Get a real insight of Korea with new Korean Cultural Experience Programs

No matter where you may be travelling often the best way to get a true insight to the country is to join a cultural experience program. Korea is nowadays offering many great cultural experience programs where visitors can immerse themselves in a fun and educational experience and some are also free.

A Korean food experience is a very popular way to have fun by joining one of the many cooking classes available from learning how to make kimchi to joining a new specialty Hallyu (Korean wave) cooking class which teaches Hallyu fans how to cook their favourite dishes as seen in the famous dramas.

The Hallyu Cooking Class experience program allows pre-registered international tourists to participate in making various Korean foods. The cooking class opens on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month, between 11am - 1pm at Baekseol Cooking Studio in CJ CheilJedang headquarters in Seoul.

The first part of the program consists of a demonstration by a certified Korean chef. Then participants can join in and make two different dishes and later enjoy their culinary results together in a separate dining room. The Hallyu Cooking Class offers a good learning opportunity to make such Korean treats as bulgogi, bibimbap, gimbap and pajeon (Korean pancake).

Cost to join the experience is 20,000 won (approx. A$26), so a relatively cheap way to enjoy a fun lunch with your fellow participants and learn how to cook Korean cuisine at the same time. Inquiries can be made to the Hallyu Experience Program email: hallyuseoul@gmail.com

Another great hands-on cultural experience of Korea's traditional culture for visitors is to join the free Taekwondo classes at the Namsangol Hanok Village. A special taekwondo experience program exclusively for foreign visitors started mid May and runs to 26 October, 2017 (except July 7-31 August). The class includes the basic forms of taekwondo, a martial art that represents Korea around the world. The classes are run in English and are totally free of charge. Classes run on Wednesdays and Thursdays for one hour from 10.30am.

Registration for classes is accepted online up to three days prior with a maximum of 20 students per class. Further information: https://goo.gl/forms/25xWOzi3crRISL3v1

Other experience programs to be enjoyed at Namsangol Hanok Village range from a traditional tea ceremony to a straw craft demonstration to making folk craft as well as a hanbok (Korean dress) experience, a great way to get special photos for your family and friends back home. Some programs are free and others are minimal cost from 3,000-10,000 won (approx. A$4-$13).

These are just two of the exciting new ways to have an authentic Korean experience on your travels in the country. For general information on travelling in Korea get your free guidebooks and information from Korea Tourism Organization Sydney office email: visitkorea@knto.org.au or order online at www.visitkorea.org.au