GYUBAN, NEW KOREAN DINING

GYUBAN is strictly traditional, yet also diverse. To adhere to the wise saying of our ancestors that “the roots of medicine and food are the same,” Chef-owner Jiyoung Kim meticulously analyzed old cookbooks and other documents to bring the ancient cooking methods back to life. Diverse healthy, seasonal food is presented based on the 24 divisions of the year as the seasons change, in the same manner as our ancestors. Delicious flavors lay the foundation of the dishes, and the courteous service combined with GYUBAN’s table settings that are based on the stories and food in the courts of the nobility create a unique experience.

GYUBAN is something unique and new. In addition to experiencing GYUBAN’s unique culture with fresh flavors made through thorough historical research, parts of GYUBAN, with motifs representing palace corridors and gardens, give the impressions of overlapping past and present times. GYUBAN is comprised of a lounge, a long corridor, and five dining rooms. The moment you enter GYUBAN, you escape from the hectic city in the relaxing lounge with uniquely Korean views and aesthetics. The dining area is arranged along the corridor, with eye-catching colonnades. The walls are varnished with traditional lacquer and hanji(traditional handmade Korean paper) that resembles the cover of an ancient book leading guests into the past. The landscape and water that surrounds the soundproof dining room are filled with endangered wild plants native to Korea. This new space, with its inherent beauty, is one of the reasons why the Korean dining restaurant GYUBAN is so special.

GYUBAN is classy but not flashy. The “Gyu” from the name GYUBAN comes from the character “珪” meaning “auspicious marble.” It also refers to our desire to serve our valuable guests in an auspicious place with dishes cooked with sincerity. The reason why GYUBAN operates only through reservations is to carefully consider guests’ personal preferences. There are no flashy decorations to distract guests. Instead, the table is set based on the natural Asian philosophy, yin-yang and the five elements. There is no on extravagance and the art pieces fill in the gaps while maintaining a tidy atmosphere. GYUBAN’s food, settings, spaces, and services are calm. The respectful approach and sincerity add to the beauty more than any luxurious decoration.

CHEF-OWNER JIYOUNG KIM

I am a chef who is interested in reenacting history by deconstructing and interpreting it. I try to approach our culinary culture through various approaches including food science, humanities, history, and more, and this process is very intriguing and fascinating.

GYUBAN’s tables are just like Chef-Owner Jiyoung Kim – tidy yet classy, and gentle yet full. This is because they represent the long journey that has been taken with pride and responsibility for our traditional food. Chef Jiyoung Kim strived to decipher wisdom of our ancestors who said that “the roots of medicine and food are the same.” Old cooking books were carefully studied, including Korea’s first cookbook «Sanga Yorok» and others, «Siuijeonseo» and «Somunsaseol», as well as books of medicinal science, including Korea’s oldest surviving medical books «Hyangyakgugeupbang», «Uibangyuchwi», and «Shikryochanyo». While studying short records of ingredients and foods found in dusty old books, the chef also studied western recipes to continue developing her passion and dedication to cooking.

She is also experienced in other types of work. She was the Food Director in the 2003 TV series “Dae Jang Geum(A Jewel in the Palace)”, was as well as the Head Chef in Korean restaurants in Japan and China, and was Vice President and Head Chef at the membership-based Brandon Chase Honors Club located in Hannam-dong for 10 years, since 2010. Through presenting Korean food abroad and developing the best recipes at the private club, she has created her own cooking world combinations of food for the court and nobility are harmonized.

Chef Jiyoung Kim opened GYUBAN near Dosan Park in 2019. Based on her long-held beliefs, all the menus are developed through thorough historical research, and she uses forgotten traditional ingredients and cooking methods to present classy flavors. GYUBAN’s dishes have captured the hearts of the pickiest gourmets, and in 2021, GYUBAN moved to the center of Seoul in Euljiro, close to the palace in Gwanghwamun.

Chef-Owner Jiyoung Kim’s mindset is unwavering as she takes care of GYUBAN’s kitchen. “I strive to make food that gives life to the natural taste of our ingredients, with all my sincerity and devotion. I hope that a meal at GYUBAN not only satisfies the palate, but also provides a new and unique experience of Korean sentiments in a space and time that combines the past and the present. I would like GYUBAN to be recognized as a restaurant with strong principles. There may be other popular restaurants with more glamor, but I am persistently working to fulfill my role so that more people can experience our food culture, just as I have always done.”