Indongju Maeul Mokpo Hours 10:00–22:00 — What to Order, KTX

Indongju Maeul in Mokpo is a hongeosamhap restaurant — fermented skate with pork and aged kimchi — that also brews its own honeysuckle rice wine, open 10:00–22:00 per the Korea Tourism Organization listing.
For a visitor from abroad, it is one of the few places where you can try fermented skate with both Korean and imported options on the menu.
This post covers what to order, whether the smell is manageable for first-timers, hours and parking, and the fastest way from Seoul.

What Indongju Maeul Is Known For

KTX to Mokpo	2h 20m · fares from ₩39,200 · first 05:08 · last 21:18
Express bus to Mokpo	3h 50m · fares ₩33,700–₩52,500 · first 06:00 · last 23:55
KTX to Gwangju, then onward	1h 36m · fares from ₩38,100 · first 05:08 · last 22:55
Express bus to Gwangju, then onward	3h 20m · fares ₩20,800–₩48,000 · first 05:30 · last 23:50

Indongju Maeul is a Mokpo restaurant listed in the Korea Tourism Organization data for hongeosamhap, a three-part dish of fermented skate, pork and aged kimchi.
The city of Mokpo lists it as a Model Restaurant on its official culture and tourism site, a designation for restaurants the city holds up to visitors.
Two skate options sit on the menu — Korean skate and imported skate — and the imported option tends to be more affordable.

The house rice wine, indongju, is described as a liquor of choice for former president Kim Dae-jung.
If you want a single Mokpo meal that covers the region’s signature dish plus its own liquor, this listing combines both.

What to Order: Hongeosamhap and the Full Table Set

Order hongeosamhap if you want the dish the listing names — fermented skate, pork and aged kimchi eaten together.
Rice is a separate order when you take the basic samhap, so ask for rice alongside it.
The full table set (han-sang) adds ganjang gejang (soy-marinated crab), ganjang saewoo-jang (soy-marinated shrimp) and a seasonal skate soup, per the Mokpo city listing.

The crab jeotgal flavored with indongcho is described as a signature item in the city’s write-up.
Prices vary by skate origin — Korean skate costs more than imported — but the figures found online come from an undated aggregator page, not an official price list, so call +82-61-284-4068 before budgeting a fixed amount.

What to Order: Hongeosamhap and the Full Table Set

Is the Hongeo Smell Too Strong for First-Timers?

The skate here is served ripened about 15 days, which is milder in smell than fully ripened skate, and the ripeness level can be chosen.
The imported skate is the gentler option of the two on the menu, and the KTO description itself flags it as the more affordable pick.
Reviewer notes describe the milder imported skate as workable for people who cannot handle strongly fermented skate, and the skate soup and muchim as approachable for beginners.
If you are new to hongeo, start with the imported skate at a milder ripeness and order rice on the side — cheaper, gentler, and nothing wasted if the smell is more than you want.

What Is Indongju?

Indongju is a makgeolli-style rice wine brewed from indongcho — honeysuckle — that grows wild around the owner’s home village.
In July 1999 the owner filed a PCT international patent application for it under the name ‘indongcho fermented liquor and its manufacturing method’.
The KTO description names it as a liquor of choice for former president Kim Dae-jung, which is the reason it appears in tourist write-ups of Mokpo.
If you order it, ask for it by saying ‘indongju’ — the name matches the restaurant.

Hours, Reservations and Parking

Per the Korea Tourism Organization listing (checked September 28, 2026), Indongju Maeul opens 10:00–22:00, takes reservations and has on-site parking.
The listing shows no fixed closing day, and other sources conflict on seating capacity, so treat it as a large hanok-style venue with private rooms rather than a fixed seat count.
Parking is free on site for 40 sedans and 5 large vehicles, with a Mokpo public parking lot nearby, and takeout is reported as available.
Before a holiday visit, call +82-61-284-4068 to confirm the closing day — the phrase ‘open 24/7’ in one listing likely means open daily, but no closing day is confirmed.

How to Get There From Seoul

Take the KTX from Seoul to Mokpo — the fastest ride is 2h 20m with fares from ₩39,200 on the September 28, 2026 schedule, about 1h 30m quicker than the express bus.

Take the KTX from Seoul to Mokpo Station (first train 05:08, last 21:18) or the express bus (first 06:00, last 23:55).
From Mokpo, head to 5 Boksan-gil 12beon-gil, Okam-dong — a short taxi ride from the station.
If you are also visiting Gwangju, KTX to Gwangju runs 1h 36m from ₩38,100, then continue to Mokpo by bus or train.

If I took a first-time hongeo eater here, I would order the imported skate, because it is cheaper and this place ripens it milder than most, so the smell will not scare them off.
For pairing the meal with nearby sights, koreankorea.com has a Gwangju & Jeonnam travel map: https://koreankorea.com/gwangju-jeonnam-travel-guide-map/

👉 Gwangju & Jeonnam travel map

👉 KTX Seoul to Mokpo timetable

📎 📅 Upcoming Dates — Release & Event Calendar

Sources

Summary for First-Time Visitors

Open 10:00–22:00 per the KTO listing; confirm the closing day by phone before a holiday.
Hongeosamhap = fermented skate + pork + aged kimchi; rice is a separate order unless you take the full set.
First time with hongeo? Ask for the imported skate at a milder ripeness.
To reserve or confirm same-day availability, call +82-61-284-4068 before you head over.
KTX to Mokpo is the fastest route from Seoul: 2h 20m, fares from ₩39,200.

FAQ

Q. Should I order Korean or imported skate at Indongju Maeul?

If you are new to hongeo, the imported skate is the gentler and cheaper option; Korean (Heuksan-do) skate is the fuller-flavored local pick.

Q. Is the hongeo smell strong for first-timers?

The skate is served ripened about 15 days and the ripeness can be chosen, which diner reviews describe as milder than most places.

Q. What is Indongju?

A makgeolli-style rice wine brewed from wild honeysuckle (indongcho), patented by the owner in July 1999 and described as a favorite of former president Kim Dae-jung.

Q. How do I get to Indongju Maeul from Mokpo station?

Take the KTX to Mokpo Station (2h 20m from Seoul, from ₩39,200), then a short taxi ride to 5 Boksan-gil 12beon-gil, Okam-dong.

Q. Is parking available?

Yes — free on-site parking for 40 sedans and 5 large vehicles, per the Mokpo city listing, with a public lot nearby.

Planning the region around the meal? The Gwangju & Jeonnam travel map lists nearby sights: https://koreankorea.com/gwangju-jeonnam-travel-guide-map/

Cover photo: AI-generated illustration (korean restaurant table) — AI-generated image, illustrative only

#IndongjuMaeul #Mokpo #hongeosamhap #Jeonnamfood #Koreatravel

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