Recently featured in several variety shows, the Korean minbak lodging allows travelers to unplug while surrounded by beautiful architecture and nature
Next time you’re planning a weekend getaway in South Korea, consider a cozy stay that combines comfort, culture, and community: the minbak. Meaning “people’s lodging,” a minbak is essentially a Korean guesthouse offering a home away from home for an unplugged vacation steeped in traditional culture.
Recently, the minbak has seen a fresh revival in the media, thanks in part to tvN’s “NANA bnb with SEVENTEEN,” featuring the beloved global K-pop group SEVENTEEN. Before you book your own countryside escape, let’s dig into what the minbak life is all about — and why it goes best with a hot plate of bibigo mandu under the stars.
What Makes the Minbak So Special?
* Minbak: A type of home-based lodging in Korea, where travelers stayed with locals when formal accommodations were limited
Dating back centuries, the sturdy wooden minbak, typically covered by its signature sloping rooftops, invites weary travelers to rest and heal in the peaceful, rural countryside. Imagine the cries of cicadas, straw matting, open yards, and shared meals around a low table outside. Nowadays, these stays are especially popular in seaside villages, mountain towns, and other scenic locations where simplicity and serenity are a way of life.
In recent years, the minbak’s homey appeal has made it a recurring star in variety entertainment. Variety shows have tapped into the charm of countryside living, including “Three Meals a Day,” where actors like Cha Seung-won, Yoo Hae-jin and more cook all day long, and “Fresh Off the Sea,” where celebrities like Yum Jung-ah, Ahn Eun-jin, DEX and more fish for their own ingredients at a seaside village. These shows, hilarious as they are, don’t just entertain. They capture a way of life, reflecting how the minbak isn’t just a place to sleep — it’s a canvas for laughter, memories, and healing.
“NANA bnb with SEVENTEEN”: K-pop Stars at a Minbak
The latest love letter to the minbak is accompanied by hearty laughs and SEVENTEEN’s signature charisma. SEVENTEEN, the massively successful 13-member boy group known for their powerful choreography, musical prowess, and down-to-earth humor, joined forces with acclaimed variety producer Nah Yung-suk once again, this time to show viewers the beauty and charm of minbak life.
“NANA bnb with SEVENTEEN,” which aired in June on tvN and became a hit with both domestic and international audiences, is a healing variety show where the members of the global K-pop group trade their city life for countryside calm. The show presents a refreshing slice of Korean life — set in a quaint minbak home with a large front yard, a busy outdoor kitchen, and lots of entertainment. Throughout the show, viewers witness the members cooking, cleaning, and relaxing — painting a picture of Korea’s slower, softer side.
bibigo + Minbak = The Perfect Summer Combo
No minbak stay is complete without a feast enjoyed outside under the sky. And bibigo stepped in at just the right moment for SEVENTEEN, ambassadors of the ready-to-eat brand, who offered laughs when they devoured helpings of bibigo Whole Shrimp Mandu along with kimchi noodles despite telling themselves they’d “just skip the meal.” The mandu, plump with juicy shrimp, paired perfectly with the tangy-spicy noodles for a satisfying yet effortless dinner.
Plus, as a sweet pre-game dessert, the members snacked on bibigo bung-o-pang, or fish-shaped waffles — a nostalgic pastry with fillings like red bean paste, custard, or chocolate.
bibigo is the perfect way to experience Korean cuisine. No chopping, no fancy equipment — just pop, heat, and eat. For travelers who want a taste of Korea without the hassle during their minbak vacation, bibigo offers an easy yet authentic way to experience the country’s culinary soul.
This summer, why not pack your bags, grab a couple of bibigo meals, and head to a cozy minbak? Whether it’s in a seaside town or a sleepy mountain village, you’ll find that the experience is more than just a place to sleep — it’s a window into Korean life.
