Nagne Guesthouse

To call Nagne a guesthouse is an understatement. It’s only been a month since Nagne opened, but I predict it will shortly become the most difficult place to make a reservation in Seoul. Every space is decorated with meticulous detail. Nagne is a renovated hanok and its doors open to a small square courtyard. The yard is square in shape, surrounded by one-story buildings that can be crossed walking on a bridge of flat stones lying over round, mint-colored rocks that lead to two small stone statues. “The square space represents the earth and the round [shapes], the sky. The courtyard was made with the beaches of Jeju in mind. You pass the courtyard of pebbles and open the doors to reveal a stretch of the ocean,” Nagne’s owner explains. The room wall that fades from sky blue to yellow took two months to paint and represents the sun rising from the ocean’s horizon. The walls of the en suite rooms at the end of the hall gradate from mint to pink, meant to mimic twilight and sunset. All eight rooms are complete with their individual shower facilities and bathrooms. Although it is a guesthouse, there are no dormitories. The owner himself made the bedding from traditional Korean materials, and the dim lighting creates a soft and gentle atmosphere. A small window is built into the ceiling of the Thursday room, making it a warm and cozy way to enjoy the sunshine on winter days. Due to its old, original structure, the rooms aren’t completely soundproof and some noise can be heard. And the owner added: “The Monday and Tuesday rooms are double rooms that are good for couples. If a couple happens to stay in the Thursday room, I suggest muffling intimate activities as much as possible”