Balsan Station Korean restaurant for pork belly naksamsae: Gungmin

Today I'm bringing you a review of a restaurant I'd recommend for a team dinner near Balsan Station — Gungmin Nakgopsae Gangseo Branch. It's already a well-known brand among nakgopsae (octopus, intestine, and shrimp stew) lovers, and when I heard there was a location in Gangseo, I rushed right over.

Location and parking at Gungmin Nakgopsae Gangseo Branch

Gungmin Nakgopsae Gangseo Branch is just a 5-minute walk from Exit 6 of Balsan Station, so it's very accessible for anyone taking public transit. There was a sign out front saying they want to be the oldest-standing restaurant on this street, which I thought was so cute — you could really feel the owner's sincerity haha.

There's a large parking lot behind the building, so anyone driving in doesn't need to worry about parking. It's convenient for anyone who needs to bring a car.

A 120-inch screen — how about it for a team dinner?

Inside Gungmin Nakgopsae Gangseo Branch there's a large 120-inch screen, which makes it a more fun space for watching sports or gathering in groups. It looked like a lot of people use the screen for group bookings and events, which is exactly why I'd recommend it as a team dinner spot near Balsan Station or Magok.

The restroom is also inside the restaurant, so you don't have to step outside the building. It's convenient to use mid-meal too, and I could feel that this place has thought through these small details.

Menu lineup — nakgopsae, naksamsae, nakwoosae

As the name suggests, nakgopsae is the main dish, but there were plenty of other options too, like dakbokkeumtang (spicy braised chicken) and gopchang (beef intestine) hotpot. One thing that stood out was that the intestines Gungmin uses are Korean hanwoo beef intestines — a lot of places use imported intestines, so sticking with hanwoo really showed the owner's dedication to taste and freshness. You can choose from nakgopsae, naksamsae, or nakwoosae, so even people like me who can't eat intestines can visit without worry.

After some deliberation, we ordered the medium naksamsae, steamed egg, and egg fried rice, and along with those they brought out white kimchi, radish wraps, perilla leaves, diced radish kimchi, and seaweed soup as side dishes.

Naksamsae (medium) — pork belly instead of intestines

Since I can't really eat intestines, I ordered the naksamsae, made with octopus, pork belly, and shrimp. It swaps in pork belly instead of intestines, so it's a great option for anyone who can't handle or doesn't want organ meat.

That morning I'd been talking with a close friend about how disappointing it is when nakgopsae comes with tiny cocktail shrimp instead — but here the shrimp and octopus were noticeably plump. The ingredients clearly looked fresh, so I was excited even before taking a bite.

Watching the octopus and shrimp cook was genuinely mouthwatering! Once it starts bubbling, you just need to stir occasionally so the glass noodles don't stick to the bottom.

The visuals were honestly insane...!! Once the octopus was cooked, picking up a piece gave that bouncy, chewy texture while still being tender to bite into — really delicious. The shrimp cooked up plump too, with a satisfying, full feel to the flesh. Pairing the spicy-sauced pork belly with the shrimp and octopus, the texture combo was perfect, ugh.

The sauce was pretty spicy, but it wasn't overwhelming — just spicy enough that I never got sick of it and could eat it to the very end without it feeling too much. Wrapping it up with perilla leaves and radish wraps was absolutely insane, ugh.

Steamed egg

It came out as a springy, bomb-style steamed egg. Just the sight of it puffing up out of the stone bowl looked so delicious!! Its soft, fluffy texture made a perfect pairing when eaten alternately with the spicy naksamsae. Whenever my mouth got fiery from the naksamsae, one spoonful of the steamed egg cleanly cooled things down with its mild flavor.

Egg fried rice

After we finished the naksamsae, a staff member cooked the fried rice for us right at the table. Interestingly, they added the egg in at the very end...?!

Maybe because it was fried together with the egg, it wasn't harsh at all — soft and just right on seasoning, exactly my taste, ugh. You can wrap the fried rice too or eat it with the leftover sauce — really good, so make sure to try it that way!

Final thoughts

• Gungmin sticks with hanwoo beef intestines, and the naksamsae delivered with fresh, plump octopus and shrimp — quality checks out
• Excellent accessibility, just a 5-minute walk from Balsan Station Exit 6
• With a 120-inch screen, a great pick for group gatherings near Balsan Station

If you're trying to figure out where to have a team dinner near Balsan Station or looking for a restaurant for a Magok get-together, definitely give Gungmin Nakgopsae Gangseo Branch a visit 🐙