What is a Long-lasting Small Business?

Called “Baengnyeon Gage” (Hundred-Year Store) in Korean, this certification is awarded by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups to stores that have been in business for more than 30 years and are recognized for their quality and growth potential.

Chodang Halmeoni Sundubu, a Meal to Soothe your Soul

Location｜It takes approximately four hours from Incheon International Airport to Gangneung on the airport limousine, which you can get on from the bus platform by Gate 13 on the 1st floor of Terminal 1 or Traffic Center Platform 10 on B1F of Terminal 2. Alternatively, you can take the AREX (Airport Railroad) or the airport limousine to Seoul Station and take KTX, Korea’s express speed rail, to get to Gangneung Station in about two hours. You can take a taxi from Gangneung Express Bus Terminal or Gangneung Station to the restaurant, which will take about 15 minutes.

Introduction｜The restaurant’s name Chodang Halmeoni Sundubu, which means “soft bean curd made by a grandma in Chodang-dong,” is a testament to how this business began. Before it became known nationwide as a specialty bean curd, the restaurant had a humble beginning as a small bean curd store in Chodang-dong in 1979. The “grandma” of Chodang Halmeoni Sundubu is the business owner Park Eung-soon, who began the business as a small bean curd shop in 1979. Since then, this region-special bean curd gradually gained positive reputation, which led to the nationwide recognition of today. In 2020, the restaurant was inscribed as Baengnyeon Gage through public opinion. Chodang Halmeoni Sundubu offers a spacious and comfortable setting to fully enjoy the traditional Gangneung-style soft bean curd.

Signature Menus｜The Chodang sundubu, or Chodang soft bean curd, is freshly made every day by using local soybeans and seawater from the East Sea in a traditional method that has been passed down in the household for three generations. Every early morning, the soybeans are soaked in water and ground to make bean water. The ground soybeans are boiled in a cauldron and vigorously stirred until desired consistency. Chodang sundubu is characterized by mild nutty flavor and soft texture, and is a nutritious easy-to-digest food perfect for any mealtime of the day. Along with Chodang sundubu, another signature dish of the restaurant is eolkeun jjaebok sundubu (spicy pink butterfly shell soft tofu).

🎁Special benefit exclusive to VISITKOREA members🎁
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* Promotional offer
Period: Dec. 3–25, 2024
Details: 1 free 355-㎖ soft drink
Limit: 1 can per person
Eligible visitors: International tourists subscribed to VISITKOREA visiting during the promotional period
Promo policy: Same offer applied to return visits
Promo policy: Same offer applied to return visits

Halmae Patbingsu Danpatjuk, Handmade Red Bean Paste for your Sweet Tooth

Location｜ Take the airport limousine or AREX from Incheon International Airport to Seoul Station. From Seoul Station, take a KTX to get to Busan in three hours. It takes about 20 minutes on a taxi to the shop from Busan Station.

Introduction｜A renowned patbingsu (shaved ice with red bean topping) restaurant that represents Busan, Halmae Patbingsu Danpatjuk had its humble beginning as a small shop that sold ice and unrefined rice wine in 1976. Its reputation for making sweet red beans began when the shop started to sell bungeoppang (fish-shaped bun) in winter as a way to make a living, followed by the addition of danpatjuk (sweet red bean porridge) and patbingsu in the offered menus. Many branch stores can be found across Busan, but the promo offer in this article applies only to the main branch located in Yongho-dong.

Signature Menus｜Sweet red bean paste is made by adding water, sugar, and corn syrup to boiled red beans after they’ve been crushed to create a paste-like consistency. Handmade sweet red bean paste has become extremely hard to find nowadays, but Halmae Patbingsu Danpatjuk continues to keep the homemade feel alive by making all their sweet red bean paste in-house. The shop’s patpingsu is characterized by finely shaved ice covered with house-made smooth and rich sweet red bean paste, which is also topped with an apple jam made with apples grown in Miryang. Danpatjuk is another delicacy of this eatery. You can get a generous serving of danpatjuk at a reasonable price, a mild-flavored Korean soul food that brings a sense of nostalgia to many Koreans.

🎁Special benefit exclusive to VISITKOREA members🎁
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* Promotional offer (limited to main branch only)
Period: Dec. 3–25, 2024
Details: Free extra toppings: red beans and jam for patbingsu & rice cake pieces for danpatjuk.
Limit: Limited to per serving (i.e. an order of 2 patbingsu and 1 danpatjuk allows for up to three extra topping requests)
Eligible visitors: International tourists using VISITKOREA visiting during the promotional period
Promo policy: Same offer applied to return visits

PNB Bakery, a Delicacy of Jeonju Passed Down for Generations

Location｜It takes approximately three hours from Incheon International Airport to Jeonju on the airport limousine, which you can get on from the bus platform by Gate 12 on the 1st floor of Terminal 1 or Traffic Center Platform 9 on B1F of Terminal 2. Alternatively, you can take the AREX (Airport Railroad) or the airport limousine to Seoul Station and take KTX, Korea’s express speed rail, to get to Jeonju Station in two hours. You can take a taxi from Jeonju Intercity Bus Terminal or Jeonju Station to the bakery, which will take about 15 minutes.

Introduction｜A historical bakery of Jeonju that’s been passed down for three generations, PNB Bakery first opened in 1951 under the name Pungnyeon Bakery. The first-generation owner learned to make traditional biscuits and bread from a Japanese baker, then altered the recipe suited for Koreans’ palate. Today, PNB Bakery is a must-visit tourist stop and operates three branches in Jeonju Hanok Village, with the main branch located only a 5-minute walking distance away from the village. PNB Bakery main branch is offering a discount for tourists, so make sure to stop by if you’re planning on visiting Jeonju Hanok Village.

Signature Menus｜ The most recommended products are handmade choco pie, bamyanggaeng (sweet chestnut and red bean jelly), and jeonbyeong (Korean cracker). PNB Bakery’s signature is a handmade choco pie, a sweet combination of rich chocolate, strawberry jam, soft cream, and walnut pieces. Bamyanggaeng is another hit product filled with walnuts and chestnuts, offering a chewy and crunchy texture at the same time complemented by nutty flavors. Jeonbyeong has been a steady seller for 78 years. Carefully cooked and toasted piece by piece, jeonbyeong comes in four flavors: ginger, sesame seed, laver, and peanut.

🎁Special benefit exclusive to VISITKOREA members🎁
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* Promotional offer (limited to main branch only)
Period: Dec. 3–25, 2024
Details: 5% off from the total amount
Eligible visitors: International tourists using VISITKOREA visiting during the promotional period
Promo policy: Same offer applied to return visits

Eomeoni Ganjang Gejang, a Famous Eatery in a Famous Tourist Destination

Location｜Take the airport limousine or AREX from Incheon International Airport to Seoul Station. From Seoul Station, take a KTX to get to Busan in three hours. Take Bus No. 81 or 40 from a bus stop near Busan Station Exit 7 for 10 minutes and get off in at Standard Charter Bank Bus Stop or take a taxi for approximately 5 minutes.

Introduction｜Having inherited a natural sense for cooking, the owner of Eomeoni Ganjang Gejang opened the establishment in 1982 and since then, the business has seen a steady stream of customers and became one of the most famous ganjang gejang (soy sauce marinated crab) restaurant in Busan. Originally from Mokpo in Jeollanam-do, the first-generation owner saw success with her Jeollanam-do style Korean table d’hote that consists of nine dishes. Each dish on the table is delectable enough to be considered a main dish of its own.

Signature Menus｜The restaurant’s signature menus are ganjang gejang and jeonbokjang (soy sauce marinated abalone) set menus. Made using a traditional Mokpo-style recipe, the marinade sauce isn’t salty and has no fishy odor. The set menu consists of twelve different dishes including a bowl of sticky rice with multi-grains, salted yellow croaker and cutlass fish, and assorted vegetable wraps. Not only does the restaurant buy and prepare ingredients early in the morning every day, but they also buy the best products available on the market nationwide for basic ingredients like chili powder and mushrooms to ensure a quality meal.

🎁Special benefit exclusive to VISITKOREA members🎁
Click here

* Promotional offer
Period: Dec. 3–25, 2024
Details: 1 free soft drink
Limit: 1 free drink per table
Eligible visitors: International tourists using VISITKOREA visiting during the promotional period
Promo policy: Same offer does not apply to return visits

* This column was last updated in November 2024, and therefore information may differ from what is presented here. We advise you to check for updates before visiting.