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Jinjin

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Jinjin

Jinjin

Last Modified

2026-07-11 02:51

History

Jin Jin (津津) is a Chinese restaurant located in Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. Wang Yuk-sung (왕육성) [Person] , formerly the executive chef of Daesanghae at the Koreana Hotel, opened it in January 2015. Promoting “hotel cuisine enjoyed in the neighborhood,” it focused on around ten cooked dishes without serving jajangmyeon. In 2017, less than two years after opening, it received one star in the inaugural edition of the Michelin Guide Seoul (미쉐린 가이드 서울) [Document] . The restaurant’s name combines one character from Tianjin (天津), his father’s hometown, and one from Yanghwajin (楊花津), an old name associated with Mapo.

  • January 2015: Wang Yuk-seong (왕육성) [Person] opened Jin Jin (진진) in an alley in Seogyo-dong. It attracted attention from the outset as an alleyway restaurant founded by a hotel Chinese-cuisine chef who had left the hotel industry after a 40-year career spanning Daegwanwon (대관원), Hong Boseok (홍보석) [Restaurant], Taoyuen at The Plaza Seoul, and Great Shanghai at the Koreana Hotel.

  • 2017–2019: Awarded one star for three consecutive years, beginning with the inaugural edition of the Michelin Guide Seoul (미쉐린 가이드 서울) [Document]. It was one of only two Chinese restaurants to receive a star in the inaugural edition.

  • 2020–present: Reclassified as a Bib Gourmand and listed consecutively since then (retained in the 2026 edition).

  • In 2022, Wang Yuk-seong published the book 『Jin Jin, This Is Wang Yuk-seong』.

  • Popularization of hotel-style Chinese cuisine: A concise, dish-focused menu excluding meal staples such as jajangmyeon and fried rice, and featuring dishes including stir-fried king crab meat, menbosha (멘보샤) [Document], fish-fragrant eggplant, and eight-treasure stir-fry. Its identity rests on the principle of serving dishes that cost tens of thousands of won at hotels at neighborhood-restaurant prices.

  • Lifetime membership: A distinctive operating model that offers members discounts on non-alcoholic menu items and access to off-menu dishes.

  • Master-apprentice system: The succession structure was itself a motivation for founding the restaurant. The plan is to pass culinary techniques and business expertise to apprentices who had worked with Wang Yuk-seong (왕육성) since his time at Great Shanghai, then entrust them with individual locations so they can become independent. Wang covers the entire investment, and once a location becomes profitable, its manager receives 60% of the profits. His first senior apprentice, Hwang Jin-seon (황진선) [Person], co-manages the flagship location and appeared on the Netflix series 'Culinary Class Wars.'

  • Locations: The business operates multiple locations, including the annex across from the flagship and Jin Jin Gayeon (진진가연). Its locations are organized separately into those centered on traditional dishes and those centered on noodle dishes, the latter operating as Jinhyang (진향).

Michelin Guide Seoul [Document]: one star (2017–2019), Bib Gourmand (2020–2026).

Jinjin | Revit Guide