Jung Il-woo's Hidden Gems in Boeun
Episode 299 Restaurant Guide
Gwangi Meat Restaurant · Duri Jjigae · Gubyeongsan Gol Garden | North Chungcheong, Korea
Planning a food trip to rural Korea? On June 8, 2025, TV Joseon's beloved dining show Sikgaek Heo Yeong-man's Baekban Giyaeng aired its 299th episode — and actor Jung Il-woo stepped in as the day's special food explorer. Together with veteran food comic artist Heo Yeong-man, he traveled through the scenic county of Boeun in North Chungcheong Province, uncovering three local restaurants that have quietly won the hearts of regulars for decades. After the broadcast, search traffic for these spots skyrocketed. Here's everything you need to know before you visit.
What Happened in This Episode?
The episode subtitle was "Opening a New Chapter of Flavor — Jung Il-woo's Boeun Table." Approaching two decades in the industry, Jung Il-woo came across as genuinely open and warm throughout the journey — not the polished TV persona you might expect.
One of the most talked-about moments was when Jung Il-woo candidly shared that he was diagnosed with a cerebral aneurysm at age 27, after which he walked the Camino de Santiago three separate times as a form of healing. His story resonated with a huge number of viewers and quickly trended online.
On the culinary side, he impressed the crew by revealing that he personally learned knife skills from celebrated chef Lee Yeon-bok while preparing for his chef role in the drama Night Food Couple. He also casually mentioned that he makes kimchi in batches of 200 heads of cabbage on his own — which drew audible gasps even from the crew.
The 3 Restaurants — Full Details
Gwangi Meat Restaurant
관기정육식당
Korean BBQ & Banchan
A no-frills butcher-style restaurant tucked in Jangan-myeon that has been pulling in regulars for over a decade. The house specialty is a grilled meat set with rotating seasonal mountain greens — the kind of meal that tastes better because you know someone sourced every ingredient locally. Expect a queue after the broadcast.
| 📍 Address | 1062 Bocheongdae-ro, Jangan-myeon, Boeun-gun, North Chungcheong |
| 📞 Phone | 043-542-5803 |
| ⏰ Hours | 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Last order 8:00 PM) |
| ☕ Break | 2:30 PM – 5:00 PM |
| 🗓️ Closed | Every Monday (irregular closures possible) |
Duri Jjigae
두리찌개
Pumpkin Vine Stew
Located in Songnisan-myeon, this modest stew house was the spot where Jung Il-woo — right before returning to filming after a two-year hiatus — said "I can't have my face get puffy, but I can't resist this." The hero dish is hobaggoji jjigae, a deeply savory stew made from home-dried zucchini grown right outside the restaurant. It's the kind of dish you genuinely can't find in Seoul.
| 📍 Address | 141 Samgagubyeong-gil, Songnisan-myeon, Boeun-gun, North Chungcheong |
| 📞 Phone | 043-543-2131 |
| ⏰ Hours | 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM |
| 🗓️ Closed | Irregular — no set weekly closure |
Gubyeongsan Gol Garden
구병산골가든
Wild Mushroom Hot Pot
A garden-style restaurant in Boeun-eup that focuses on one thing and does it incredibly well: wild mushroom cuisine sourced from the Songnisan mountain range. The signature wild mushroom hot pot (beoseot jeon-gol) uses foraged varieties you won't find at any market. It doubles as a nourishing health meal, and locals have been coming back for it for years.
| 📍 Address | 42 Samsannam-ro, Boeun-eup, Boeun-gun, North Chungcheong |
| 📞 Phone | 043-544-2014 |
| ⏰ Hours | 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM (confirm last order by phone) |
| ☕ Break | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM |
| 🗓️ Closed | Lunar New Year & Chuseok holidays; irregular closures possible |
Practical Tips Before You Go
Common Questions Answered
Final Thoughts
Boeun is the kind of place that doesn't ask for attention — it earns it quietly, through food that has been perfected over generations rather than optimized for social media. The fact that Jung Il-woo — a seasoned actor with genuine culinary curiosity — chose to spend his time here speaks for itself.
What made this episode land so well wasn't just the food. It was the feeling that these restaurants have been doing their thing long before the cameras showed up, and they'll keep doing it long after the buzz fades. That's the kind of place worth traveling for.
Make sure you confirm hours before you go, leave room in your schedule to wander the Songnisan trails, and arrive hungry. 🍃
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