Korea House Seoul: Kohojae Royal Tea, Hanjeongsik & Traditional Performance
Last Updated on August 20, 2026
Ten minutes up the road from the popular Myeongdong shopping district and set near the Namsangol Hanok Village and Pildong mural streets, there’s a driveway that leads up to Korea House (한국의집).
What is Korea House? It’s a traditional Hanok culture complex in central Seoul, run by the Cultural Heritage Administration, where you can have a royal-style Korean tea set or full hanjeongsik dinner alongside a traditional performance. It’s actually one the most budget-friendly introductions to Korean culture in my opinion, and yet so many tourists miss it.
The tea sets change seasonally and I’ve been in both winter and summer now. If you’re staying in Myeongdong, it is an ideal place to have dinner or tea and see a performance. Read on to see why.
Enjoy a luxury dining experience in Seoul, Korea at Korea House. A traditional meal and performance, too:
- How To Get There
- Basic Info
- Finding Korean Culture
- Luxury Traditional Korean Cuisine
- Winter vs. Summer: What’s Actually on the Tray
- Beautiful Performances
- Bonus: K-Heritage Sarang Art Shop & Cafe
- FAQ
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How To Get There
Address: 10 Toegye-ro 36-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 중구 퇴계로36길 10)
Directions: Go out of Chungmuro Subway Station, exit 3 or 4 and you’ll make a u-turn of the exit to find the street that leads to Korea House in the middle of the two exits.
Basic Info
Hours: Tuesday – Sunday: 12:00pm ~ 3:00pm; 6:00pm ~ 10:00pm
Kahojae Tea Times: 11:00am ~ 12:30pm, 1:00pm ~ 2:30pm, 3:00pm ~ 4:30pm, 5:00pm ~ 6:30pm (up to 38 guests / 13 tables per session)
- Booking: Advance booking through Creatrip (up to 4 seats per reservation)
- Duration: 90 minutes
- Capacity: Up to 38 guests per session (13 tables)
Days: Closed Mondays, Lunar New Year, and Chuseok
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Finding Korean Culture
Korea House is operated by the Cultural Heritage Administration and is dedicated to preserving and promoting traditional Korean culture through Korean cuisine, experiences, and performances.
From the moment you step through its doors, you’ll be transported back in time by the exquisite architecture of the Hanok, or traditional Korean architecture. After enjoying the wooden structures, take a seat to sup on some very enjoyable meals that will provide you the opportunity to learn more about Korean history and culture.
Luxury Traditional Korean Cuisine
One of the main highlights of Korea House is its luxury traditional Korean cuisine. Having the experience of dining here is not merely a meal but an entire experience complete with a performance.
If you’re a tourist in Seoul, or a resident and you have family visiting, I highly recommend having a meal or tea set here. It’s a fabulous experience.
Royal Desserts at Kohojae
For my first visit, we stepped in the doors to be greeted and ushered into Kohojae. In the space, you’ll notice that there are both traditional floor seating options as well as tables with chairs if sitting on the floor isn’t for you.
Kohojae offers an exclusive opportunity to enjoy royal desserts with tea. This premium brand, meaning “a home for those who appreciate the old,” provides seasonal tea sets made with the finest ingredients from each season.
At the front of the space, you can see all four seasonal sets to see how it changes throughout the year. The dessert tray is provided with a little booklet that details the food that is provided.
Winter vs. Summer: What’s Actually on the Tray
I’ve now done this tea set in both winter and summer, and the tray changes completely with the season.
We enjoyed the winter course with green tangerine tea and yuja danji, braised ginseng in a sweet sauce, gaeseong juak, ddeok, or rice cake, and sesame puffs. Note the subtle flavors and artistic presentation that characterized the royal courts of the past as you dine.
In the summer we had Korean ribbon cookies, dried persimmon, candied kiwi and strawberry, a fermented rice cake and deep-fried sweet rice cake glazed with syrup, and candied pear in omija sweet sauce and added the shaved Korean melon ice with red beans and pine pollen. Bingsu is a summer treat across Korea, but I’d never seen the Korean melon ice version and it was so refreshing.
How To Book: You can book this experience on Creatrip
A Full-Course Korean Dinner
Hanjeongsik is a full-course Korean meal and it also served at Korea House. The meals are prepared by top chefs using premium ingredients, each dish meant to reflect the opulence of royal Joseon-era cuisine. While I haven’t eaten here, I can say after the tea set, that I’d definitely try the lunch or dinner sets.
How To Book: You can book a table on Catchtable
Beautiful Performances
Korea House offers a variety of performances that bring to life Korean folktales through dance and music. Now that I’ve been back on my own bookings, I can confirm the performance is included with the Kohojae tea set, it’s short, but it’s a lovely touch, with a woman in a beautiful traditional hanbok performing right in the space.
From looking at past photos, it seems usually, there are performances in a performance hall, or sometimes, even outside in the courtyard as well. One of the most popular shows is the tale of “Sim Cheong,” a story of filial piety and sacrifice.
While the tea time includes a shorter ten minute or so performance, the performance included with dinner is a one-hour performance that features eight traditional acts, ranging from fan dances to dramatic drum performances. I can say if it’s anything like the performance we enjoyed, it would be fantastic.
At the end of the performance, don’t miss the chance to take photos with the performers in their gorgeous Hanboks.
Bonus: K-Heritage Sarang Art Shop & Cafe
On your way out or in of Korea House, look for the K-Heritage Sarang Art Shop and Cafe. This little shop and cafe is often quiet and has some great Korean souvenirs that are well designed and interesting. You can find everything from budget-friendly to high-end here. I hadn’t noticed it my first few times to Korea House but stopped in the last time and thought it was a great spot for tourists that want something a little different.
- Address: 10 Toegye-ro 36-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울 중구 퇴계로36길 10)
- Hours: Monday – Saturday: 10:00am ~ 7:00pm
FAQ
Is Korea House worth it?
Yes, it’s an absolutely fantastic, budget-friendly introduction to Korean culture: a traditional tea set that changes with the seasons, plus a performance by a woman in a beautiful hanbok, all for under $20.
Do I need to book Korea House in advance?
Yes. The tea set is reservation-only and can’t be purchased on-site. Confirmation takes 2-3 days.
Is the performance included with the tea set, or only with dinner?
It’s included with the Kohojae tea set, it’s short, but it’s a genuine performance, not just an add-on for special visits.
Is Korea House good for vegetarians or guests with allergies?
You can flag dietary restrictions or allergies at the time of reservation and they’ll accommodate where possible, note the tea and confections may contain nuts.
How do I get to Korea House from Myeongdong?
About a 10-minute walk from Myeongdong Station (Line 4) Exit 9, or a 1-minute walk from Chungmuro Station (Lines 3 & 4) Exit 3.
What’s the difference between the Kohojae tea set and the hanjeongsik dinner?
The Kohojae tea set is a seasonal dessert-and-tea course (90 minutes); hanjeongsik is a full multi-course Korean meal.
If you’re looking to immerse yourself in the beauty and tradition of Korean culture with a luxurious touch, Korea House is a perfect choice. A combination of beautiful Hanok, gorgeous Hanboks, and premium ingredients to make delicious Korean cuisine and desserts means it’s an all-around experience perfect for tourists and visitors in Seoul.
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