Seowon Juk
서원죽
Nearest station: Myeongdong Station (명동역) Exit 9 · ≈20 m≈ approximate, from map data (Kakao Map, Naver Map or map coordinates)
A juk (rice porridge) restaurant in the basement of 141 Toegye-ro, open from 07:00 every day. A May 2026 blogger found a queue at 06:50 and was seated around 07:10. You order and pay at the counter as you come in. Kakao Map lists abalone porridge at ₩17,000, a special abalone porridge at ₩24,000, and shrimp or mushroom-and-oyster porridge at ₩16,000.
Last checked: 2026-10-07·Desk-researched — not yet verified on site
Payment
Konest (a Japanese travel guide) lists Korean won cash and JCB, Visa, Mastercard and Amex cards in its info box (updated October 2025). However, several Japanese-language reviews on the same page (September 2024, August 2025, December 2025) say only cash was accepted. Konest says the annex opened close by in 2025, so the September 2024 review is about the basement main shop. The December 2025 review refers to the annex, and only vaguely recalls cards working at the basement main shop. Bring cash.
Hours
Mon–Sat opens 07:00; closing is 16:30 (Creatrip) or 17:00 (Kakao Map) depending on the source. Sun 07:00–14:00 · Closed: Seollal and Chuseok (eve, day and day after; Kakao Map)
Reservation
Walk in and queue; a line forms at opening. You order and pay at the counter on the way in (blog, 19 May 2026).
Address
서울특별시 중구 퇴계로 141 지하1층
B1, 141 Toegye-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
Tips
- Weekday closing is given as either 16:30 or 17:00, and Sunday closes at 14:00. Breakfast is not affected, but for a late-afternoon visit check a map app for the day.
- There may be more than one branch. A May 2026 blogger says they visited branch 2 and that branch 1 is nearby, in the basement of a building next to a hotel; an April post mentions an annex next door. Kakao Map has only the 141 Toegye-ro listing, and which branch that is was not confirmed. Kakao's menu also lists vegetable and chicken porridge at ₩10,000, but the May 2026 blogger found only four kinds of porridge.
Myeongdong · Places
Shinsegae Department Store (Main)
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Ssada Gimbap Euljiro 1-ga Station
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Yeji Sikdang (Yeji Bunsik)
예지식당 (예지분식)A Korean home-style diner in a Myeongdong side street. It opens at 05:30 Monday to Saturday, one of the earliest openings in the area. Map apps list it as Yeji Sikdang and travel guides also call it Yeji Bunsik. It is about a five-minute walk from Euljiro 1-ga Station Exit 5.