Hanok stay a walk from Hwangnidangil in Gyeongju: Soso Byeolchae S101

A hanok stay right in front of Hwangnidangil with both an indoor and outdoor jacuzzi 🛁

Hwangnidangil is a must on any Gyeongju trip~! So this time I looked for a hanok (traditional Korean house) stay near Hwangnidangil and went to check out [Soso Byeolchae]! We stayed in room S101✨

The location was honestly the best part! Just cross one street from the stay and you're right at the entrance to Hwangnidangil, which made everything so convenient. Check in, wander around Hwangnidangil, come back to rest, head out again for dinner, come back in — it was perfect for all of that!

And with the calm hanok vibe plus both an indoor and outdoor jacuzzi, I liked it even more 🤎!! Being able to relax so close to Hwangnidangil while enjoying both the hanok atmosphere and the jacuzzis made it a really great stay for a Gyeongju trip~~!

Soso Byeolchae basics: address, check-in and free parking

Soso Byeolchae is located at 18-2 Cheomseong-ro 39beon-gil, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, with check-in at 15:00 and check-out at 11:00. Standard occupancy is 2, max is 3.

• Stay name: Soso Byeolchae
• Address: 18-2 Cheomseong-ro 39beon-gil, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea
• Check-in 15:00 / Check-out 11:00
• Standard 2 / Max 3 (free for 1 guest under 12 months, ₩30,000 extra per guest 12 months and up including adults)
• Parking: free

Parking spaces are apparently arranged at Daehwa Gas Station, about 150m from the stay! We got lucky and found a spot in the alley right in front of the stay :)

First impressions of Room S101: a quiet hanok courtyard

Soso Byeolchae has S101 and S102, and we stayed in S101! The gravel-lined entrance made the whole approach feel so pretty.

The jacuzzi you see the second you open the door was already impressive haha!! The whole space was done in wood tones, so it felt warm and calm all around.

Keeping the wooden structure and exposed rafters of the hanok gave it that trendy 'aesthetic stay' feel while still capturing Gyeongju's quiet charm 🤎

The living room's picture-frame window wall

My favorite thing about the living room in S101 was the huge picture window filling one whole wall! The view outside looked exactly like a painting in a frame — such a great photo spot 📸

There was a small floor table and a StandbyME, and since the StandbyME is portable, that was really convenient!

Inside there were shower robes, a hanger rack, a vacuum, and a dehumidifier ready to go. Indoor and outdoor slippers were also set out by the shoe rack, so everything was easy to use~!

My favourite part: the kitchen with exposed rafters and an ice water purifier

Personally, I thought the kitchen at Soso Byeolchae was the prettiest spot!

The ceiling kept the hanok's original rafter structure, with soft lighting built in inside it — genuinely looked luxurious and beautiful.

The wooden shelves were full of pretty glasses, plus teacups for anyone who likes tea! And best of all, the ice water purifier — so good haha!!

Nespresso coffee, two salt breads, and even the Gyeongju cherry wine that's trendy these days 🍒

There was a Balmuda toaster, a microwave, pretty Syracuse dishware, and even a wine opener, so it was great for just picking up simple food to eat!

Separate toilet and shower room — which amenities are provided?

The sink and vanity are right next to the entrance, fully stocked with towels, shower towels, disposable toothbrushes, toothpaste, foam cleanser, cotton swabs, and even a Dyson dryer! There was also a laundry drying rack in the drawer unit!

And having the bathroom and shower room separated was so convenient~~~! It's motion-sensor lighting too, so the light turns on automatically when you open the door — a nice touch of luxury~~

The shower room had shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel.

Handy tip! Turn on the boiler near the entrance and you get plenty of hot water 🙌🏻

The indoor brick-tub jacuzzi: roomy enough for two adults

And one of Soso Byeolchae's highlights! The indoor jacuzzi 🤎 It's all glass so it feels open, and the brick-built tub is much deeper than I expected! Two adults fit in comfortably!

I worried an indoor jacuzzi might feel humid, but the dehumidifying fan really performed well. Run it after using the jacuzzi and the humidity clears fast, keeping the room comfortable!

Out the kitchen door: the outdoor jacuzzi

Stepping out through the door next to the kitchen — whoa~~ the outdoor jacuzzi!! With green trees visible through the window, it really felt like soaking outdoors~~ The trees neatly surrounding the area made the whole atmosphere so relaxing.

There was even a float ring provided, perfect for playing in the water and taking photos! So I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a jacuzzi stay in Gyeongju!

The second-floor bedroom up the wooden stairs

Climb the wooden stairs and you reach the upstairs bedroom. This space also kept the ceiling's rafter structure, so the hanok feel really came through~! The stairs have motion-sensor lights installed, so even at night when going back and forth to the bathroom, the lights turn on automatically — felt safe~~!

With the soft lighting added, the atmosphere was genuinely amazing…🤎 The lights can be turned on/off with a remote by the window, and at bedtime I switched them off and slept sooo deeply haha.

There was an air purifier too, and even an electric bug repellent to keep insects out! Soso Byeolchae is also managed under Cesco Members, which I appreciated :)

A night on Hwangnidangil, then late-night takeout in the room

Soso Byeolchae looks pretty at night too ~~ 🤎

Since the location is so good, we grabbed some fried chicken and burdock gimbap (seaweed rice roll) to go while playing around at Hwangnidangil, on our way back to the stay!haha

Moving the StandbyME over and watching Netflix while eating late-night snacks~~ isn't this exactly the happiness of a night at a stay?~🤭

The next morning, we toasted the salt bread in the Balmuda toaster and brewed a cup of coffee ☕️🥐

Eating breakfast in that calm hanok atmosphere put me in such a good mood from the morning!

Is Soso Byeolchae S101 a good base for Hwangnidangil?

If you want to enjoy the hanok atmosphere and a jacuzzi right near Hwangnidangil, I'd recommend [Soso Byeolchae] S101 as a Gyeongju hanok stay pick, a Hwangnidangil stay pick~~🤎

I especially loved the location! Being able to enjoy Hwangnidangil to the fullest and then come back and relax so easily was such a plus!!