road,' a trend that's becoming a hot spot among the younger generation.
The episode features the '86-line' trio, singer and actor No Min-woo, comedian Kwak Beom, and Joo Woo-jae. These three, who have recently regained attention among Gen Z after a period of quiet, will explore everything from bathhouses to the homes of those who are passionate about bathing, shedding light on the current state of bath culture.
Amidst the rising trend of 'social spas,' No Min-woo surprises everyone by revealing, "I hold meetings in bathhouses." He explains, "A bathhouse is a place where you can see the traces of people's lives in their most unadorned state." He even insists on holding band meetings in bathhouses, prompting Joo Woo-jae to liken it to the movie 'Inside Men,' while Kwak Beom, true to his 'impression vending machine' nickname, entertains with an impression of actor Lee Kyung-young.
To delve into the 'bare face of the bath industry,' they interview a barber and a scrubber who work at the bathhouse. The revelation of the scrubber's monthly income brings unexpected surprise. Stories of customers traveling long distances to find skilled scrubbers are shared, with Kim Sook adding that in women's saunas, there are 'massage aunties' whose skills are worth following anywhere. The episode builds curiosity as the scrubber uses their experience to determine the 'real man' among the trio. Who will claim the title of 'real man' remains to be seen.
The bathhouse episode of 'Holmes' airs tonight, the 23rd, at 10 PM.
Lee So-jung, TenAsia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr