Squid Game Actor Lee Jung-Jae Approves Of This Korean Restaurant—Here’s What We Thought

Gwangjang Gaon is a new Korean restaurant at Jewel Changi

2025 seems to be the year of overseas food chains popping up all over Singapore, including Korean-born chains such as Song Gye Ok and Tofu G. From bibimbap and kimchi pancakes to bubbling bowls of ramyeon, Korean food has seamlessly become part of our everyday makan options. Chances are, there’s probably a Korean joint near you for a quick fix. One that’s worth checking out is Gwangjang Gaon, a new restaurant opened by renowned Korean culinary professor Hyo Soon Park. 

Now in her mid-60s, Professor Park (middle) has dedicated most of her career to perfecting Korean recipes. You can even catch her on numerous cooking shows, including TV Chosun’s Salim 9danui Manmulsang.

Their outlets see long queues daily, and have even garnered the stamp of approval from Korean celebrities such as actress Han So Hee of Sweet Home and Nevertheless, and Lee Jung-jae of the iconic Netflix series, Squid Game. FYI, this new opening in Singapore also marks the brand’s first overseas venture!

Food at Gwangjang Gaon

There’s no better way to kick off your meal at Gwangjang Gaon than with their Korean meat dishes. We started with the GAON Galbi ($69.90++), which features premium beef short ribs boiled in herbs for over 24 hours for a tender and slightly chewy texture.

There were about 16 pieces of short rib, accompanied by another eight pieces of soft bone. Each piece of rib was thinly sliced and neatly arranged, almost like a Western-style steak platter.

We really enjoyed the meat, as it was nicely perfumed with a savoury herbal flavour, while retaining its meaty juices. The ribs were also lightly torched, adding a subtle smokiness that complemented the bittersweet marinade.

Pair your meat with their house-made green onion salad served on the side. This refreshing salad boasted a crisp texture with a slightly peppery undertone.

Alternatively, try their signature Bossam ($43.90++), a beloved staple in Korean cuisine. 

Here, pork belly is simmered in preserved broth for hours, resulting in a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Here’s how to enjoy the dish: Start by placing a slice of pork belly onto a fresh cabbage leaf. Next, top it with a spoonful of their house-made kimchi—add as much or as little as you like. Then comes the fun part: pile on freshly sliced garlic, green chilli, and a touch of gochujang for heat. Finally, add a dab of saeujeot AKA fermented shrimp paste, for a briny punch that ties everything together.

Proteins aside, opt for their Classic Bibimbap ($22.90++) as well, which features more than 13 ingredients including minced beef, bean sprouts, cucumber, carrots, shiitake mushrooms, an egg yolk and more.

What we liked about Gwangjang Gaon’s bibimbap is that you can customise it to your liking by adjusting the spice and salt levels with gochujang and soy sauce, both served separately on the side.

Let me start with what we liked: the short-grain rice had a nice chew, which complemented the crunchy cucumber, radish, and bean sprouts. The rice was also perfumed with a fragrant sesame oil aroma that wasn’t overpowering to the point of making the dish cloying.

The portion of meat, though, was disappointingly little, almost vanishing when mixed into the rice. Considering the price of this dish, we were expecting more.

If you aren’t feeling rice that day, go for the Deulgireum Makguksu ($21.90++) instead. This cold buckwheat noodle dish comes with a dash of perilla seeds and a side of fragrant perilla oil.

This was our first time trying Korean buckwheat noodles, so we weren’t quite sure what to expect—but we’d be lying if we said we were disappointed. 

The nutty, earthy oil complemented the mild flavour of the buckwheat noodles, while the generous mix of seeds added a satisfying crunch against the chewy texture. Our only gripe was that the seed-to-noodle ratio felt a tad high.

Similar to the Classic Bibimbap, you can adjust the amount of oil in your dish to your liking.

If you came with friends, go for their signature Modm-Jeon ($29.90++), a beautifully arranged platter featuring zucchini, ground pork, crab surimi, pollack, and prawn patty, each coated in egg and then pan-fried to a light golden-brown.

The prawn patty, in particular, is worth a shoutout. It comprises a mixture of bouncy and plump prawns, ground beef, spring onion, crabstick and more. It reminded us of a seafood pancake—packed with rich, meaty, and briny flavours.

The pollack is worth a mention too, starring tender fish fillet pieces similar to dory.

The platter is served with a tangy soy-vinegar dipping sauce that helps to quell the heaviness of the fried fritters.

Finally, pair your mains with their Chogye-Nangchae ($18.90++), a cold dish comprising shredded chicken, cabbage, shredded crabstick, fresh green onions and more. 

The dish is served with a tangy vinegar and mustard soy dressing, perfect for cutting through the richness of other dishes.

Other dishes offered include the Kimchi-Jeon ($16.90++), starring a kimchi and squid pancake that’s a little spicy. Alternatively, there’s also Japchae ($18.90++), a classic Korean dish featuring stir-fried glass noodles served with tender beef and fresh vegetables.

Ambience at Gwangjang Gaon

Gwangjang Gaon is located on the second level of Jewel Changi. It’s set against the lush backdrop of the airport’s beautiful garden, offering diners a glimpse of the iconic Rain Vortex.

The 52-seater restaurant is decked with wooden furniture and warm lighting, exuding a cosy, rustic charm that’s typical of traditional Korean eateries. It’s not the largest Korean restaurant you’ll find, but we liked that the seats were thoughtfully arranged to ensure ample space between diners.

For easy access, Gwangjang Gaon is a short five-minute walk from Changi Airport MRT Station. 

Gwangjang Gaon – Eatbook review

Gwangjang Gaon offers a pretty authentic Korean dining experience, complete with thoughtful plating that reflects real care in presentation. While the prices are on the steeper side, it’s understandable given that this is a restaurant helmed by a celebrity chef.

I’ll be back whenever I feel like rewarding myself with a good meal after a long day!

In related content, read our guide to the best cheap Korean food in Singapore, including hawker spots. Alternatively, check out ManNa Korean Restaurant, the oldest Korean restaurant in Singapore.

Address: 78 Airport Boulevard, #02-243, Jewel Changi, Singapore 819666
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 10pm
Website
Gwangjang Gaon is not a halal-certified eatery.

Photos taken by Kyla Wong and edited by Nabila Malek.
This was a media tasting at Gwangjang Gaon.