Jeonju hanok guesthouse with ondol rooms: Haetsalgadeuk

Haetsalgadeuk, the place I chose for a one-night, two-day Jeonju trip

While planning my Jeonju trip, I had intended to go for one night and two days. Since I was coming all the way to Jeonju, I planned to stay overnight, travel at an easy pace, and head home the next day. The place I chose for my one-night, two-day stay was Haetsalgadeuk (햇살가득), a guesthouse on Hyanggyo-gil in Wansan-gu, Jeonju.

When you walk around Jeonju Hanok Village, there are so many hanok buildings. Haetsalgadeuk is also a hanok, so I could feel that distinctive atmosphere from the moment I arrived. With its tiled roof, wooden building, and courtyard, it definitely felt different from the accommodations you commonly see these days. Rather than flashy or polished, it felt like arriving at a quiet country home.

I visited on a weekday, and perhaps because of that, there were hardly any other guests. Instead of being crowded, the whole place felt peaceful and quiet. Other than our group, I barely saw anyone, so I could look around comfortably.

Address: 97-24 Hyanggyo-gil, Wansan-gu, Jeonju, South Korea

A hanok atmosphere centered around the courtyard

As you would expect from a guesthouse in Hanok Village, the building itself retained the look of a hanok. Looking at every detail, from the roof tiles to the wooden doors, really made me feel like I was traveling in Jeonju. In particular, the hanok buildings extending around the central courtyard created such a familiar, welcoming mood.

I looked around the courtyard too. Stone, trees, and roof tiles came together in a way that was not flashy, but had the simple charm unique to a hanok. Personally, the atmosphere made me feel as if I had come to visit the countryside. It was different again from the modern-feeling stays you often see in Jeonju Hanok Village.

How it felt to rest in an ondol room

I stepped into the room, and the one we used was an ondol room, a traditional heated-floor room. You lay bedding directly on the floor, which made it feel fitting for a hanok guesthouse. The room itself was neatly kept, and it was a space where you could take in the hanok atmosphere as it was.

Originally, I was going to sleep here for a night and continue my Jeonju trip the next day. But I had already walked all over the place while traveling, and when I tried resting in the ondol room, I realized that sleeping on the floor would probably not be comfortable for me—I am just not used to it. I normally sleep in a bed, and my body was already quite tired after traveling all day.

After thinking it over, I decided not to force myself to stay the night this time and headed back instead. I caught my breath in the room for a little while before leaving. Still, I was able to rest briefly and look around, and as a hanok room, it felt different from a typical hotel room.

Basic bathroom and shared-kitchen facilities

If you are visiting expecting a room with a bed, I think it is best to check in advance that this is an ondol room before booking. On the other hand, for anyone who usually likes ondol rooms and wants to experience staying in a hanok, it could be a refreshingly different accommodation. I also checked the bathroom. Unlike the hanok feel of the room, the bathroom had modern facilities. It appeared to have the basic amenities needed during a trip. Disposable washing toiletries were not provided, and thankfully I had brought my own from home... This was my first time using a guesthouse, and I found that I needed a little time to adjust.

The owner also showed me the kitchen area. It had a refrigerator, cups, tableware, and other basics, so guests could use the essential facilities needed at a guesthouse. Having this living space inside a hanok building made it feel like I had come for a stay at a pension.

The area around the kitchen also had the wooden hanok structure, and the overall atmosphere worked together beautifully. Unlike many accommodations these days, it felt like a space that preserved the natural feel of a hanok. As I continued looking around, the first thing that came to mind was that Haetsalgadeuk, true to its name, is a guesthouse where you can stay in Jeonju while taking in a hanok atmosphere. I also remember how quiet it was, perhaps because it was a weekday. If you prefer a peaceful setting over somewhere busy and crowded, I think you will like the atmosphere of this hanok guesthouse. And because there are so many hanok buildings around Hanok Village, choosing a hanok for your accommodation too can carry the travel mood along even further.

A hanok stay worth booking after checking the ondol room

If you are looking for a guesthouse with a hanok atmosphere, Haetsalgadeuk may be worth considering. Above all, I recommend checking before booking whether an ondol room is comfortable for you. We ultimately did not stay overnight, but this hanok guesthouse we found in Jeonju was lovely to capture in photos and more than enough to soak up the mood of a Hanok Village trip.