Korean Housewarming Culture: Hosting Friends with Jeolla-Style Dishes & Outdoor Drinks

Moving, Hosting a Housewarming Party, and Deep Late-Night Thoughts

1. Moving After 5 Years in Seoul!!

Back in 2021, I moved up to Seoul from the southern countryside. Five whole years have flown by since then. Five years can feel like a long time, but looking back, it went by in the blink of an eye.

In April 2026, I finally moved into a new place.

2. The Tradition of Housewarming (Jip-deuri)

In Korea, whenever someone moves into a new home, there is a tradition of inviting friends over to celebrate. We call this Jip-deuri (집들이)—you can think of it as a Korean-style housewarming or welcome party.

Guests typically bring small, practical gifts (traditionally items like toilet paper or laundry detergent, representing good luck and prosperity). In return, the host tours the new place and prepares a nice spread of food for everyone.

3. Feeding My Guests: Jeolla-style Flavors & AI Discussions

I spent a lot of time thinking about what to cook. I’m not a professional chef, nor did I have the confidence to pull off anything overly fancy. So, I decided to share the comforting flavors of Jeolla Province—a region in southwestern Korea famous across the country for having the absolute best food.

I prepared two local favorites famous in the city of Gwangju: Aehobak-jjigae (a savory, spicy zucchini and pork stew) and Yuk-sasimi (fresh Korean beef carpaccio). On top of that, I made Bbyeo-jjim (braised pork ribs in a rich sauce), a dish I personally feel quite confident making.

Catching up over good food was amazing. One of my friends works in the IT sector, so our conversation naturally drifted toward the rapid development of Artificial Intelligence. He shared how deeply AI is already integrated into actual workflows.

Hearing about how jobs are gradually being replaced and how human labor value might be shifting felt a bit bittersweet—and honestly, a little scary.

We wrapped up the night by heading outside for one last drink. We grabbed a table at a classic Yajang (야장)—an outdoor seating spot setup right on the street or patio. The area was filled with local families hanging out with their kids, which gave off such a warm, lively neighborhood vibe. It was a heartwarming and memorable day all around.