Foreign participants in a one-day taekwondo class (Credit: Arirang Taekwondo) ()
Does the idea of taking pictures in front of popular attractions and eating at trending restaurants sound like a boring trip to you? Then sign up for a one-day class to really experience Korea! In a short period of time, you’ll learn about Korean culture in a deeper way! There are classes for every interest, from K-pop dances to making traditional food or your very own pottery. Don’t just experience Korea absent-mindedly; sign up for a class and get involved with K-culture!
K-Pop | Real K-Pop Dance
1. Real K-Pop Dance teaches K-pop choreography in a way that is easy to learn. Taught by a former back-up dancer to famous K-pop stars, even people with no experience or skills in dancing can quickly learn through the step-by-step breakdown. In just one hour, you’ll become a master of a popular choreography!
2. The class is just a 3-minute walk from Hapjeong Station (Seoul Subway Line 2). It’s also within walking distance of Hongdae, a popular hang-out spot.
3. The class is taught in English, but language really isn’t important when it comes to dancing. Just follow the teacher’s moves and you’ll do fine!
4. Follow the footsteps, literally, of K-pop artists like BTS, BLACKPINK, and NewJeans as you learn the choreography to the latest hits. Your classmates come from a range of different countries, adding more fun to the experience. After class, you will receive a certificate of completion, and photos and videos taken during the class will be sent via e-mail.
5. Dress in clothes you can move in! The most popular class is the group class for around 10 people (reservation is required), but they also offer a 1:1 class, a longer K-Pop Camp, and other programs.
Real K-Pop Dance Address: 42 Yanghwa-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 마포구 양화로 11길 42) Inquiries: +82-10-3445-2737 Website
K-Beauty | Beauty Play
(Left) Free full make-up experience, (Right) Personal color seminar (photos credit)
1. Beauty Play is a place where you can try cosmetics from small and mid-sized Korean cosmetic companies, all for free! In addition to the display and testing of beauty products, they also offer several one-day classes. The full make-up service, exclusively for foreigners, is extremely popular. Enjoy the detailed, one-on-one attention from a K-beauty expert.
2. Beauty Play is located in Myeong-dong, Seoul’s largest shopping district, making it a perfect addition to a fun trip. Located across the street from Beauty Play is Molto, one of Myeong-dong’s hottest new espresso bars.
3. Staff who can speak English, Japanese, and Chinese are available. For the full make-up experience, an English-speaking staff will interpret for the make-up artist so you don’t miss anything.
4. Learn about the Korean make-up styling that best fits your face and skin tone with the assistance of the experts. When the class is over, you’ll look as good as a K-idol! Be sure to take lots of pictures afterwards!
5. The full make-up service requires an online reservation in advance. Reservations for each month open on the last week of the previous month. If you don’t manage to get a reservation, there is still plenty you can enjoy! You can choose one area to focus on from eyebrows, eyes, skin, or lip & cheek, as well test the high-quality Korean cosmetics available to your heart’s content.
Read more details and a class review
Beauty Play Address: 3F, 73 Myeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 중구 명동길 73 3층) Operating hours: 10:00-19:00 (Beauty classes 10:00-18:00), Closed Sundays Inquiries: +82-70-4070-9675 Website
K-Food┃I Love Hansik
(Left) Foreigner-exclusive Hansik cooking class, (Right) Enjoying the meal (photos credit: I Love Hansik)
1. Experience Korean dining culture by making your own traditional Korean cuisine at the I Love Hansik cooking class. The English-speaking chef can help you make over 150 different types of meals, from the classic bibimbap to bulgogi, japchae, dakgalbi (spicy stir-fried chicken) and pajeon (green onion pancake). Recently, the Vegan Friendly Korean Food Cooking Class has been a popular choice, making sundubu jjigae (soft bean curd jjigae) and pajeon using fresh ingredients harvested from the roof-top garden. Each class lasts about two hours, with participants making the food with the guidance of the chef, and then enjoying the meal together.
2. A taxi ride under 10 minutes from Busan Station, you can also choose to walk 10 minutes from Munhyeon Station on Busan Subway Line 2. The class is located in a mostly residential area, but is on the way from Busan Station to popular attractions like Gwangalli Beach and Haeundae Beach.
3. Class is available in English, Chinese, Japanese, and Indonesian. Depending on the languages used by class participants, an interpreter will translate the chef’s instructions.
4. More than just learning how to cook a Korean dish, you will learn about the culture of Korean food. Starting with the basics like how to hold a knife and cut different ingredients, the class continues with helpful tips like what ingredients can be replaced with when preparing a Korean dish outside of Korea. After the class, you’ll be able to serve up an impressive Korean meal!
5. The vegan course must be booked through AirBnB or email (ilovehansik@gmail.com) at least three days in advance. If you’re interested in Korea’s tea culture, be sure to sign up for the tea ceremony class!
I Love Hansik Address: 2F, 17 Uam-ro 362beon-gil, Nam-gu, Busan (부산광역시 남구 우암로362번길 17 2층) Operating hours: 10:00-22:00 (Reservation required), Closed Sundays Inquiries: +82-70-7786-1445 Website
K-Martial Arts┃Arirang Taekwondo
(Left) Breaking a pine board, (Right) Photo time (photos credit: Hyphen)
1. Arirang Taekwondo has been offering a taekwondo culture experience exclusively to foreigners for 17 years. Participants will understand Korean martial arts better through learning the basic forms of taekwondo. The class takes about an a hour and half, with the standard curriculum including meditation before stretching, learning basic forms, kicking, breaking, and then receiving a certificate of completion.
2. Arirang Taekwondo is located right next to Sookmyung Women’s University Station on Seoul Subway Line 4. Just one station away from Seoul Station, it’s super convenient for travelers using KTX or the AREX! Compete your Yongsan trip with nearby attractions like The War Memorial of Korea, National Museum of Korea, Itaewon, or the latest trending location, Yongnidan-gil.
3. Class is instructed by a master who has taught taekwondo to foreigners for over 20 years, including in Australia. In addition, the instructions are explained in a simple way for even children to easily understand.
4. Learn all the details of the basic forms of taekwondo, from how to form a fist to break a board to kicking. The highlight of the class comes when it’s time to break the pine board. Nothing is more satisfying than hearing that loud crack!
5. Class is available as long as there are two participants signed up. Reservations can be made through KoreaTravelEasy or Hanyouwang.
Arirang Taekwondo
Address: 3 Hangang-daero 87-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 용산구 한강대로87길 3) Operating hours: Monday-Friday 18:30-22:00 (Reservation required), Closed weekends & public holidays Inquiries: +82-10-3078-1433 Instagram: @arirangtaekwondo
K-Ceramics┃Dansong Recipe
(Left) Craft room view, (Right) Pottery experience (photos credit: Dansong Recipe)
1. Dansong Recipe is a pottery studio located on the northeastern side of Jeju, Korea’s beautiful island destination. Run by a Korean ceramic artist and his German wife, and helped by their two sweet golden retrievers, the craft studio offers a one-day class that is a mix of making pottery and eating German-style food. After filling up on black pork salad, goulash, pretzels and other German foods, make your own cup using Korean clay. 2. The studio is just a 4-minute drive from the beauty of Gimnyeong Beach, where emerald waters, white sand, and black volcanic rock meet. If you prefer to walk, it’s about 30 minutes by foot. 3. After lunch (11:00-12:30) and dinner (17:30-19:00), pottery class is taught in English. The wife can also explain in German if needed. 4. Could there be a better memento of your time in Korea than to make your very own pottery using Korean clay? After class, you can check the status of your pottery through AirBnB, and have it sent to your home address (prepaid shipping). 5. The class can be reserved through AirBnB, and accepts up to ten participants per session. While pottery is easy to make, the downside is that it takes around a month and a half for the product to be finished, so you won’t be able to take it home with you right away.
Dansong Recipe Address: 2028 Iljudong-ro, Jeju-si, Jeju-do (제주특별자치도 제주시 구좌읍 일주동로 2028) Operating hours: 11:00-19:00 (Break time 12:30-17:30) Inquiries: +82-507-1477-3773, +82-10-9663-3773 Instagram: @dansong_recipe
1330 Korea Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese, Thai, Malay)
* This content was last updated in October 2023, and therefore information may differ from what is presented here. We advise you to check for updates before visiting.
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