Yes, it is normal for Koreans of the same gender to shower together, primarily in public bathhouses.
Here's a breakdown:
- Public Bath Culture: Korea has a long-standing tradition of public bathhouses (jjimjilbangs), where people of the same gender bathe and shower together. The reference states "Korea has public bath culture, where males bathe together and females bathe together in the public bath house. So males/females bathing/showering together is nothing strange."
- Gender Segregation: These bathhouses are strictly segregated by gender.
- Romantic Relationships: The reference also points out that "a male and a female bathing/showering together would mean they are in a relationship." This suggests that mixed-gender showering/bathing is only common among couples or intimate partners.
In short, showering together is common in Korea within the context of same-sex public bathhouses but not generally accepted between men and women unless they are in a romantic relationship.
