Health: Body and Seoul
/ My routine exam at the Chaum Center in Seoul, South Korea, began with a nurse instructing me to disrobe. Next, she ordered me to assume various positions on colored markers on the floor—Have I played this game before?—as she took notes about my circulation.
This introduction to the Chaum Center’s services was not entirely surprising: From the moment I walked into the 250,000-square-foot facility’s massive wood-wrapped atrium, I knew this would not be a typical spa experience. Opened in October by doctor Kwang Yul Cha—a leading specialist in fertility and stem-cell research—the Chaum Center is a multipurpose medical and wellness institution that marries the high practice standards of Western medicine with traditional Eastern remedies such as acupuncture, herbal treatments, and massage. The sprawling complex comprises a health club, a destination spa, and a futuristic-looking medical clinic, with features including a meditation garden, a teahouse, and an indoor/outdoor swimming pool.
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