Seoul(Jongno-gu)
, Insadong・Jongnon
[Paint hanok the modern way
- Todaki Guest House]
The term todak means "chin up" or "cheer up" in Korean. It has retained the classic side of hanok while being modernly decorated in bright colors that resemble the young spirit of the owner. It's tranquility and comfortable atmosphere are the best features of this guest house, as it only accepts a limited number of guests per day. The rooms and bathrooms are kept clean and tidy. The house has its own beauty for each season, especially because of the sunlight that it lets in, and the luxurious doors that make the rooms warmer during the winter.
The old and new of Bukchon Every corner of Bukchon is filled with a diverse array of scenery people. Traditional and modern architecture, antique pottery workshops, and charming coffee shops all draw in the gazes of passersby. On any given day, one can encounter married couples walking hand in hand with their children, students dressed in their school uniforms, elderly couples walking together in their comfy shoes, and foreign tourists taking pictures dressed in hanbok.
The northern village, called Bukchon (북촌), was built between Gyeongbokgung (경복궁) and Changdeokgung (창덕궁) palaces, and was historically home to high ranking palace officials. It perfectly preserves the history of the Joseon Dynasty while bringing out the liveliness of Seoul with its multitudes of visitors each year. If you imagine hanok to be an uncomfortable place that exudes a solemn atmosphere, think again. Todaki Guesthouse has retained a classic atmosphere with modern styles designed to suit the taste of youngsters.
Clean and attractive interior
Entering the gates of Todaki Guest house, the area resembles the Korean symbol "ㅁ", giving it a simple shape that allows one to see the entire structure at a glance. In the small but well-sunlit courtyard, a wooden table and chairs stand quietly. With hahoetal (traditional Korean masks), lighting under the eaves, and small jars and pots, the yard is chuck full of little charming attractions.
The guest rooms are decorated with white linen curtains and rustic wood. The white walls are without wallpaper, and the rafters in the ceiling are fully exposed, showing the natural beauty of hanok. If you find sleeping on the floor rather uncomfortable, you may opt to sleep on beds in the Moon Room. The Moon Room is the most popular room, complete with personal toilets in side. Guests staying in the Star Room and the Sunlight Room use a shared bathroom, although it never gets crowed as not many guests stay in the house at any given time. The bathroom interiors include soft lighting and mirrors with a neat wooden frame that reveals the meticulous taste of the owner.
[An island-like space with plenty of sun and wind]
The house is so delicately decorated that you might not believe that all it was all done by the young owner of the Todaki Guest House. He created this place to share the charm of Bukchon and Hanok with others, opening the guesthouse in spring of 2013.
He defines the charm of hanok as the tranquility one finds on an island. This is why he created a veranda, a tolmaru, and a small yard space for the wind to blow in and make guests feel like they're drifting on their own islands. The guests can use the bathrooms and kichen, which were fully renovated with a modern touch. There is also enhanced heat insulation and soundproofing. Complimentary breakfasts are served by the host. Longer-term guests will have a rotation menu between Korean and Western style meals. In order to fully enjoy the Todaki Guesthouse, groups can rent the whole house for themselves. Six is the most comfortable number of guests for staying here, but up to 10 people can be accomodated if you don’t mind the house getting a little crowded
