Kimchi-making classes in Seoul — and kimchi in Korean skincare
Part of the jinjja.shop guides — plain answers about independent Korean makers, for buyers in Australia. Last updated 31 October 2026.
Why are so many Australians making kimchi in Seoul right now?
South Korea has become one of Australia’s fastest-growing travel destinations. According to reporting by The Canberra Times / Explore (6 November 2025), Australian visits to South Korea in 2024 were 41 per cent above 2019 levels, and visitor numbers from Australia rose 11 per cent in the year to August 2025 (Korea Tourism Organization, as cited in that report). More Australians than ever are looking for hands-on cultural experiences while they are there — and a kimchi-making class is one of the most booked.
Kimchi is a lactic-acid ferment: salted vegetables — most often napa cabbage or radish — are packed with a paste of chilli, garlic, ginger and other aromatics, then left to ferment at a controlled temperature. The bacteria that drive the ferment include Leuconostoc, Lactobacillus and Weissella species, which convert sugars into lactic acid and give kimchi its characteristic sour depth. Taking a class is a practical way to understand the process before you try it at home.
Where can I take a kimchi-making class in Seoul?
Two well-established venues stand out for visitors:
- Seoul Kimchi Academy House — 21-7 Myeongdong 8-gil, Jung-gu. Time Out Seoul describes a 90-minute class led by a kimchi expert, with hanbok to wear and tea to start. The kimchi you make is packed in an airtight container so you can fly it home. Book ahead — sessions fill up, particularly through group tour operators.
- Museum Kimchikan — 35-4 Insa-dong, Jongno-gu. Korea’s first kimchi museum, opened in 1986 and now run by Pulmuone, named by CNN in 2015 among the world’s top food museums (Wikipedia). The museum covers the history, regional varieties and seasonal changes of kimchi across several floors, with a tasting room. It also runs kimchi-making workshops; the museum’s own guidance recommends contacting them in advance to confirm program availability, as classes open when enough participants are registered.
Both venues are in central Seoul and are straightforward to reach by subway.
Can I bring the kimchi I made back to Australia?
Australia has some of the world’s strictest biosecurity rules on food brought in from overseas. Before you pack your sealed container into your check-in luggage, check the current rules on the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website. Always declare any food at the border — undeclared food can result in on-the-spot fines regardless of whether it is ultimately permitted. Rules can and do change, so do not rely on what a fellow traveller was allowed to bring in previously.
How does kimchi fermentation connect to Korean skincare?
The same bacterial cultures that ferment kimchi — particularly Weissella and Lactobacillus species — have attracted attention from Korean cosmetic formulators. The logic is straightforward: fermentation breaks down larger molecules and produces by-products that alter the texture, pH and microbial character of an ingredient. A number of independent Korean makers have built formulas around probiotic ferments drawn directly from kimchi traditions.
One example carried at ABELTY on jinjja.shop is the K-Probiotics Soothing Relief Cream 80 ml (also available as a 2-pack). It is formulated with 13 probiotic strains cultured from Korean temple kimchi — a slow, minimal ferment made without garlic, onion or fish sauce, historically produced in Buddhist monasteries. Among those strains is Weissella cibaria extract, the same genus found in traditional kimchi ferments. The cream also contains ABELTY’s patented Yeoju (bitter melon) fruit extract. In texture it is described as a cream-format product. The product page on jinjja.shop carries reviews translated from Korean Naver Smart Store buyers, labelled as such. As of October 2026, the cream showed as sold out on ABELTY’s own English-language store — worth checking back if you are buying direct from them.
For more on the fermentation traditions behind formulas like this, see the jinjja.shop guides on temple kimchi, kimchi in skincare, Korean fermented skincare, how long skincare is fermented and onggi fermentation jars.
Where does jinjja.shop fit in?
jinjja.shop (진짜샵) is an Australian online marketplace based in Brisbane, Queensland, for independent, owner-run Korean brands. 진짜 (jinjja) means ‘real’ in Korean. Every brand stocked must make its products in South Korea. Prices are in Australian dollars, payment can be made by card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Link or Klarna, and no account is needed to order. Orders are sent from Korea by EMS and delivered in Australia by Australia Post.
If you have just come back from Seoul with an interest in the fermentation traditions behind Korean skincare, the ABELTY brand guide is a good place to start reading. You can also browse the full brands index or read the guide to kimchi in skincare for broader context.
How does shipping from jinjja.shop work?
jinjja.shop is a marketplace for independent Korean brands based in Brisbane, Queensland. Orders are placed in Australian dollars, shipping is a flat A$9.90 per order however many brands are in the basket, and most orders arrive in about 10 to 14 days, sent by EMS from Korea and delivered by Australia Post.
The whole order ships free if it includes the ABELTY Rice Skincare Duo – 2 Sets. Full detail is on the shipping page, and every brand on the marketplace is listed on the brands page.
This page draws on jinjja.shop’s own listings and on widely published general information. Nothing here is a health, medical or therapeutic claim about any product.