Catching up: Dr. Fish

This is me, sitting in a cafe with my new friend Kelsey. We left Seosan together after my weekend trip and bussed up to Seoul, where we spent most of the evening lost in a busy commercial area in the south side of the city. But why do I look so excited?

Doctor fish! A trend that has swept the parts of the globe where people can afford pedicures, these are the little fish that feast on dead skin. What started in various Asian countries and moved into trendy Western boutiques has now become part of your regular relaxation experience in Korea. After enjoying cafe beverages and a complimentary mini toast bar, you step up to a platform that holds two tanks full of constantly moving water and little hungry fish. After a quick rinse, you stick your feet right in, like so:

This is the tank with the small fish, maybe an inch in length and pretty non-threatening. The tickling alone was probably too much for me to start, but the idea that fish were gnawing away at the dead skin on my feet had me unbearably spooked. After about two seconds, I gave up and left Kelsey to brave the hungry, flesh-eating hordes while I sat around and took pictures.

And then we get to the second tank, which the lovely attendant informed us would tickle more but be better for our feet. At first, the bubbling water appears empty, almost inviting, when suddenly, sensing our presence and our dry heels, this appears:




Except instead of just one, it's hundreds, hundreds of two to three inch long fish, bigger around than my thumb, eyes bulging and mouths opening and closing furiously, as if to say, "come on in, the water's fine". I don't let them fool me though, I can see that it's teeming with creepy looking carp and I want my feet nowhere near it, thank you very much.

Sadly, instead of feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, I left the cafe with still-dirty feet and a new fear of aquatic life. But after a good latte, complimentary mini toast, and a two-second run in the pool, I think I still count this night a win.