Danji-ya. This was the affectionate nickname my father-in-law gave my wife as a child—drawn from the petite onggi jar. Modest in scale, often small enough to rest on a windowsill or counter, these vessels held ferments that deepened in flavor over time, becoming indispensable to the Korean table.

He was a traveler; his work carried him everywhere—writer, artist, guide, and radio host. His voice transported generations of Korean immigrants, who longed for their homeland, to distant landscapes. For my wife, Danji-ya was not only a term of affection but also an enduring reminder that the world could be brought home through taste, story, and memory.

The name now belongs to a space rooted in that spirit. DANJIYA invites curiosity: to step into the unfamiliar, to find warmth in the unknown.

It is a tasting room for artisanal Korean food, drink, and sweets—six thousand square feet with two galleries, a working pottery studio, a commercial kitchen, tasting rooms indoors and out, and accommodations for visiting chefs, curators, and artisan producers. We invite visiting tasting menus from all over the world, offering a launching pad for those seeking to connect cultures and cuisines—whether for one evening, a week, or a month. It is a place to share what endures: food, craft, and the small gestures that connect us across distance.