Coffee Shop Review Food & Drink

D’s Café Column: Stepping into the Joseon Era – A Cultural Café Experience

Gwangju News

By Dhivyaa S. P.

Cafés are everywhere in Gwangju.

Each with its own theme, style, and atmosphere. But among the trendy interiors and dessert displays, there is one place that offers something truly unique: a café in a hanok-style building where you can rent a hanbok, put it on, and enjoy a full photo experience.

Hidden among quiet farms and old houses in Gwangju’s Nam-gu, “Joseon People” is a traditional hanok café that blends Korea’s past with modern café culture.

The highlight of this café is its hanbok rental and photography service.

Visitors can choose from a variety of hanbok including traditional wedding outfits, fusion designs, and everyday hanbok styles. Rental prices range from 20,000 to 30,000 won for children and 40,000 to 50,000 won for adults, with accessories available for an additional 10,000 won. If you want a professional photoshoot, you simply call and reserve three days in advance.

Once dressed, you can take beautiful photos anywhere inside the café or outside in the garden, where the scenery feels like a historical set. Both rentals and purchases are available for visitors who want to take home a piece of tradition.

Beyond the hanbok experience, the café serves traditional teas and snacks, and even offers tea tasting. The owner is friendly, welcoming, and happy to introduce the meaning behind each tea.

Joseon People can also be rented from Monday to Friday for small gatherings, club meetings, or study groups. A barbeque option is available too, including firewood and food, so guests can cook, eat, and relax outdoors.

If you’re looking for a café that’s more than coffee — something cultural, peaceful, and memorable — this hidden spot in Nam-gu is worth the trip. Here, tradition isn’t just something you look at, it’s something you wear, taste, and experience.

Naver Map Location: Joseon People Café

  • Address: 491-6 Wonsan-dong Nam-gu, Gwangju
  • Website: https://naver.me/xvtIxy1N
  • Phone: 0507-1368-6038
  • Instagram: @joseonpeople

The Author

Dhivyaa is drawn to Korea’s café culture, often finding comfort in quiet corners where she can reflect, observe, or simply get lost in her research over a warm drink.

Cover Photo: Entrance to Joseon People’s Café. (Dhivyaa S. P.)