Korean Kimchi Making Day Experience With A Local Market Tour

Great to pick up some tips to make 4 different kinds of kimchi, nice to go to a local market, instructions were good - great cooking facilities - would highly recommend

What a fantastic hands-on experience! The class started with a guided tour of Mangwon Market, where we saw the key kimchi ingredients up close — napa cabbage, chili peppers, fish sauce — which made the cooking that followed feel so much more meaningful. Then we rolled up our sleeves and made not one but FOUR types of kimchi: traditional napa cabbage kimchi (I learned the cabbage needs at least 10 hours of brining!), fresh kimchi, daikon kimchi sweetened with Asian pear, and cucumber kimchi. My favorite part was hand-stuffing the spicy chili paste between every single cabbage leaf — you quickly understand why kimchi-making is such a labor of love in Korean families. The instruction was clear and the pace was perfect for beginners. I left with a real understanding of the fermentation process and the confidence to make kimchi at home. If you want to go beyond just eating Korean food and learn one of its cornerstone traditions, this class is a must!

A very authentic, informative, rich and enjoyable experience. I loved the walk-through of Mangwon market learning about the vast array of ingredients and food on display and seeing how the wonderful Jomin & the traders interacted. Her explanations about the nuances of when & how produce is used in and off season; the different snacks, side dishes and fresh seafood, was a masterclass. Her knowledge and love for Korean food was evident & is something to celebrate. And, for the first time, I saw sesame seeds being roasted and pressed for oil-a real treat to discover. This part of the day in itself is worth booking the course for. Our kimchi-making class was wonderful: we made 4 types with clear & patient guidance by Jomin. Her facility is top tier- spacious, comfortable, light, airy and very well-equipped. The class was unrushed and thoroughly enjoyable. As a fairly experienced cook, I was surprised at how many new things and techniques I learnt. Thank you Jomin. As we settled into basting our vegetables like pros, Jomin masterfully prepared a delicious pork dish which we ate with relish accompanied by samples of the 4 types of kimchi we had made. She provided bags and a tightly-sealed container for us to pack & store our Kimchi, ready for travel. With all the ingredients provided on this course, the time spent on it, lunch, the book of recipes and the to-go packaging, I would rate it 10/10 for generosity and value. I loved it. Do not hesitate to book it!

This is a hands on kimchi class with market tour. I learned so much and Jomin was so organized and taught us well. I loved that we all received a recipe book and that she provided us with a container to take away our kimchi. Our group of 5 had great conversation over our meal of boiled pork, tofu and the kimchi that we prepared. We ran over on our 6pm class and she did not rush us to leave. I will always remember this experience and hope that others will enjoy the class as much as I did. Thank You!

We had a great time :) The walk through the market was interesting to learn about the ingredients (and we bought some tasty snacks) and the cooking class was great fun. It was good to make 4 different types and try them at the end with pork and tofu. We had a lot of kimchi to take home and eat so make sure you don't fly home the next day 😂 (you obviously don't have to take it but it's a shame not to!)

Nice small and Intimate class. Very organized and the Instructor speaks great English! The walk to class, through the market is a nice touch!

Great way to expand your knowledge on kimchi and Korean cuisine. Had lots of fun preparing and tasting.

This was a fabulous class! The market tour at the beginning set the tone for the remainder of the morning. We thoroughly enjoyed chatting with our fellow kimchi chefs and loved hearing about kimchi culture from Jamin. I'm so excited to make kimchi at home now!

Very informative tour through the food market with time to go and explore and purchase things yourself. The kimchi class was very well organized and taught step by step. We even got a little cookbook to take home with the recipe and a few others. Didn’t realize we got to make 4 different kinds of kimchi which was a fun surprise. The kids really enjoyed getting to do it all also. We all had a wonderful time and would highly recommend it!

I loved this class! I would definitely recommend. The market was such a nice experience and you get to see all the ingredients that will be used during the class. We were able to buy snacks and drinks before the class which was nice. At the end, we got to take our kimchi home and recipe book. Jomin was amazing and ended the class letting us try our kimchi and cook some yummy sides for us.

Amazing experience! Loved it so much that we went to their another cooking class (about the Korean meals). The tour across the market was awesome, we tried a lot of tasty (I would say the tastiest) street food. Kimchi was great, the best I've tried, so now I cook them at home :) Thank you very much!

The kimchi-making experience was fun and gave me confidence in making a traditional Korean dish! Jomin was a great teacher and guide who made the experience great! The market tour was also cool, especially seeing the different stands and seafood. Btw, you get to take home your kimchi so be prepared to eat it a few more times!

Great experience. Loved all four types of Kimchi that we made. Great explanation of techniques and background. Totally recommend

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ We did the Kimchi Making Experience and it was awesome! It started with a market tour, and our guide was super knowledgeable and made sure we got to see a little bit of everything. Her English was great, and she gave us time to explore and try some snacks at the market before the cooking part started. Definitely grab a bite during that time because the kimchi making takes around 3 hours before you actually get to eat. We made four different types of kimchi, which was so fun and hands-on. At the end, we got to enjoy the kimchi we made with some delicious pork and tofu. Overall, such a fun and authentic experience — highly recommend!

Jomin, thanks to her experience as a travel writer, showcases her country's produce and cuisine in a way that makes you want to dig deeper at markets beyond Mangwon. Her Kimchi class is hands on, highlighting not just how flavor is layered but also how little variations create altered texture outcomes (my Geotjeori for instance, ended up a limp from excessive turning during brining...). Absolutely the best way to learn nuances of a new cuisine. Go to her!

Jomin was so knowledgeable, patient and a great teacher ~ my daughter and I are Korean American and can speak Korean but the instructor’s English was really good -We were delighted with the experience in the market and studio - plus the lunch was delicious. She is also so generous with showing us 4 types of kimchee and we all got to take home what we made. A must try - especially if you are curious about kimchee and enjoy it. The cookbook will come in handy when I return back to the USA~ thank you!!

This is a really fun and interesting market tour and kimchi making class that is very much hands on - not just demos. Then you get to eat your kimchi with pork and tofu and take a huge amount home! A great value.

Our guide was so experienced and made making kimchi a breeze. We loved the market so much we’re going back on our own with confidence from the tour.

Excellent experience. I recommend for v any kitchen lovers and those that are curious. Guide was awesome in explaining and guiding us around the market.

This was an amazing experience which we have already recommended to many others we have met while in Korea! We were extremely lucky to have a small group of only 5 which allowed Jomin to deliver her impressive tour and workshop with lots of detail and attention. We began at the market which was easy to walk to & communication prior to getting to the meeting place was spot on. Jomin was informative and accommodating while doing the market tour, meaning we walked away much more knowledgeable than we were before! The Kimchi making was very well planned and run smoothly, including many ingredients being prepared in advance for us. The instructions were clear and well-paced, with patience when we made a mistake. We really enjoyed the experience of making four types of Kimchi, and learned lots through the process itself. It was great to then sit and eat what we prepared and had lots of Kimchi to take home with us. Thank you so much for this experience which has been a highlight of our trip!! Another important factor to mention is that we are vegetarian, which has made food difficult to find in Korea. Having previously notified the host of this requirement, we didn’t find our experience diminished in any way, as provisions/replacements were made so that we could experience exactly the same workshop as those who made their kimchi with seafood. We really appreciate this accommodation and it made us feel right at home!

I learnt a lot and had a great time. The tour of the market was invaluable and we learnt a lot about the food and cooking. I highly recommend this experience. It produces a lot of kimchi. Do it early in your visit so that you have time to eat all the kimchi that you make!

This class is great, the cooking studio is really nice, clean and comfortable. It is conveniently located close to market and subway station. I originally subscribed to a Kimchi making class , however, i feel that this more general cooking class shows the process and gives you a better understanding of how to go about cooking traditional Korean dishes. You also get a book with various recipes and even though it doesn't specifically show how to kake Kimshi you will learn some of the basics. Highly recommend

This was a great Seoul activity that exceeded my expectations! The instructor was top-notch! Visitors should give it a try!

This was so special and an amazing thing to do in Seoul! Amazing host and delicious morning!! Would highly recommend this unique experience.

Make sure to leave room in your luggage to bring back all the extra kimchi you make! Amazing experience, a whole night’s activity!

We had a great time learning how to make kimchi. Jomin had all the ingredients prepared and was very patient when explaining the process. It was a fun experience!

An authentic modern experience with no gimmicks. A good amount of information spread over 3 hours. I will be recommending!

Fun-and easy recipes that can be easily replicated. So delicious! after class it was great to explore the market nearby so much to eat!

Jomin takes you through the market and explains the ingredients needed. She then teaches you how to make kimchi & you taste it & get a container to take your homemade kimchi back with you

This was a terrific class, the walk through the market to see all the raw ingredients was a lot of fun. Jamin was an excellent instructor, she communicated clearly and was very attentive throughout the class. The tasting at the end was delicious, recommend taking this class, you’ll have a unique memory to share from your trip.

Wonderful class, we were 2 adults and a teenager who all enjoy cooking. Jomin is a great teacher, knows a lot, speaks great English and we had fun while learning.

A very enjoyable session where lots was learnt and a fun time was had by all. Jomin is clearly very experienced and speaks very good English. Thank you.

Fantastic cooking class with the brilliant twist that you get to shop for the ingredients yourself. Additionally, a visit to the market provides a wealth of background knowledge. The different stalls are explained, and one is also given a time slot to move around the market. The cookery course is fantastic, entertaining, and really well explained. The kitchen is very well-equipped and absolutely perfect for courses. At the end, you receive a very professional cookbook and get to take your kimchi home. I highly recommend the course for those who have a great love for Kimchi and also want to understand its background.

This is a hands-on class to make 4 different types of kimchi. It includes a stroll through the market on the way walking from the subway station to the cooking studio - where you can see the variety of ingredients available to make your kimchi, as well as grab a quick bite of popular local snacks. After the class, you get to eat some of the kimchi you have just made, together with boiled pork and/or fried toufu served with makgeolli. Jo Min is a great host and instructor - you can to bring whatever you have just made back with you as she provides a large container to store it all. I was very happy as I finally got to bring all that wonderful kimchi back to Singapore ( the container should be in your check in luggage ). I would highly recommend this class for anyone who loves learning about how to make yummy food. It is not difficult and you’ll be so satisfied as you taste the wonderful kimchi. She also gives you a little cookbook with the recipes inside, plus other recipes to make popular Korean dishes.

Excellent kimchi class, it was a family activity for us and it was great fun. We took a tour of the market right before the class and it was wonderful too. I highly recommend this kimchi class!

I really enjoyed this class. The meeting instructions were very clear and easy and then we had a really interesting walk through the market. Very informative. The class was very well organized and enjoyable.

Enjoyed this tour!! We walked through the market and then went to her cooking school to make kimchi! Just be aware you do get to take a lot home! It was super delicious! Just be advised if she doesn’t have enough people to do this tour she’ll cancel.

We had a great experience making different kinds of kimchi. The class was well organised. We took it home with us but couldn't bring it back to Australia.

This class was so much fun. I highly recommend doing this while you are in Seoul. You meet the instructor, Chef Jomin, at the train station. It is a short walk to the Mangwon market. This market is on the city limits with very few tourists when compared to other markets in Seoul. She walks you through the entire market and explains the food at many of the stands. You then have 15 minutes to explore. Then you go to her kitchen and start your cooking. You make 4 different, most delicious kimchis and end up taking quite a lot home. Because of this, I recommend taking this class at the beginning of your stay if you are there on vacation. You also get to take home a cookbook that has many delicious recipes. If you take her 3 course meal class, those recipes are in there as well. To be honest, the food we made in both these classes was the best we had during our stay in Seoul. My friend is vegetarian. Chef Jomin was extremely accommodating for her and for any other people who needed variations from her recipes. Chef Jomin is so kind and a wonderful instructor. Her staff is kind and helpful as well. Finally, we made an error in scheduling and were no-shows for our first class. Chef Jomin was so nice and let us reschedule with no penalty and no extra cost. If you do nothing else in Seoul, I recommend taking both of Chef Jomin's classes. You won't regret it.

I have to say that my daughter and I enjoyed every second of this class. We went to the market , learned so much about the culture and we had a free time to buy some items -and explored the market. The cooking studio was really inviting and the ambiance and setup made easy to share a moment with other people in the class . Well done and thank you for the great moment and we are bringing back home the recipe book and can’t wait to cook again !!!

This was so much fun and all the kimchi we made was delicious! It was then accompanied at the end with fried tofu and pork which paired so well. The trip to Mangwon market was fabulous and we were shown different types of street foods which were delicious! I recommend that you do this experience early on in your trip to Seoul as you go home with the kimchi that you make!!!

We loved this kimchi making class. The market tour was so interesting and informative. The cooking classroom facility was perfect. Jomin was a gelreat instructor. She was articulate and easy to follow and we all successfully made our own kimchi. We also had the best time with the others in the class and made some new friends. I highly recommend this particular class and instructor.

Loved experiencing the Mangwon market and kimchi-making! Our chef was so kind and extremely informative! Highly recommend!

A great evening, enjoyed the walk through the food market. The cooking class was great, very professional and very patient. Learnt a lot about kimchi and the Korean food culture. Would highly recommend.

This class was bustling with fun, from the ambience of meeting new people to the enjoyment of indulging in a delicious korean snack. Brought my 15 year old daughter and it was still great! Teacher was clear and funny, with minimal misunderstandings.

The description of the course is accurate. This is a definite must have class while you’re in Seoul. The timing was great so that the course did not stall nor go too fast. Perfect timing. We made 4 types of kimchi. The instructor gives each student a recipe/cookbook to remember the recipes. And, you get to take the kimchi you made with you. Excellent course.

This was one of the best things we did on our vacation, probably in any vacation. The chef was pleasant and relayed our experience to the Korean family culture of kimchi making. She took us through the market and pointed out things of interest including where to get ingredients. Her kitchen/work space was well laid out and prepared. We were guided through the entire process but we made our own kimchi. It was delicious. There were 4 varieties of kimchi. Her helpers cooked pork and tofu and at the end we had a delicious lunch like a typical kimchi making day in Korea. I can’t recommend this highly enough. We were sent home with some of our self made kimchi packed to go. Very memorable day and she gives you a cookbook so you have the recipes at home.

This was mine and my dad’s first cooking class together but also was our first time trying other kimchi outside of the staple Napa cabbage kimchi. Our guide was amazing at explaining everything throughout the making process of all of these kimchi’s alongside the backgrounds to the ingredients. The market tour was also amazing and provided us a side to Seoul outside of the lights and city life to a rather more chiller side to the city. I would highly recommend!

This was such a fun experience. The instructor was knowledgeable and guided us all through the kimchi making experience. Everyone left happy and with a large amount of fresh kimchi to take home!