In this cooking class, you will learn to make three popular Korean dishes, including tteokbokki, gimbap, and japchae.

With friendly and step‑by‑step guidance, even absolute beginners with no cooking experience can easily get started.

An easy‑to‑understand experience class that you can enjoy on your own.

Explore the key ingredients of each dish and learn about Korea's daily food culture.

Enjoy a hearty meal prepared with ingredients you crafted yourself.

At OAVO Seoul Lounge in Hongdae, couples, friends, families, and small groups can enjoy a perfect 2‑hour Korean culinary experience—an unforgettable gourmet journey.

[Class Introduction]

Join Swan's cooking class at OAVO Seoul Lounge in Hongdae and handcraft three classic Korean delicacies: gimbap, tteokbokki, and japchae. You will use pre‑prepared ingredients to assemble gimbap and tteokbokki, and mix glass noodles with other ingredients to complete the japchae. Learn key steps and explore the food culture behind each dish. This cooking class lasts approximately 60 minutes. Some ingredients are prepared or pre‑cooked in advance so you can experience the preparation process of all three dishes during the class.

You will participate in key preparation and final steps with beginner‑friendly guidance throughout. Afterwards, you can enjoy a one‑hour free dining time in the lounge to taste the food you made yourself. The entire experience lasts two hours, including mealtime. You will also receive recipe cards to help you recreate these dishes at home. Solo travelers, friends, couples, and families are all welcome to join.

[Itinerary Reference]

10:00

Swan House Welcome Ceremony — 10 minutes. Tie your apron and kick off your cooking experience in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. We will introduce the three dishes you will make today, along with the fresh ingredients used for each. We will also discuss the significance of gimbap, japchae, and tteokbokki in Koreans' daily lives, celebrations, and cherished memories. Even if it is your first time meeting other participants, we will help you feel at ease and blend in naturally.

10:25

2. Making Japchae — 15 minutes | Preparing Vegetables and Mixing Glass Noodles. Stir‑fry brightly colored vegetables such as carrots and spinach, then mix them evenly with chewy glass noodles to create a harmonious dish. As the unique texture and vibrant colors of each ingredient gradually emerge, you will complete this beloved traditional Korean festive dish—japchae. You can adjust the seasoning amounts to suit your own palate and create a unique japchae.

10:45

3. Rolling Gimbap — 20 minutes | Creating Your Signature Gimbap. Lay seaweed and rice on a bamboo mat, add the prepared fillings, and carefully roll all the ingredients together, paying attention to control the pressure to roll a firm and well‑shaped gimbap roll. Slicing the roll to reveal the colorful fillings inside is definitely one of the most photogenic highlights of the whole process. Your final finished gimbap will fully showcase your personal taste and style.

11:00

4. Cooking Tteokbokki — 15 minutes | Choosing the Spice Level. Make your own sauce at the table and simmer the tteokbokki to perfection. You can choose the spice level according to your preference—from mild to slightly spicy, and up to the extra spicy that many Koreans love. Even those not accustomed to spicy food can enjoy it. Watch the sweet sauce slowly seep into the rice cakes, and feel the aroma and simmering bubbles it radiates.

12:00

Handcrafting the Korean Table — 60 minutes. Savor your self‑made gimbap, japchae, and tteokbokki at a leisurely pace, neatly arranged together to form an authentic Korean feast. Share the joy of cooking with your companions, or take photos of your meticulously arranged table to leave wonderful memories of your trip to Hongdae. After the experience, you will receive recipe cards for all three dishes, making it easy for you to recreate the Korean flavor at home.

Hongdae Korean Culture Center: Create Your Own Korean Dining Table

At the Korean Culture Center in Hongdae, you can handcraft three dishes that are indispensable to Koreans' daily lives and special occasions: gimbap, japchae, and tteokbokki. This is more than just following a recipe; it is an immersive experience. As you prepare ingredients with your own hands and adjust flavors to your personal taste, you will naturally come to appreciate the spirit and stories of Korean food culture.

Carefully spread rice and fillings on sheets of seaweed, then roll up your exclusive gimbap using a bamboo mat. Mix translucent glass noodles with colorful vegetables to make delicious japchae. Finally, cook tteokbokki at the table to your preferred spice level. Once the three dishes are ready, you can relax and fully enjoy your self‑created Korean table in our lounge decorated with exquisite hanbok. As a special gift, we have also prepared three recipe cards for you to continue enjoying the fun of Korean cuisine at home.

[FAQ]