Korea’s cities are packed with apartments, offices, and busy streets, but many rooftops are getting a surprising makeover. Across Seoul and other cities, rooftop farming is becoming a major trend. Apartment residents, cafes, schools, and even companies are growing lettuce, peppers, tomatoes, and herbs high above the city.
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
In Korea, one of the most delightful surprises when dining out or shopping is something called “service” (서비스). Unlike in the West, where service usually means customer support, in Korea it often means free extras—like a complimentary dish at a restaurant or a bonus item at a shop.
Step into an elevator in Korea and you’ll notice something immediately—silence. No small talk, no casual greetings, just people standing quietly, often looking at their phones or straight ahead. To many foreigners, this can feel cold or awkward. But in Korea, it’s actually a form of respect.
In the middle of busy Myeongdong, I found a surprisingly calm escape: several cat cafés. These cafés combine coffee culture with Korea’s love for pets, offering visitors a chance to relax with friendly, well-cared-for cats.
As temperatures rise in Korea, one dessert quietly makes its seasonal comeback: bingsoo. This shaved ice treat, often topped with sweet red beans, fruit, or condensed milk, becomes a staple as spring transitions into summer.
Dakgalbi is one of Korea’s most iconic shared dishes—bite-sized chicken stir-fried with cabbage, rice cakes, sweet potatoes, and a bold gochujang-based sauce. Originating in 춘천 (Chuncheon), it’s typically cooked on a large iron plate right at your table, turning the meal into an interactive experience. The flavor profile hits all the right notes: spicy, slightly sweet, savory, and smoky.
Dakgalbi fried in an iron skillet at the table at YooGaNeContinue reading →