RAKKOJAE Secret Hanok Escape: An Authentic Immersion in Korean Culture (Seoul, South Korea) @KTOManila

Being my first time in Korea, my search for an authentic immersion in Korean culture was satisfied when I stayed in RakKoJae.

RakKoJae is a Hanok, a traditional Korean guest house that offers 6-star service in a secluded location in Seoul. Its name means “a place where one can enjoy the traditions of times past and rests one’s soul”.

Check out the RakKoJae experience…

RakKoJae is located somewhere in Bukchon, in the midst of a residential and school area.

Welcome to RakKoJae!

The entrance is unassuming, with the door marked with Chinese characters, covered by a few trees.  

A lot of people wanted to enter just out of curiousity, but it’s exclusive for guests to protect their privacy.

In the center is a nice garden surrounded by 5 different rooms.

This is the honeymoon suite (KRW 300,000 +10% tax), which is a separate hanok from the main.

Meet Wut and Kate, top and well-loved senior travel writers from Thailand. 

We stayed in a two-bedroom room good for 4 persons (KRW 450,000 +10% VAT).

Whoopi the manager of RakKojae Seoul, welcomed us personally, gave us a tour, and made sure that we felt at home with our authentic hanok environment. 

(In fact, she knows how to speak Filipino after working for a Korean Tour agency here in Manila.)

The refrigerator comes with complimentary water and iced tea! 🙂

This was our room for the night with flat mattresses on the heated floor and massage pillows.

The other room had a double bed. This is also the only room with TV.

There are two modern bathrooms with a high-tech toilet and a wooden bath tub. 

Meet my blogger friends (from right to left): DJ Quang of Quick & Snow Show from Vietnam, and top bloggers Rayyan Harise of Big Small Boy Blog  and Pen Merah from Malaysia. 

Morning at RakKoJae

I had a very restful sleep. The interiors were very relaxing and the bed on the heated floor was soothing.

I love their attention to detail, like this door lock for the restroom.

The toilet is high-tech and gives you all the options to personalize your toilet washing experience from water intensity, angle of the water, and wind. 🙂

I love the wooden bath tub. It just invites you to stay as long as you want.

Read: Seoul Personalities RakKoJae Ahn Young-hwan Page 1,  Page 2

There’s an interesting article on visionary CEO Ahn Young-hwan and how the place came about.

When you go out to the garden in the morning, you’ll appreciate Korean aesthetics, building around the natural surroundings, giving you that sense of being amidst nature. 

A kitchen area used for cooking.

Chili paste jars for fermenting chili and soy.

The main entrance is like a time portal, separating the tradional hanok house…

… from the modern residential and business area around it. 

RakKoJae Breakfast

The living room is set up Japanese style, where you sit on the floor with a pillow cushion.

In traditional Korean cuisine, side dish appetizers are served first like kimchi, salted small fish (like dilis) with walnuts, kangkong, pickled cucumber, and radish.

I love the Korean dilis for breakfast, but it’s very strong and not for those allergic to fish or nuts.

There is a secret door where the server enters…

…and leads to the laundry and kitchen area of the Hanok.

I started to fall in love with the Abalone soup (which is more like Abalone porridge). The flavors are a bit subtle but they grow on you.

Love their grilled fish, too. Not too salty, flavorful, and just the right serving size.

Tea is served often and keeps the entire breakfast healthy.

My roommate, DJ Quang was indeed very happy with the experience…

Breakfast is like a 3-course meal of appetizers, main dish, and finally, dessert. 🙂

Dessert is home made yogurt with frozen berries — yum!

It’s the BEST traditional Korean Breakfast we’ve had with authentic Hanok service!

I was blown away by the traditional lodging and dining experience that RakKoJae offers. Thanks to them, I got to appreciate the beauty of Korean culture and hospitality. 

I highly recommend it for those seeking a holistic immersion in Korean culture. It’s a great destination for honeymooners or independent travelers looking for authentic experiences.

RakKoJae Seoul
49-23, Gyedong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-800, Korea
Rates start at KRW 250,000 for double occupancy (+10% VAT)
All rates include breakfast and dinner service
Complimentary Wi-Fi, mini-bar, laundry and use of sauna

Branch Manager: Whoopi MUN
Mobile: +82 10 6661-8121
Email: woody@rkj.co.kr
Telephone: +82 2 742-3410
Website: www.rkj.co.kr

Awesome Korea Experience: Be Inspired Series

• RAKKOJAE Secret Hanok Escape: An Ultimate Immersion to Korean Culture (Seoul)
• JINSADAEK: 14-Course Traditional Korean Food Experience!
• SAMGYEOPSAL: Lovin’ the Korean Grilled Pork Belly BBQ Experience…Yum!
• NAMSANGOL: Traditional Hanok Village + Seoul Millennium Time Capsule
• SEOUL TOWER: First Timer’s Guide to Namsan Seoul Tower Experience
• CHANGDEOKGUNG PALACE & JONGMYO SHRINE: Pilgrimage to Korea’s World Heritage Sites
• MYEONG-DONG & NOO NA HOL DAK: Korean Fried Chicken Dinner 
• DONG-LIM KNOT MUSEUM: Learning the Art of Traditional Korean Maedeup (Knots)
• INSA-DONG: Korea’s Traditional Food & Artist Culture Street
• ITAEWON: IP Boutique Hotel & Flying Pan Korean Brunch Experience

Live an Awesome Life,

 
Founder, www.OurAwesomePlanet.com

P.S. Thank you to the Korean Tourism Organization of Manila for the Asian On Air Program: Asia Power Bloggers Tour of South Korea! 감사합니다 Kamsahamnida!

How to Get To RakKoJae

Find Bukchon-ro 6-gil

Turn into this road with the Korean convenience store as the landmark.

Continue down this small road with the wall of a school. 

Turn left as you see this entrance, and then turn right at the end…

You should see the entrance to RakKojae…

Prior reservation is necessary and you can knock or press on the intercom to get inside.

Korean Map to RakKojae:

RakKojae Calling Card: