Kimchi class with Chef Hakyung near Gyeongbokgung place

The best part of this Seoul cooking class is its personal scale. Chef Hakyung, who has worked at a one-star Michelin restaurant and as a chef for the Korean consulate in the United States, teaches a maximum of four people. I like the close attention and the chance to make kimchi yourself, not just watch someone else do it.

I also like the setting: a small studio on Jahamun-ro, a short distance from Gyeongbokgung Palace and a traditional market. Tea or soda, homemade honey, and a small Korean meal are included. The main consideration is that the class is near Gyeongbokgung, not inside the palace, and the experience ends where it begins.

Key points to know before booking

• Chef Hakyung leads the class: Her background includes a one-star Michelin restaurant and the Korean consulate in the United States.
• Four people maximum: The private format gives you time to ask questions and receive hands-on help.
• You make kimchi from scratch: The class begins with a demonstration, then you prepare your own batch using Korean ingredients.
• A meal is part of the welcome: You may be served tea or soda, homemade honey, breakfast, or a small Korean dish such as royal tteokbokki.
• The studio is close to major sights: Gyeongbokgung Palace, Cheongwadae Sarangchae, the Blue House, and a traditional market are nearby.
• You have two food options afterward: Eat your prepared food in the studio or take it with you.

A private kimchi class beside Seoul’s palace district

Kimchi is easy to buy all over Seoul, but making it gives you a better sense of what goes into Korea’s most famous side dish. At Studio Hakyung, you begin with a demonstration from Chef Hakyung, then put the method into practice yourself.

The class lasts about two hours. That is enough time for instruction, preparation, questions, and food without turning the visit into an all-day commitment. If you are planning a morning or afternoon around Gyeongbokgung Palace, this fits neatly into the schedule.

The group limit matters here. With four people or fewer, Chef Hakyung can watch how you work and explain the steps at a comfortable pace. A large group class can feel like a cooking show with a few minutes of participation. This one is built around doing the work yourself.

Chef Hakyung’s professional background adds useful context. She has worked in a one-star Michelin restaurant and served as a chef for the Korean consulate in the United States. You are not simply following a generic recipe from a printed card. You can ask about different styles of kimchi, traditional methods, and how to make the dish at home.

What happens during the two-hour visit

The class starts with a demonstration. Chef Hakyung explains the kimchi-making process and gives background on the history of making kimchi in Korea. She also discusses the different ways and styles of preparing it, which is useful because kimchi is not one single recipe.

You then move into the hands-on part. The provided ingredients are described as authentic Korean ingredients, with produce sourced from multiple Korean farms. You make your own kimchi rather than simply tasting a batch prepared in advance.

The class is designed for questions. That is especially helpful if you have always assumed kimchi was difficult to make. The practical value comes from seeing the process in front of you, then repeating it with Chef Hakyung nearby.

During the class, Chef Hakyung prepares a small meal. The exact welcome can vary, but the food served has included tea, soda, homemade honey, breakfast, and royal tteokbokki. One useful detail for cautious eaters is that the tteokbokki has been prepared in a non-spicy style.

Your finished food can be eaten in the studio or taken to go. That choice is handy if you have another appointment nearby or want to save your kimchi for later. The studio is also arranged for photographs, so you can document the process and the finished dish without needing to rush out.

Chef Hakyung’s teaching style

The strongest reason to choose this class is the teacher. Chef Hakyung is described as friendly, welcoming, and professional, with a clear way of explaining the work. The small group format lets her give each person direct attention.

Her stories about cooking in a Michelin-starred restaurant and at the Korean consulate add a personal side to the class. Those details are not a substitute for instruction, but they give you a better sense of Korean food beyond restaurant menus.

I would especially recommend this format if you are nervous about cooking. The class is not presented as a test, and the teaching style is aimed at helping you understand the steps. If you already make kimchi at home, you may find the session less useful as a basic lesson, though the professional perspective and discussion of styles can still add something.

The private setup also suits couples, families, and small groups of friends. Solo visitors can book as well, and the one-person format has been offered. You should not expect a large social event. The appeal is a calm kitchen visit with focused instruction.

Eating beyond the kimchi

The food served during the class gives the visit more weight than a simple demonstration. You get to taste something prepared by Chef Hakyung while you work, and the meal creates a relaxed start to the session.

Tteokbokki is a particularly good addition. The dish is often associated with a strong spicy sauce, but a milder version has been served here. That makes it more approachable if you do not eat much heat, while still giving you a familiar Korean comfort food.

Tea, soda, ginger drinks, homemade honey, and breakfast have also been part of the welcome. You should see these as part of the hospitality rather than a full restaurant meal. The central activity remains the kimchi class.

The food also helps you understand balance in Korean cooking. Kimchi is often discussed as a spicy, fermented side dish, but it is meant to work with other foods. Tasting it alongside a small meal gives you a more useful idea of how it fits into a Korean table.

Finding the studio near Gyeongbokgung

The meeting point is 66-1 Jahamun-ro in Jongno District. It is near public transportation and close to Gyeongbokgung Palace, making the class easy to pair with sightseeing in the palace district.

One point deserves clear attention: the cooking class takes place in Chef Hakyung’s studio, not inside Gyeongbokgung Palace. The studio is in an alley near the palace, so allow a little time to find the exact entrance rather than assuming the palace gates are the meeting point.

The activity information also includes Gyeongbokgung Palace, Cheongwadae Sarangchae, and the Blue House as itinerary stops. These landmarks help place the class in the area, but the activity itself begins and ends at the studio meeting point. There is no indication that the cooking session includes a guided palace tour.

That arrangement can work well for your day. You might visit the palace before class, stop by Cheongwadae Sarangchae, or explore the nearby traditional market afterward. Since the class lasts about two hours and returns to the starting point, you do not need to plan around a long transfer to another part of Seoul.

Why the small group changes the value

At $80 per person, this is not the cheapest way to taste kimchi in Seoul. You can buy kimchi at a market or eat Korean food for less. The price makes more sense if you want instruction, personal attention, a meal, and a private setting in one visit.

With a maximum of four people, you are paying partly for time with the chef. That changes the experience from a quick activity into a lesson you can use later. You can ask why certain methods differ, check your technique, and receive help as you prepare the food.

The professional background also supports the price. Chef Hakyung has experience at a one-star Michelin restaurant and with the Korean consulate, so you are learning from someone with a serious culinary career. The class is not just a commercial tasting stop attached to a larger sightseeing group.

I think the value is strongest for visitors who enjoy food as a way to understand a place. If you only want a short kimchi tasting, $80 may feel high. If you want to learn a skill, enjoy a private meal, and spend time with a Korean chef, the cost is easier to justify.

Who should book this Seoul cooking class?

I would recommend the class to first-time visitors who want a manageable introduction to Korean home cooking. You do not need to spend a full day at a cooking school, and the palace district gives you plenty to do before or after.

It is also a good match for couples and small groups. A private class for four or fewer people lets you set the pace and ask questions without competing with a large crowd. The studio provides a quieter setting than a busy market or food hall.

Families may also like it, especially if everyone is willing to participate. The class is hands-on, but the available information does not specify a minimum age, child pricing, or special children’s activities. If those details matter to you, ask the provider before booking.

I would be more cautious if you need a full sightseeing tour. The listed landmarks are nearby, but the main activity is cooking. You should book this for Chef Hakyung’s instruction and the food, then treat the palace and Blue House area as your surrounding plan.

Practical details that affect your day

The activity lasts approximately two hours and includes a mobile ticket. Confirmation is provided at booking, and the experience is available as a private activity for your group alone.

The start and end point are the same: 66-1 Jahamun-ro in Seoul’s Jongno District. Because the studio is near public transportation, it is practical to reach from other central parts of Seoul. I would still build in a few extra minutes for the alley location.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. A cancellation made less than 24 hours before the activity is not refunded, and late changes are not accepted. The cut-off is based on local Seoul time.

The class is suitable for a visitor who wants a fixed, focused activity rather than an open-ended food walk. You know roughly how long it will take, where you will return, and what the central task will be.

Should you book Chef Hakyung’s kimchi class?

Book it if you want to make something with your hands, prefer a private class, and plan to spend time around Gyeongbokgung Palace. Chef Hakyung’s professional background, the four-person limit, the small meal, and the chance to take your kimchi with you make this more than a simple demonstration.

Skip it if your main goal is a palace tour, a large group social event, or the lowest-cost way to eat Korean food. The class happens in a studio near the palace, and the cooking itself is the reason to come.

For most food-focused visitors, I think the class offers a thoughtful use of two hours in Seoul. You leave with a better understanding of kimchi, a meal in you, and food you prepared yourself. That is a useful memory to carry home, especially if you plan to make the dish again.

FAQ

Where does the kimchi class take place?

The class takes place at Studio Hakyung, at 66-1 Jahamun-ro in Jongno District, Seoul. The studio is near Gyeongbokgung Palace and a traditional market.

Is the class inside Gyeongbokgung Palace?

No. The cooking class takes place in Chef Hakyung’s studio near the palace. The activity begins and ends at the studio meeting point.

How long does the experience last?

The class lasts approximately two hours.

How many people can join?

This is a private activity for a maximum of four people. Only your group participates.

What will I do during the class?

You will watch Chef Hakyung demonstrate kimchi making, then prepare your own kimchi with the provided ingredients.

Is food included?

Yes. Chef Hakyung prepares a small meal during the class, and tea or soda may be served. Food provided has included dishes such as royal tteokbokki, including a non-spicy version.

Can I eat the kimchi at the studio?

Yes. You can eat your food in the studio or take it to go.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance are not refunded.