Enter a serene Buddhist temple located in Seongbuk-dong, Seoul, and take part in an immersive Korean temple food cooking class led by a Buddhist monk. This experience is designed especially for international visitors who wish to explore Korean Buddhist culture through food, mindfulness, and direct interaction with a monk.
The class takes place every Thursday at 11:00 AM and lasts approximately two hours. Participants meet directly at the temple, which is also the location where the class begins and ends. Before cooking starts, the monk welcomes the group and introduces the meaning of temple life and the role of food in Korean Buddhism. You will learn about the short Buddhist chanting traditionally recited before meals and its significance in mindful eating.
Next, the monk presents the three vegan temple dishes of the day, explaining the ingredients, seasonal elements, and cooking philosophy behind temple cuisine, which avoids meat and artificial seasonings. After the explanation, participants chant together before cooking, just as monks do before meals.
The monk then demonstrates the preparation and cooking process for all three dishes, showing proper ingredient handling and techniques. Guests are encouraged to ask questions and engage in open conversation throughout the demonstration. Afterward, participants form small groups of three to four people and move to their cooking stations to prepare the dishes themselves.
Once cooking is complete, everyone gathers to enjoy the food together, along with two additional temple side dishes commonly served in monasteries. The experience concludes with a shared meal and relaxed conversation, and participants disperse at the temple after the class ends.
