Korea Souvenir Road

Traditional Liquor shop in Bukchon

Bukchon is one of the biggest tourist attractions due to its traditional houses. Although a great number of non-Korean tourists travel along the streets, we can also find office workers, especially during lunchtime. Bukchon is a complex village mixed with residential houses, office buildings, government buildings, commercial shops, and tourism attractions. 

Nestled in Hansik Space E:eum

Right across from the Constitutional Court of Korea and only 5 minutes from Anguk Station exit Number 2, you’ll find The Sool Gallery. Initially, when I reserved The Sool Gallery tour, I imagined it would have its own building and offer opportunities to taste traditional liquor in advance. However, I almost missed its location because this gallery is part of HANSIK Space E:eum. The Sool Gallery tour operates by reservation, but HANSIK Space E:eum showcases information about Korean food culture with free admission, meaning it’s open during operational hours.

Subtle and Traditional reception

When I entered E:eum, I immediately noticed a rest area with traditional tables on the right side, captivating me with its delicate colors. After passing the information desk and entering through the glass door, I found myself facing a cafe selling traditional teas, beverages, and sauces. Initially, I thought The Sool Gallery was located there, but the staff informed me that I needed to venture further inside. 

Exhibitions of Korean food

En route to The Sool Gallery, I encountered exhibitions showcasing the history of Korean food. Interactive videos were also playing, though I wasn’t sure how they worked. Some items on display were redesigned for contemporary tastes. It’s making them quite unique and tempting to purchase. To absorb all the information, I estimate needing at least an additional 30 minutes. 

Register for the gallery tour

Before the tour began, each guest was registered. Eight people from our group were already at the venue, so the tour started a little earlier than expected. Our sommelier, a man, shared that the gallery tour follows a different concept every year. For the first half of this year, they plan to offer five different liquors from one province each month. The theme province for this month is Jeju Island. 

Neat and informative Jeju Liquor tasting

They had already set glasses and a bottle of water on the table. It’s along with meticulously prepared Today’s selection stickers, information cards and potable battery. I had imagined he might give a short introduction about the liquor, but he turned out to be a skilled communicator.

He announced that they usually prepare all different specific classifications of liquor. But one had been omitted for some reason (although the number of bottles remained the same). As he took out a bottle, he provided us with information about the brewery, the ingredients, and the specific type of liquor. He never mentioned the detailed taste before we tasted each one, but kindly asked us how we felt about it. With his witty guidance, almost 45 minutes had passed. Every liquor had its unique taste, but my favorite was the second one. After finishing all the tastings, I had the chance to shop for traditional liquor, not only today’s choice but also from all over the country.

How to reserve Sool gallery tour for None Korean

If you want to join the Gallery guide tour, I’ve provided the link below. For non-Korean tourists, they offer two sessions per day at 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM, with a limit of 8 people per session. It doesn’t seem to be well known among non-Korean tourists. So if you plan to visit Bukchon, it might be worth taking the opportunity to visit the Sool Gallery for a while.

A Sool Gallery(HANSIK Space E:eum)
Address
18 Bukchon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Operating hours
10:00 – 19:00 (Closed on Monday)

Reservation link
https://m.booking.naver.com/booking/12/bizes/142806?theme=place&service-target=nmap&area=bmparea=bmp&service-target=nmap&theme=place