Haesi's $1,500 Gyeolgu Chair Applies Hanok Logic to a One-Seater Sofa

Haesi lists its Gyeolgu one-seater at ₩2,100,000 — roughly $1,500 — for a chair that borrows its construction logic from traditional Korean hanok buildings rather than conventional sofa design.

The seat, backrest, and arms of the Gyeolgu meet as distinct volumes. Most sofas hide their structure beneath continuous cushions; this piece brings the structure into the conversation. The furniture reads as assembled rather than molded into a single anonymous cushion.

Designers Jaewon Yeo, Byungwook Gang, and Kikang Kim of GANG Studio created the chair for Haesi. The connection to architecture is not literal — no miniature house sits in the living room. Hanok buildings rely on parts meeting with care, and the Gyeolgu translates that relationship into thick, intersecting upholstered forms. Two upright armrests frame the seat, and the backrest completes the arrangement behind it. The actual construction stays beneath the fabric, but you can follow how each element meets the next.

What Are the Chair's Dimensions?

The footprint is generous for a single seat:

• Approximately 47 inches wide
• Approximately 40 inches deep
• Total height of about 26 inches
• Seat height around 16 inches from the floor

That width and depth make this a chair that asks for space around it. The low profile keeps it from dominating a room. The seat height of 16 inches invites the sitter to pause rather than perch, according to the design's framing.

The broad arms frame a corner of the room when the chair sits near a window. They do not promise room for a cup or replace a side table; their stated purpose is to support the seated arrangement and give the hands somewhere to settle. The seat projects beyond the uprights, adding visual tension to an otherwise quiet piece.

What Materials and Upholstery Options Are Available?

Softness keeps the architectural idea from feeling stern. Buyers can order the upholstery in:

• Functional fabric
• Vegan leather
• Bouclé, whose nubby surface draws attention to the rounded edges

A chocolate-brown version reads as especially grounded, while pale upholstery makes the forms feel lighter. Beneath the covering, engineered wood and polyurethane foam provide structure and cushioning — not the exposed timber the hanok inspiration might suggest.

Who Should Consider It?

At about $1,500, the Gyeolgu is not a purchase made on looks alone. It takes up considerably more floor area than a compact accent chair, especially in a corner that must accommodate other furniture. Its low back suits placement beside a window, but anyone seeking shoulder support should sit in it before deciding where it belongs.

The chair works best as a quiet piece with room to breathe, where its overlapping forms give a corner its own sense of order. Once seated, the architectural reference simplifies into something immediate: substantial arms, soft upholstery, and a generous footprint. The idea of parts holding together remains — but now it holds the sitter for a while.