Planning a solo trip to South Korea? Here are some places that cater to singles in Seoul
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Loading... - Mi-young Nai
- 05 May 2023
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With the growth of one-person households in South Korea, more people are choosing to dine, drink and travel alone.
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A decade ago, a person who walked into a restaurant in Seoul and asked for "han myung" —a table for one person — could be declined service. That's because restaurants in South Korea prefer groups of two or more, owing to a complex mix of local social dynamics, profit margins and simple logistics — a tableside grill has to be cleaned whether it serves one patron or four, after all.
Solo rejections commonly occurred at family restaurants and barbecue outlets, two quintessential spots to sample some of the country's best cuisine. Solo diners could circumvent it in two ways: by placing an order for two or agreeing to a minimum spend.
However, with the growth of one-person households in South Korea, more people are choosing to dine, drink and travel alone — embracing the "honjok" lifestyle trend that has visibly taken root in the country.
Eating out
Hongojib is unlike most barbecue places in Seoul. Located in the lively neighborhood of Yeonnam-dong, the restaurant — and its predecessors, such as Sinssi Express and Hongo — have swapped traditional communal dining for the growing trend of honbap, or eating alone. Diners eat at counters rather than round tables. And dishes aren't served family style — each diner is given personal settings for condiments and cutlery along with their own grill. Read More…
