North Korean Cooking Class with Defector: Food & Personal Stories
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
Meet Chef Se eun Choi, who was born and raised in North Korea before starting a new life in South Korea from 2017.
She now shares the stories, culture, and everyday life of her homeland through food, creating meaningful cultural exchange through cooking.
After graduating from the Department of Culinary Arts in Seoul and gaining experience in restaurants and hotels, she presents North Korean cuisine in a warm, approachable, and modern way.
This unique cooking class is more than just making food. Together, you will learn to cook authentic N Korean street foods while hearing personal stories about life in North Korea, her journey to South Korea, and the deeper meaning behind each dish.
It is a rare opportunity to understand a divided nation through taste, conversation, and human connection.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
What To Expect
Join a North Korean defector chef and learn how to make one of North Korea’s most famous street foods (vegan and vegetarian friendly). We will make two of the most famous foods that were widely eaten during the famine of the 1990s. Created with very simple ingredients, these dishes are paradoxically eco-friendly and healthy. They contain no animal products and use only minimal sugar. Discover the stories behind the food and experience the history and resilience they represent. While cooking together, you will hear stories about everyday life in North Korea and the meaning behind the food. You will also have the rare opportunity to hear her personal story about life in North Korea and her journey to freedom.
Sample Menu
main
InjoGogi (Soybean meat dish)
This is one of North Korea’s most famous street foods. It was soy-based meat and filled it with rice.
main
DubuBap(Fried tofu pockets)
DubuBap is a popular North Korean street food made by filling fried tofu with rice and dipping it with sauce.
Options
North Korean Cooking Class with Defector: Food & Personal Stories
What‘s Included
Soda/Pop
Meals
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
8 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Incredible people sharing food and stories from N. Korea
H677AGbrianm,Jun 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Jun and Se Eun were amazing hosts. Hearing them tell their stories was so emotional and thought provoking. They answered all our questions with thoughtfulness and positivity. It was also a tremendous experience to combine all of that storytelling with food that connects culturally to all that we learned. 100% would recommend.
North Korean Storytelling & Cooking Class
changm0a,Jun 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Hard to put into words the emotions I felt. Incredible and one of the highlights of this year.
Amazing experience!
121finleyc,May 27, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I had an amazing time learning about North Korean food and cooking techniques! Wisung was exceptionally friendly and clearly guided us through each step. The food was delicious and I left having learnt a great amount about North Korean culture!
A Culinary Snapshot of North Korean Life
Odyssey01509652852,May 27, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00An experience of Korea is incomplete without an understanding of the North Korean community's contributions to K-culture. Making dububap and injongogibap with our guides was a unique, moving, and informative time. Experiencing a culture through its cuisine, especially what ingredients are available and how food is prepared and shared, offers a glimpse into the everyday lives of the people. I'd recommend this experience to anyone who wants to learn about North Korean life beyond nuclear narratives and see how individuals find joy in sharing meals. As a bonus, it's all amazing vegan food! Plus, our guides were open about their stories from life in North Korea and provided context about the food we made together.
Try the real taste
hyeseongk2016,May 27, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I had such a great time at this cooking class! Getting to make the food from scratch and eat it right away was honestly the best part; everything tasted so much better knowing I made it myself. I loved that I was involved in the whole cooking process from start to finish, so I actually came away with the recipe and feel like I could make it at home! What really stood out to me was that it wasn't just about learning how to cook — it was about connecting through food and culture.
Seoul's Best North Korean Street Food
Voyage20918291496,May 27, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I've eaten North Korean street food before but this was my first time making it. I was a bit nervous as I've never participated in a cooking class before, but the teachers did a great job at explaining the ingredients and cooking methods. They also patiently answered any questions we had. Everyone who participated in the class came from different countries so it was also interesting to share about our hometowns and the foods we eat there. I would definitely attend again and bring along more friends!
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Operated by Jun tours