Imun Seolnongtang

이문설농탕

A Jongno house that has boiled the same bowl of seolnongtang the same way for more than a century. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups has designated it a Century Shop.

Language

The shopfront of Imun Seolnongtang: a corner building in red brick under a white sign reading 里門 설농탕 with its telephone numbers, a wooden name board of the same name above the doorway, a customer standing inside the glass door, and a menu posted on the wall to the right.

Place information

Korean name: 이문설농탕
Address: 38-13 Ujeongguk-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Opening hours: Mon~Sat 08:00–21:00 (closed 15:00–16:30) Sun 08:00–20:00 (closed 15:00–16:30)

History

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Seoul Future Heritage record, a founder surnamed Hong opened the restaurant as Imunok in Gongpyeong-dong; an owner surnamed Oh, Yu Won-seok, Jeon Seong-geun and Jeon Hye-ryeong operated it in turn. The record also describes it as officially registered under Seoul Metropolitan Government permit No. 1.

1960
Yu Won-seok takes over the restaurant
2011
Move to Gyeonji-dong
2013
Seoul Future Heritage designation
2022
Jeon Hye-ryeong takes over

Seoul Metropolitan Government, Seoul Future Heritage — Imun Seolnongtang (No. 2013-214): its owners from the founder Hong's Imunok through Oh, Yu Won-seok (1960), Jeon Seong-geun and Jeon Hye-ryeong (from 2022), the 2011 move from Gongpyeong-dong to Gyeonji-dong, and Seoul permit No. 1 · Sep 26, 2026

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Stories about this place

Seoul Breakfast: Where to Eat Seolleongtang, Gomtang and Bugeoguk Early
Seven Seoul soup houses that open early, in Yeouido, Myeongdong, Jongno, Mapo, Jamwon, Hannam and Jamsil — what each one serves, where it sits, and the closing days and afternoon breaks to check before setting out.

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