Compact Rounds · 7 stories

Thin Compact, Gwangju and Daejeon Rounds

Writes about neighborhood restaurants and small beauty shops across Gwangju/Jeolla, Daejeon/Chungcheong, and Sejong. · Writes about: Hair & beauty salons · Restaurants

PlaceSeo-gu, GwangjuRestaurants

Burger shop by Uncheon Station, Gwangju: juicy Downtowner at Downtown

Downtown Gwangju Sangmu is a craft burger restaurant in the Sangmu district near Uncheon Station in Seo-gu, Gwangju. The writer and her husband went outside the lunch rush and ordered the Downtowner set with garlic butter fries and the avocado set with chicken fries. They loved the juicy patties and the garlic butter fries, which stay tasty even cold. Verdict: burger lovers could happily make Downtown Gwangju Sangmu their regular spot.

Written Jul 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSejongRestaurants

Cheotmaeul, Sejong gamjatang with sujebi and free noodles: Chungsilok

Chungsilok Ppyeohaejangguk (충실옥 뼈해장국) Cheotmaeul Main Branch is a Korean restaurant on Hannuri-daero in Sejong that specializes in pork bone hangover soup and gamjatang (pork bone and potato stew). On a pouring-rain evening before 6 p.m., the small Chungsilok gamjatang (₩28,000) came out as big as a medium pot elsewhere, with tender meat free of any gamey smell, chewy sujebi (hand-torn dough) and free noodle add-ons. Chungsilok Cheotmaeul Main Branch is a Sejong gamjatang favorite that stays full and swamped with takeout orders even on rainy days.

Written Jul 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSejongHair & beauty salons

Scalp care spa in Sejong for a red, sensitive scalp: Enne Brain Spa

Enne Brain Spa is a head spa and scalp care shop on the 2nd floor of Parc Blanc Building B in Eojin-dong, Sejong. The writer's husband, whose scalp had become too red and sensitive for a down perm, went through a consultation, tarot-card aroma therapy, neck and back care and the brain detox head spa at Enne Brain Spa, and said his scalp felt much softer and more comfortable afterward. Enne Brain Spa is a head spa worth recommending in Sejong for anyone whose scalp trouble comes with built-up neck and shoulder fatigue.

Written Jul 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, DaejeonRestaurants

Dunsan-dong galbitang spot for business trips, tender ribs: Hanppong

Hanppong (한뽕) is a Korean restaurant in Dunsan-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon, specializing in galbitang (beef short rib soup), gamjatang (pork bone soup) and gukbap (rice soup). Its signature mountain-piled galbitang is limited to 130 servings a day. On a Daejeon business trip, a coworker recommended Hanppong; the thick short rib meat slid off the bone whole in one bite, and the spicy silbi kimchi got refilled twice. Hanppong's mountain-piled galbitang is a hearty, restorative meal worth recommending to business travelers in Dunsan-dong.

Written Jul 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, GwangjuRestaurants

Weekday brunch with Mom in Sangmu, Gwangju: abalone risotto, Bueokgan

Bueokgan Sangmu Branch (부엌간 상무점) is a Rome hotel-themed European restaurant on Seogwangju-ro in Sangmu, Seo-gu, Gwangju. On a repeat visit, the writer came with Mom after regular mealtimes on a weekday, sat at a half-round table and ordered the baby napa cabbage Caesar salad (16,000 won), abalone cream risotto (20,000 won) and seafood tomato pasta (19,000 won). With a thick, rich abalone cream risotto and a seafood-packed tomato pasta, Bueokgan Sangmu Branch made for a satisfying brunch with Mom.

Written Jul 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNaju, GwangjuRestaurants

Naju shabu-shabu with silver ear mushrooms and yolk tare: Yuyu Shabu

Yuyu Shabu Naju Innovation City branch is a shabu-shabu restaurant with unlimited vegetable refills in Bitgaram-dong, Naju Innovation City. A couple ordered shabu-shabu for two, dipped everything in a tare sauce mixed with egg yolk, added silver ear mushrooms, and finished with kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) in a broth made spicy with dried chili; the refilled vegetables were as fresh as the first plate. For diners who value fresh vegetables and a good tare sauce, Yuyu Shabu Naju Innovation City branch is a satisfying choice.

Written Jul 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNaju, GwangjuHair & beauty salons

Hydrating contour facial for dry, puffy skin in Naju: Divaskin

Divaskin Main Branch (디바스킨 본점) is a problem-skin esthetic clinic in Unit 411, A-dong of The Class Building on Ujeong-ro in Naju Innovation City, South Jeolla. The writer booked the two-step hydrating contour solution for dehydrated skin and facial puffiness, which ran from foam cleansing to ampoule absorption with the Ermodew device, a snow moisture pack and closing stretches. The pressure never hurt, and the unedited before-and-after photos showed a clearly visible difference.

Written Aug 18, 2026Sponsored
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