Not Just Travel: How Koreans Learn Their Own Food Culture

When Koreans travel, they don’t just eat—they learn. Cooking classes have become a popular way for Korean travelers to connect more deeply with a country’s culture. Instead of simply ordering dishes, they want to understand ingredients, techniques, and the story behind the food.

Cooking classes

This mindset starts at home. In Korea, many people take cooking classes to learn traditional dishes like kimchi, 된장찌개, or 잡채—especially younger generations who didn’t grow up cooking. Others learn through family, watching parents or grandparents prepare meals during holidays and daily life. Cooking is not just a skill; it’s a way to preserve culture.

So when Koreans travel to places like Bangkok, joining a cooking class feels natural. They approach it the same way they would at home—hands-on, curious, and focused on learning.

For many Koreans, food is not just something you eat. It’s something you understand.

A Korean traveler visiting Bangkok might sign up for a half-day cooking class instead of just eating at a famous restaurant. They learn how to make pad thai from scratch—cutting vegetables, balancing flavors, and cooking over high heat.

This mirrors what happens in Korea. A young professional in Seoul might take a weekend class to learn how to make kimchi or simple home dishes they never learned growing up. In both cases, the goal is the same: not just eating the food, but understanding how it’s made and why it matters.

Vocabulary

  • 요리 수업 (yori sueop) — cooking class
    체험 (cheheom) — hands-on experience
    문화 (munhwa) — culture
    재료 (jaeryo) — ingredients
    김치 (gimchi) — kimchi

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Spicy “Fire chicken”

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Various buldak noodles from the Samyang America website

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Kimchi fried rice with fried bean sprouts and gravy sauce

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8,000Won (~$5.50USD)

Vocabulary

  • 김치볶음밥 (gimchi-bokkeumbap) – kimchi fried rice
  • 김치 (gimchi) – fermented cabbage
  • 볶다 (bokda) – to stir-fry
  • 밥 (bap) – cooked rice
  • 고추장 (gochujang) – red chili paste
  • 참기름 (cham-gireum) – sesame oil
  • 편안한 음식 (pyeonan-han eumsik) – comfort food

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Some Facts

  • Origin: Home-style Korean comfort food, commonly made to use up well-fermented (sour) kimchi and leftover rice.
  • Key ingredients: Kimchi, rice, gochujang (Korean chili paste), garlic, sesame oil, and cooking oil.
  • Common additions: Spam, pork belly, bacon, tuna, or tofu; onions and scallions are typical vegetables.
  • Flavor profile: Spicy, savory, tangy, slightly smoky.
  • Texture: Best made with day-old rice, which fries better and stays fluffy.
  • Signature topping: Fried egg or sunny-side-up egg placed on top.
  • Optional garnish: Sesame seeds, chopped green onions, seaweed flakes (gim).
  • Nutrition: Provides carbohydrates, probiotics from kimchi, and vitamins A, C, and K from fermented cabbage.
  • Cost: Inexpensive; often considered a budget-friendly meal.

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