| Run by a couple hailing from Bukchon, Inwoo House is located in an alleyway in Gye-dong, Jongno-gu, which is part of Bukchon that is well-known for old hanok houses. Inwoo House, meaning 'the house of Inwoo,' is inhabited by the owner couple and eight-year-old son Inwoo and his younger brother Yeonwoo. The couple, who have always lived in Bukchon, moved to Inwoo House in 2010; their parents run another guesthouse -- Yeonwoo House -- in Gahoe-dong, which isn’t far from Inwoo House. These two hanok guesthouses seek to provide guests with an opportunity to experience the true aspect of traditional Korean house amid the natural environment.
Inwoo House, which has the typical style of hanok in the area, features a cozy yard, a toenmaru (narrow wooden porch running along the outside of the building), and several charming decorative items. It has three rooms – Tokki-bang and Haejanggeum-bang situated in Sarangchae (a detached building) and Nori-bang, which is a communal space. Due to its quiet location, guests can enjoy relaxation with a serene atmosphere in their rooms, which are decorated with calligraphic works and furniture inlaid with mother-of-pearl in a simple way. Each room is equipped with a bathroom. The guesthouse offers breakfast such as toast or tteokguk (rice cake soup). Inwoo House is an ideal place to stay for guests with children as the owner couple have children with whom children can play in the alley, yard, or toenmaru with an interesting hanok environment. The guesthouse also provides various traditional activities including traditional Korean clothes experience, traditional Hanji (Korean paper) craft experience, traditional knot bracelet making, and fan decorating, which are popular among foreign tourists and children. It is adjacent to restaurants, coffee shops, convenience store, and other tourist attractions including Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, Insa-dong, and Samcheong-dong. |
