Free-corkage private room at a Gwanghwamun Korean restaurant: Modam

Where is Modam Dining Gwanghwamun? Between Gwanghwamun and Jonggak stations

I visited Modam, famous as a Gwanghwamun hanjeongsik (Korean set-course meal) spot for matchmaking meetings. It sits right between Gwanghwamun Station and Jonggak Station, so getting there by public transit was incredibly easy.

Free corkage at Modam Dining: bring your own bottle

The free corkage sign at the entrance caught my eye right away! Being able to pair delicious hanjeongsik dishes with whatever drink I like made this feel like a great spot for gatherings or special occasions. If you're looking for an anniversary venue in Gwanghwamun or Jongno, the atmosphere fits perfectly too.

Hall seating vs. private rooms at Modam Dining

Walking inside, there was neat casual seating set up right away, and the overall tidy atmosphere made it look fine for company dinners or family gatherings too.

What I liked most was that there's a separate private room! You can eat quietly and comfortably, which makes it especially well suited as a matchmaking meeting venue in Jongno or Gwanghwamun.

What is on the Modam course menu?

The menu was arranged as course sets. The Modam course lineup included the direct-fire deodeok (bellflower root) pork set, Jindo scallion and crispy bulgogi set, bori-gulbi (dried yellow croaker) set, Korean beef 1++ bulgogi set, Korean beef 1++ tripe hot pot set, abalone tteokgalbi set, and abalone-and-shrimp jang with butter rice set, plus a separate Modam Special menu. We ordered the Korean beef 1++ bulgogi set from the Modam course.

Ceviche pasta, cucumber-yuzu salad, dongchimi and porridge

After ordering, a series of dishes arrived one after another before the main course. First up was ceviche pasta. The tangy, bright sauce really woke up the appetite, perfect as a starter.

Next came a cucumber salad — the crunchy cucumber with a clean dressing made for a light, easy bite. The yuzu salad, on the other hand, was so refreshing it practically made my mouth water. Really tasty!

The dongchimi (watery radish kimchi) was cool and refreshing, resetting the palate between dishes and pairing well with everything overall. The porridge that came last was soft and warm, gently settling the stomach before the main meal began in earnest.

Fried shiitake mushrooms and two pieces of sashimi

Then came fried shiitake mushrooms and two pieces of sashimi! The shiitake had a crisp exterior with the mushroom's own chewy, fragrant texture intact, and the sashimi that came alongside had a chewy texture you could feel from the first bite. The sashimi was surprisingly delicious — one of the standout dishes.

How was the Korean beef 1++ bulgogi main?

Finally, the main dish arrived: Korean beef 1++ bulgogi. It looked so appetizing, glistening with a sheen that made my mouth water the second it landed on the table. The Korean beef's signature tenderness paired with a sweet-savory, salty bulgogi sauce that soaked in well — it was fantastic with rice. The meat was tender rather than tough, so it seemed like it would suit a meal with parents or older relatives too.

The side dishes served alongside the bulgogi were each clean and well made. The salted pollock roe was savory and salty, pairing nicely with rice, and the eggplant namul was soft and moist with a mild, clean flavor. The zucchini namul had a gentle sweetness and soft texture too, and with crunchy, well-fermented kimchi added in, it felt like a complete, tidy hanjeongsik spread.

The Korean beef bulgogi had a salty, mildly sweet sauce soaked in with a generous amount of broth, which was great with rice. Thanks to the ample broth, the meat stayed moist, and the generous mushrooms added to the fun of eating along with the meat. The beef was tender to chew with a savory meaty aroma, and the mushrooms brought a subtle fragrance and chewy texture that boosted the bulgogi's overall umami. The salty sauce coated the meat and mushrooms evenly, and with white rice plus a bit of the broth, a bowl of rice would disappear in no time.

Plum tea to finish: how Modam Dining works for a matchmaking meal

The meal wrapped up cleanly with plum tea. The sweet, tangy plum aroma lingered pleasantly after the meal — a great way to close things out. Overall, every dish was clean and unassuming rather than heavy, which made Modam especially well suited to occasions with parents or older relatives, like a matchmaking meeting in Gwanghwamun or Jongno. With private rooms, tidy hanjeongsik food, and free corkage on top, it's a great spot not just for matchmaking meetings but for family gatherings, anniversaries, or company dinners too.

Modam Dining Gwanghwamun: address, hours and booking info

• Address: 10 Saemunan-ro 2-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, B1F B102/B103, Deoksugung D-Palace, South Korea
• Hours: 11:00–22:00
• Break time: 15:00–17:00