20 Best One-Day Classes in Korea Worth Your Money

Korea is a treasure trove of cultural experiences and learning opportunities, and for travellers looking to delve deeper into the local traditions in a short time, one-day classes offer an incredible chance to immerse yourself in Korean culture. Here are some of the best one-day classes in Korea that promise unforgettable experiences.

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Guide to One-Day Classes in Korea

If you’re looking for the best things to do in Korea your trip wouldn’t be complete without adding a unique one-day class or workshop in Korea. One-day classes are one-time workshops that operate for a few hours. From learning how to prepare a full-course meal or crafting a unique souvenir. Workshops are the best way to immerse yourself in Korean culture and stray away from the usual sightseeing tours or attractions. Across Korea including Seoul you can find different one-day classes to try with friends or by yourself.

📌 Overview of Best Classes and Workshops in Korea

If you’re short on time here’s a summary of the best classes and workshops to try in Korea.

Cooking Classes in Korea

If you’ve ever seen a traditional Korean meal in K-dramas or eaten one in South Korea, you’d know how important side dishes (banchan) are. Many market stalls sell a large variety of side dishes, including stir-fried vegetables, spiced salads and kimchi. If you’re looking to level up your cooking skills with side dishes and traditional Korean recipes add a local Korean one-day cooking class to your Korea trip itinerary.

Korean Tea Ceremony & Korean Dessert Making Class

Address: 12-5 Cheongun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Those interested in honing their cooking skills whilst immersing themselves in Korean culture will need to sign up for a Korean tea ceremony and traditional Korean dessert experience. With a tea ceremony expert, you’ll be guided through a traditional Korean tea ceremony while wearing traditional Korean tea ceremonial robes. Afterwards, you’ll get to make traditional tea bags and tea cookies (dasik) for an extra treat!

Yeot-gangjeong Making Cooking Class

Address: Teheran-ro 5-gil, Seoul.

If you have a sweet tooth why not enjoy munching on yeot-ganjeong? A yeot-ganjeong is a traditional Korean dessert filled with nuts, beans, toasted seeds, or puffed rice. This delicious snack is made by mixing the grains with rice syrup or mulyeot to form it into a candy bar. Often this dessert is eaten during Korean holidays or as a winter snack.

By joining a yeot-gangjeong cooking class you’ll get to learn how to make this sweet and crisp dessert. You’ll also get to master the traditional way of wrapping cloth, so you can bring your snacks home as a souvenir. During the class, you’ll also be given the chance to try five types of Korean liquor.

Traditional Dessert Rice Cake Making Class

Address: Metro the Ovile Building, Seoul.

Have you ever tried tteokbokki? The mouthwatering stir-fried spicy rice cakes with spring onions, boiled eggs, and fish cakes (eoumuk)? These delicious snacks are often served in street stalls or market food stalls, however, did you know there are different kinds of tteok in South Korea?

One fun activity to try in Seoul with friends includes a traditional dessert rice cake-making class. Learn how to make a Korean dessert made with sweet rice flour and red bean paste. In the class, you’ll also be treated to refreshments and tea as you make these desserts. While these are often reserved for special occasions, at this cooking class you’ll get to wrap these treats and bring them home to save for a later day.

Korean Rice Wine Makgeolli Making Class

Address: 27, Seonyu-ro 51-gil, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul.

Trying the local liquor is always a delightful experience in itself but why not try making it? Join in on this hands-on rice wine makgeolli-making class where you learn how to make the iconic drink! During the class, you’ll learn how to make the wine while learning about the fermentation process. It’s a fun class with kind instructors who will guide you through the rice wine-making process and they’ll also treat you to local Korean snacks to enjoy.

Kimchi Making Class

Address: 102, Gyedong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul.

Ever wondered how to create the quintessential Korean side dish – kimchi? Find out the secrets of making the Korean staple with a hands-on kimchi-making class, so you can enjoy homemade kimchi from the comforts of your own home.

Perfect for beginners, this kimchi-making class not only lets you learn how to make delicious kimchi under the step-by-step guidance of a professional Korean chef but you also get to learn more about ancient Korean history. After you’ve made your kimchi you can enjoy it on the spot or take it home later to eat.

Local Cooking Class & Market Experience

Address: 5, Bangullae-ro 7-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul.

Join a local cooking class alone or with friends to make a Korean full-course meal (hanjeongsik). Be prepared to cook more than 10 dishes (main course and side dishes) from scratch after you’ve visited a local market to purchase the freshest ingredients for your meal.

You’ll even get the chance to try local street food as you shop with local recommendations from your guide. Don’t forget to leave room for the meal you’ll be preparing after the class.

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Beauty Workshops in Korea

Colour Analysis Consulting Workshop

Address: Apgujeong-ro 10-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul

Treat yourself by getting a colour analysis from a local expert to learn which makeup and clothing match your personal colour. Since 2007, Image Ho has been providing personal colour consultations including analysis of skin tones, four seasons, body colour checks and more to help find your best style. Depending on your budget you can choose from a basic course or a more detailed course in a private colour consultation workshop.

K-Beauty Workshop

Address: 13 Yanghwa-ro Mapo-gu, Seoul

If you’re into K-beauty products why not craft a unique lipstick that perfectly suits your skin type? In this K-beauty lipstick workshop, you’ll get helpful tips and guidance during your consultation with Korean skincare professional to make two lipstick shades that best suit you. This English-friendly workshop runs for about an hour and you’ll get to leave with your unique shade and fragrance lipstick featuring gorgeous Korean packaging.

Perfume Making Workshop

Personally one of my favourite classes I’ve done in Seoul is a perfume-making workshop. This fun workshop invites you to create a customisable and unique fragrance through an olfactory experience. In the workshop you’ll get to discover the art of scent creation, sampling different aromatic scents to craft your unique fragrance which reflects your style. It’s a fun indoor activity in Seoul that allows you to explore your olfactory preferences and leave with a custom-made gift for yourself to cherish.

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Jewellery Workshops in Korea

Korean Alphabet Necklace Class

Address: B12/F Euljiro, Joonggu, Seoul

Looking for a unique gift for your friend? Why not craft a Korean alphabet necklace charm at a jewellery-making class in Seoul? During this class, you’ll get to learn the Korean translation of your names or use a sentimental Korean phrase for your trinket. The class is also flexible where you get the freedom to select between a bracelet or necklace, or a mini photo frame instead. Afterwards, you can wrap up your masterpiece to take home with you.

Custom Jewellery Class

Address: Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Craft a unique souvenir for yourself or a loved one by joining a creative custom jewellery class in Seoul. You’ll be guided in the art of design, experiment with materials, and craft a one-of-a-kind jewellery piece that reflects your unique style, making it a fun experience to cherish or share with others. What’s fun about this workshop is that you can add a unique engraving to your jewellery piece adding to the personalisation of your creation.

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Traditional Craft Workshops in Korea

From pottery to ornament-making, Korea boasts a rich heritage of traditional crafts. One-day workshops offer hands-on experiences where you can create your masterpiece. Feel the clay beneath your fingers as you mold a piece of pottery, or gracefully craft threads to make your unique ornament. Dive into 6 traditional craft workshops to channel your creativity in Korea.

Flip Photobook Making Class

Address: 2-178 Gamcheon-dong Saha-gu, Busan

Take home a personal souvenir filled with your memories of Korea at the GIF photo store, located in Gamcheon Culture Village. During this photo-book-making class, you’ll make your hand-flipped photo album to compile your souvenir photos in a handcrafted picture book. You’ll have to shoot about an eight-second-long film, and this film will be combined with the backgrounds and images of Busan. This edited film will be printed as multiple photos in a flip book to take home on your trip!

Pottery Class

Have you ever wanted to craft your a ceramic mug? Why not add a fun ceramic pottery workshop in Korea to make a unique ceramic souvenir? Get ready with this hands-on experience with the pottery wheel to craft your mug and learn about the baking and clay moulding process. During this pottery workshop, you’ll get to sketch, paint, and bake your ceramic mug to take home.

Air Freshener Making Workshop

Address: Samhaksa-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul

Craft a unique Korean-style souvenir for yourself or a loved one by joining an air freshener-making class in Seoul. During this hands-on class, you’ll get to make an air freshener in the shape of a norigae, a traditional Korean accessory. What’s unique about this class is that you’ll get to select a scent that suits your taste and have the freedom to decorate the air freshener with any colour using acrylic paint. At the end of the workshop, you’ll be left with a handmade, norigae-shaped air freshener for yourself or a gift to a special someone.

Ornament Making Workshop

Address: 58 Sungmun-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul

Want to use your creativity and learn about Korean traditions at the same time? Join a fun ornament-making workshop using traditional Korean patterns and norigae. During the workshop, you have the freedom to pick coloured threads to craft your own unique and traditional Korean-patterned ornament as a souvenir for yourself or a gift for a loved one. Under the guidance of a local instructor, you’ll get to creatively make your ornament effortlessly as a keepsake from your trip.

Wallet Making Workshop

Address: 240 Jahamun-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Unleash your creativity in a fun leather crafting workshop to make a unique wallet. Whether it’s for yourself or a loved one, this fun craft workshop will equip you with the skills to make your leather wallet. You’ll also have the freedom to choose your colour and customise it with emotive images in this fun workshop.

Neon Sign Making Workshop

Unleash your artistic spirit and creativity by joining a fun neon sign-making class in Seoul. Get hands-on experience with the vibrant glow of neon colours as you craft a unique masterpiece. Join solo or with friends at this entertaining experience which will leave you with a one-of-a-kind art creation to take home from your travels.

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Traditional Workshops in Korea

Pearl Accessory Workshop

For centuries the mother-of-pearl has been used as a valuable material in traditional Korean artwork. Craft a unique souvenir for yourself or a loved one by joining a mother-of-peal craft workshop led by a third-generation master artisan. In this workshop, you’ll get to make a personal accessory using this iridescent gem. You’ll have the freedom to choose from bracelets to card wallets to make a memorable keepsake of your time in Korea.

Traditional Hanji Workshop

Address: 6, Insadong 7-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Make your own unique Korean traditional craft with your own hands in this traditional Hanji workshop. Instead of searching for the perfect one-of-a-kind souvenir for a loved one why not craft one yourself instead?

In this 2-3 hour Hanji workshop, you’ll get to make a hanji handcraft piece under the guidance of a master craftswoman. Making use of Korean traditional paper you’ll have the freedom to craft either an elegant lamp or a jewellery card box to take home on your travels. I recommend making the mini hexagon lamp where you can use traditional patterns or create your decorations with Hanji. After you’ve finished decorating you can plug in the lamp and it will light up!

Handmade Stamp Engraving Workshop

Address: 34, Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Bring home a unique souvenir from Korea for your friends or family by making a custom-made Korean-style stamp. Koreans have been using stamps throughout history and to the present day.

By joining this art stamp workshop you’ll get to craft your one-of-a-kind stamp. You’ll have the freedom to use it to decorate letters or greeting cards, use it as a personal souvenir from your Korea trip or gift it to a loved one. This workshop is beginner-friendly and you’ll have step-by-step guidance under a local instructor making it fun and easy to follow along.

Whether you’re drawn to culinary arts, traditional crafts, or cultural experiences, Korea’s one-day classes offer a condensed yet immersive way to connect with the country’s rich heritage. These experiences not only allow travellers to acquire new skills but also create lasting memories and a deeper appreciation for Korean culture. So, if you’re in Korea for a short time, consider indulging in one of these captivating one-day classes for an unforgettable adventure.

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