Yujinjeong 유진정

Yujinjeong is a wild duck hot pot specialist located on Siamgol-ro in Geumseong-myeon, Damyang-gun, Jeollanam-do, operating with a single menu item: cheongdung-ori (wild duck) jeon-gol. While Damyang is widely associated with tteok-galbi, this restaurant offers a distinctive health-focused alternative that challenges that association. The establishment holds a 4.2 Google rating with over 860 reviews and maintains such consistent demand that it nears full capacity even on weekday mornings by 11 AM. The hot pot features a perilla-seed broth in which diners blanch generous bundles of minari (water parsley) and chives in a shabu-shabu style. The duck meat itself comes in modest portions, but unlimited refills of fresh minari ensure the meal feels substantial and wholesome. The broth starts mild and builds depth as ingredients simmer, developing a layered richness over time. The defining moment arrives mid-meal when the staff add dried ssuk (mugwort) to the pot, releasing a subtle herbal fragrance that elevates the broth to a noticeably higher register. The closing course involves mixing mugwort powder into stone-pot rice for a fried rice that carries the herbal theme through to the final bite, followed by a bowl of sungnyung (scorched rice water) that cleanses the palate. Orders are structured as half, full, or one-and-a-half portions, with the owner recommending the appropriate size based on party count. A full duck runs approximately 70,000 KRW and serves two to three adults. Staff move efficiently and attentively, keeping turnover brisk, and the parking lot is exceptionally spacious and well-maintained for a restaurant of this type. Minari is at its seasonal best during winter months, though the quality holds up respectably through the rest of the year.