Restaurant Jihwaja

Korea's first royal cuisine specialty restaurant 

We provide a variety of authentic course dishes and concise courses so that you can enjoy the comfortable and luxurious atmosphere overlooking the antique and cozy garden of Seochon, which has a 600-year history of the Joseon Dynasty.

Korean royal cuisine 

National Intangible Cultural Property Joseon Dynasty royal cuisine

It is Jihwaja's opinion that everyone should be able to receive the kind treatment that the king enjoyed in the old days in front of court food. We will continue the tradition of traditional food culture with the spirit of the best ingredients and best skills that were offered in each village in the Joseon Dynasty.

From the Last Kitchen lady of Joseon

Heesoon Han

The Last Kitchen Palace of the Joseon Dynasty

Heesoon Han, the last kitchen lady of the Joseon Dynasty, joined the Deoksugung at age 13 and was in charge of the food of King Gojong and King Sunjong. In 1971, the royal food became the first skill holder when it was designated as a national intangible cultural property, and built a bridge to continue the tradition by passing on authentic royal food with words and hands.  

Preserving the Legacy of Royal Court Cuisine 

Hwang Hyesung

Continue the orthodoxy by systematizing court cuisine 

When Joseon's Last kitchen lady Heesoon Han passed away in 1972, Professor Hyesung Hwang was designated as the second person with skills to succeed him. Professor Hwang received 30 years of royal food recipes from Lady Han at Nakseonje Sojubang from 1944, and as a result, he was designated as a national intangible cultural property.

Elevating Korean Cuisine on the Global Stage 

Bokryeo Han

Promote the Fashion of Royal Food and Lead the Globalization of Korean Food  

Bokryeo Han and other functional students are working as experts related to royal food in various places.

In addition to the training through the Royal Food Research Institute, we are promoting royal food and traditional food to the general public through various writings, domestic and foreign academic activities, newspapers, broadcasting, and magazines, and leading the globalization of Korean food.