Goi Guesthouse

Hanok guesthouses are a growing breed in Bukchon, but Goi is a gem amongst them. Owner Jeong Jina was an art curator living and studying around the world but felt a certain call to come back to Seoul and, specifically, the neighborhood of Gahoi-dong, where she had lived in her early twenties. From an aesthetic point of view, she was also interested in the development of a Korean aesthetic, one that was modern but reflected Korean roots. Goi is the result of her efforts, along with interior design group Grav and the graphic design team at Post Poetics. At a mere six pyeong (barely 20m²), it manages to feel self-contained and efficient without feeling cramped. Jina kept the furniture low (bedding is a traditional Korean floor mat, but a plush one made of natural fibers) and the space open with sliding doors. All interior items have been sourced from local Korean designers, from the cutlery (Dorco) and ceramics (Cho Won-seok), to the toiletries, all handmade for Goi by a friend of Jina’s. Though just steps away from the tourist attractions of Bukchon, Goi is located at the end of a quiet alley and you get the whole home to yourself—visitors may be tempted to snuggle up here and forget the rest of the world exists. It’s a getaway not just for visitors to Korea, but for residents of Seoul as well.