As in almost any major city across the Far East, the dining scene in Seoul is nothing short of booming and fast-evolving at the same time. Let’s face it, this is the capital city of one of the continent’s biggest economies, and its savvy dwellers know a good meal when they dig into one. The newly opened Chinmok restaurant caters to a young, in-the-know demographic. Situated in Gwanak-gu, an upscale residential neighbourhood on the south bank of the Han river, the dining establishment occupies a 70 sqm. (753 sq.ft.) space on the ground floor of a modern five-storey corner building. Interestingly, because of its location, South Korean law prescribes a better sight at intersections and the structure was built with a cut corner serving as the front of the building from the main road, creating a pentagonal space.

Local architecture practices Workment and Malf, which were commissioned to create the interior design, used as a departure point for the interior design. Upon entering the premises, guests pass a frameless glass folding door and come across a pre-grilling unit clad in mirrored stainless steel panels, revealing all the action inside. A kitchen box connected to this unit extends all the way to a storage in the back and cuts across the space diagonally. As a result, Chinmok restaurant is divided into the main hall and private room. So, the hall was created by removing the interior debris that had been attached to the existing space and laying bare the building’s concrete shell. By doing this, a polishing pattern emerged from the process of removing the paint on the wall, and this has been retained as decoration. The menu at Chinmok features a variety of grilled chicken dishes paired with condiments, such as noodles, various vegetables and sauces.