The Top Five Korean Traditional Experiences in Seoul

There are many reasons to love Korea and the traditional side is one of them. Over thousands of years, the peninsula has given birth to it’s beautiful and unique culture that span from food, mannerisms and architecture. When you first come to Korea, the people will captivate your heart (and let me tell ya, a lot are good looking), followed by the flavorful food, and traditional aspects. If you want to experience the real Korea, then check out the top five Korean traditional experiences in Seoul. 

Blog Posts You Might Like

• 25 Korea Travel Hacks You Need
• Ten Things You Notice When You Visit Korea
• The Ultimate Guide to Ikseondong | Seoul’s Trendiest Hanok Village
• The Ultimate Guide To Solo Female Travel in Korea
• What’s It Like Living in South Korea?

Samhae Brewery

The Samhae Brewery is situated in the Bukchon Hanok Village. It’s a bit far from Anguk Station and tucked away somewhere obscure, but the alcohol tasting is pretty fun. The master, Kim Taeksang, makes traditional alcohol from his basement and is considered the eighth most intangible asset for his skills and expertise of brewing traditional Korean liquor. At the tasting you’ll get yihwaju, soju, yakju, and makgeolli. The alcohol ranges from 40-70% and in total you’ll have 13 cups. Even though it’s a tasting, I highly recommend you eat beforehand or you’ll wind up very drunk.

Upon entering the house, you’re guided to the basement where the smell of alcohol fermenting will greet your nostrils. The basement looks a lot like a chemical lab with all the tubes and machines, but it’s really interesting nonetheless. During the tour you are provided with a translator and given dried snacks like sweet potato and nuts to cleanse your palete between tastings.

If you’re a foodie and this is totally up your alley, there’s also a traditional alcohol and food tasting tour you can do in Hongdae. You’ll get to try makgeolli, takju, cheongju, and soju. You also get some food while you dine in a really cool Korean style tavern.

Cost:  50,000 won

Address:  15 Samcheong-ro 9-gil (Samcheong-dong), Jongno-gu, Seoul

Related: How to Luxury Travel in Seoul

Traditional Korean Tea Ceremony

If you’ve ever dreamed of having tea in the palace where royalty once dwelled, then head over to Jagyeongjeon Hall in Gyeongbokgung Palace for an unforgettable experience. It takes place every Saturday and Sunday and is available by reservation. In my experience, many people reserve a spot but never show up so if you arrive at 1 or 2pm, your chances are good that you’ll be able to participate. There, the master will teach you how to place your hands before you bow, how to bow, and how to serve the tea in the most polite way possible. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 it has been suspended until further notice.

But if you would like to experience a traditional Korean tea ceremony and kimchi making class, click here to book one.  

Cost: Free (You have to pay the palace entrance of 3,000 won)

Address: 161, Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Eat Kkultarae

After your royal highness has partaken in a tea ceremony, I highly recommend you walk down the street to Insadong. It’s popular for shopping and has a great reputation for buying many traditional Korean souvenirs. Even though it’s super touristy, there’s never a dull moment. If you walk down the main strip, to your left you will see signs that say 꿀타래. Vendors will be making this sweet snack behind glass so you can experience how it was done so long ago. Kkultarae is a Korean court cake enjoyed by the upper classes. It’s made of honey and sticky rice. The inside of the snack can contain nuts, chocolate, or other fillings. They’re mildly sweet and taste like a Snickers. If you’re interested in making Korean sweets, you can book a traditional Yeot-gangjeong Making Cooking Class in Gangnam.

Cost: 8,000 won for a box

Related: Wonderful Views of Bukchon Hanok Village in Seoul

Make a Name Stamp

In Korea and Japan, it’s custom to use an official registered stamp to sign any official and important documents. It makes for a great gift for you or your loved ones. Stamps are made of many different materials and a chisel is used to carve your name into the bottom. The makers are really well versed in Chinese characters, Korean, and English. If you choose your western name, they can even add a pretty design at the bottom. Since I lived in Japan for 3 years, I had already chosen Chinese characters for my name and that’s what I made while there. When in Seoul, do as the Koreans do so I recommend you get a stamp made with the Hangul for your name. 

The process of making it is relatively short and quick. You’ll also be given a bookmark and a pouch to keep your stamp. But if you’d rather be the one engraving your own name, I suggest booking a class where they teach you how to make your own name stamp.

Cost: 30,000-50,000 won

Korean Folk Village

The Korean Folk Village in Yongin is a lot of fun if you want to experience how the farmers, landowners, and noble families lived during the Joseon Dynasty. There are accurate representations of all the houses and a lot of hands on activities like dyeing fabric in the old days. Also, tradesmen such as blacksmiths, bamboo fan creators, and tobacco pipe makers proudly display their skills. You can dress up in hanbok at a Giseng village and visit places were famous period dramas were shot like The Moon Embracing the Sun. Personally, my favorite parts are watching shows like equestrian riding and traditional dances. You can also purchase discount tickets through Trazy or if you don’t want to bother with public transport try the private van package.

Cost: 12,000 won 

Address: 90 Minsokchon-ro, Bora-dong, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do

Related: Traditional Korean Folk Village in Yongin

Korea never fails to stimulate the senses and that’s what these traditional experiences will do. Many of these are activities regular tourists don’t get to be a part of and it makes your trip so much more enticing. Who doesn’t love a personalized stamp you can keep forever? Experiences are what make your time in a foreign country special and those memories become priceless. Which activity would you try first? 

This blog post contains affiliate links. If you chose to make a purchase through me, at no additional cost to you, I make a small comission to keep Gina Bear’s Blog running.

Free Seoul E-Book

Do you love South Korea?

Enter your name and email address and click the button below to receive your Easy Seoul Travel Guide so you can travel like a local!

Subscribe