[Insta Walk] Iieom - A Space Filled with Personal Taste and the Aroma of Tea

Tea House and Exhibition Space Featuring Owner-Made Tea Utensils and Curated Collections
Name 'Iieom (而已?)' Reflects Self-Sufficiency, Inspired by Late Joseon Poet's Pen Name
Inspired by Virginia Woolf's 'A Room of One's Own,' Aiming to Provide Visitors with 'My Own Time'

Through a cup of tea, Iieom creates a 'space of my own,' allowing one to momentarily set aside the worries of a busy world and offering an opportunity to focus on oneself through silence and contemplation. Photo by Kim Heeyoon

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] Tea (茶) is said to have originally started as medicine (藥). According to historical records, the first appearance of tea dates back to when the ancient Chinese Emperor Shennong was poisoned by 72 kinds of toxins and was on the brink of death, but he detoxified himself by boiling and drinking leaves that had accidentally flown into his water kettle. The earliest record of formal cultivation is from 1066 BCE, as noted in the Records of the Grand Historian. Although tea has a history spanning over 3,000 years, the tea ceremony in our daily lives still feels somewhat unfamiliar as a ritual. Therefore, 'Iieom (而已?)', a space that embodies the intersection of tea culture and tea ceremony, is gaining attention as a rare teahouse where one can savor a cup of tea made with wholehearted sincerity in a pure and tranquil atmosphere.

Inside a quiet alley in Okindong, overlooking Inwangsan Mountain, the windows of a pristine white two-story building are entirely covered with fabric. Only the wooden plaque on the right side of the entrance, inscribed in Chinese characters with ‘Ilyongmi Iieom (日用美 而已?)’, catches the eye. Upon entering, guests are greeted by a subtle fragrance and teaware arranged throughout the space. Instead of common sounds of music, the faint sound of boiling water flows gently, and the owner, CEO Joo Myunghee, cautiously guides visitors to the second floor.

While sitting in a room laid out with comfortable Japanese-style tatami mats and listening to explanations about tea, Virginia Woolf’s 'A Room of One’s Own' placed like shadows throughout the space catches the eye. "I wanted to create a personal time and space for those who come here to drink tea. While spaces where people can comfortably talk and enjoy beverages can be found anywhere in Seoul, places that give the feeling of 'a room of one’s own' are rare." CEO Joo’s intention aligns with Virginia Woolf’s perspective, who explored how the physical environment affects the mind. Intrigued by the owner’s profound insight, I became curious about how this space originally started.

CEO Ju Myung-hee, who loves drinking tea and wanted to provide people with a space to relax with tea, is gradually achieving this through Iieom. Photo by Kim Hee-yoon

'A Room of One’s Own' Gifted Through a Cup of Tea

CEO Joo, who majored in Oriental Studies, entered the world of tea after being deeply impressed by a friend who brewed tea with their own teaware during a departmental field trip. Later, she continued practicing tea ceremony alone and eventually pursued graduate studies in tea ceremony. "I didn’t open Iieom teahouse with grand ambitions. I simply wanted to provide a space for people to rest, and since I love drinking tea, I started this place."

Iieom was originally the pen name of the late Joseon Dynasty poet Jang Hon and the name of his house. It was derived from the Tang Dynasty poet Han Tuiji’s poem 'Three broken rooms are enough (破屋三間而已)', embodying the meaning of 'contentment'?being satisfied with what one has. This name has been carried on to this unique space today. "I loved the nuance and combination of the Chinese characters in Iieom. Living contentedly with what is given to you, following the destiny granted by heaven. I created this space with that mindset."

The tea utensils (dagu) crafted by hand each possess unique shapes and forms that capture the eye. Photo by Kim Heeyoon

Living Contentedly with What Is Given to Me

With the determination to create a space for sharing tea, CEO Joo searched for Okryudong (now Okindong), where Jang Hon’s house once stood, and insisted to the real estate agent that the location must be in Okindong. Although many properties were introduced, she rejected them all because they were not in Okindong, leading the agent to call her a 'quirky customer.' After a long wait, she finally found a satisfactory space and decorated it with her most cherished and beautiful items to present to guests. When she couldn’t find teaware she liked while searching for small tea utensils, she collaborated with a potter to create exclusive Iieom teaware.

"I wanted to share the joy of enjoying crafts and beautiful teaware, so I started producing them. One day, a guest accidentally broke my most treasured teapot. I was on the verge of tears, but the guest rather scolded me, saying, 'How can you give guests something that shouldn’t be broken?' Although I was anxious about offering precious items, the potter I worked with told me, 'Ceramics are destined to break, and if they break, you can make them again,' which helped me regain my resolve." The broken teaware was restored using kintsugi (the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery), and is still served to guests, reflecting CEO Joo’s desire to offer the most beautiful things.

With a cup of tea, you can enjoy handcrafted items filled with the owner's taste and even feel the joy of using beautiful tea utensils. Although Iieom is somewhat unfamiliar, it soon offers a time and space to calmly focus through "tea." Photo by Kim Heeyoon

A Moment of Luxury in a Timeless Space

The teas served at Iieom mainly focus on Qingcha (?茶), a semi-fermented tea from Taiwan, along with Chinese teas, Korean teas, and cold teas. Since about 90% of visitors are often new to tea, many seek recommendations from CEO Joo, who patiently explains the brewing methods and origins of the teas, reminiscent of her own first steps into the world of tea.

With dim lighting and a subtle tea aroma, the space feels as if time has stopped, offering a moment of indulgence dedicated to oneself. At the same time, it prompts reflection on one’s own neglect of personal space and time. In this way, Iieom is a special place that gifts moments of complete focus on oneself through tea.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.