Haegung

About

Seafood and home-style Korean restaurant near the Seoul courthouse, serving affordable lunch sets with freshly made stone-pot rice.

Tucked into a basement a short walk from the Seoul Central District Court and National University of Education Station, Haegung is a time-tested anchor for the neighborhood’s legal workers and office crowds. Split neatly between private dining rooms on the right and an open dining hall on the left, the space has an unpretentious, lived-in feel built over years of bustling midday shifts. At lunchtime, Haegung functions as a high-value everyday cafeteria. Standard meals, priced around 8,000 won, come anchored by individual hot stone pot rice (*sotbap*). Diners scrape the fluffy white grains into bowls, pour warm water onto the scorched bottom, and leave it to steep into rich *nurungji* porridge. A corner setup lets guests fry their own eggs, which complement a rotating spread of mild, gently seasoned banchan like fish cakes, braised potatoes, and greens. The *jeyuk bokkeum* arrives sizzling on a hot iron plate, coated in a savory, balanced gochujang glaze over tender sliced pork. The *cheonggukjang* (fermented soybean stew) skips heavy sludge for a clean, drinkable broth seasoned to highlight the beans without overpowering funk. Haegung’s roots, however, trace south to the coastal city of Yeosu, where the owner sources fresh seafood directly for evening courses and daytime set feasts. Groups booking private rooms can order the lunchtime *hanjeongsik* courses, which unfold in generous waves: seasoned raw fish (*hoe-muchim*), fresh oysters, delicate raw herring, steamed skate (*hong-eo jjim*), grilled seasoned eel, and savory pancakes. The feast closes with a final table reset of bubbling *galchi jorim* (braised beltfish) alongside stone-pot rice. With fast turnover, welcoming service, and honest cooking that leaves the stomach comfortable, Haegung remains a reliable refuge for solo diners grabbing quick homestyle meals and larger gatherings craving coastal Jeolla hospitality.