Hopaesool is a Korean martial art and competition sport using a Hopae, the name plates worn as identification tags by Koreans during the Joseon period.
Hopaesool is reminiscent of nunchaku, stick fighting and fencing. The sport side of it is practiced with a helmet and a foam Hopae (instead of wood) which makes it safer and more fun.
>>> Initiations outside of the regular classes — albeit without students — are also possible according to the Grand Master availability. Contact us for more info.
Program
- Experience (or watch only if you prefer) a class led by a grand master (2h)
- Receive a foam Hopae with your name written on it in Korean
- Take souvenir photos & videos
- Receive a certificate
✅
Guiding in English with translation from Korean
✅
Restaurants recommendation (meal fee not included)
⏳ How long: 2h30 hours 📍 Where: Seoul
Rates
People
Rates
1
200,000 KRW
2
285,000 KRW
3
365,000 KRW
4
450,000 KRW
5 +
ask
Student
-20%
Book your experience
Only the next 180 days are shown in the calendar. To book a later date or in case the calendar doesn't appear, please contact us here.
⏳ This is a 1 or2 day experience for you only. Go watch a competition of Taekkyeon and enjoy the traditional style of one of the most ancient fighting sport of Korea.
Traditional Korean dance is called either Hanguk Chum or Hanguk Muyong. It includes court, folk and ceremony dances.
Its movements remind of traditional brush calligraphy and make use of the Ogeumjil (bending and flexing of the knee) for a strong anchoring in the ground.
Program
- Practice a choreography with the dance teacher
- Use a traditional fan in the dance
- Write your name in Korean on the fan
- Take souvenir photos with the teacher
✅
Guiding in English with translation from Korean
✅
Restaurants recommendation (meal fee not included)
Korean sword dance is called Geommu. It is practiced with one or two sword. This sort of dance was practiced for Korean kings in the past. It can be found on ancient paintings as well.
Geommu requires coordination, rhythm but also precision and effective gestures as one handles a metal bladed (unsharpen) sword. This art is required in certain schools of Korean sword which you can also try in Seoul.
Program
- Meet the master
- Wear a warrior Hanbok
- Introduction to the swords
- Basics of the art
- Learn a choreography
- Souvenir photos
✅
Guiding in English with translation from Korean
✅
Restaurants recommendation (meal fee not included)
- Train with a specialist of the theatrical mask dance Gangnyeong Talchum
- Watch and follow the moves of the dance
- Learn about the history and characteristics of the dance
- Take a souvenir photo with the instructor
✅
Guiding in English with translation from Korean
✅
Restaurants recommendation (meal fee not included)
⏳ How long: 2h 📍 Where: Hongdae
Rates
People
Rates
1
200,000 KRW
2
285,000 KRW
3
365,000 KRW
4
450,000 KRW
5 +
ask
Student
-20%
Book your experience
Only the next 180 days are shown in the calendar. To book a later date or in case the calendar doesn't appear, please contact us here.
Traditional Korean archery is usually called Gukgung or Hwalssogi. It is recognized as South Korea’s Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 142.
This ancestral competitive sport differs from Olympic shooting in many aspects: body position, grip of the bowstring by the thumb and shooting from 145 meters instead of 70. Additionally, the traditional Korean bow is a composite bow, smaller in size and used without accessories such as sight, stabilizers or dampers.
ℹ️ Please note that for safety reasons, it is not possible to shoot at 145 m. The session takes place at a distance of about 10 meters from the target.
Program
- Try shooting with a Korean bow (1h)
- Watch archers shoot their target 145 meters away
- Visit a museum of Korean archery
- Souvenir photos & videos
- Receive a certificate
✅
Guiding in English with translation from Korean
✅
Restaurants recommendation (meal fee not included)
I would like to express my deep gratitude to Sébastien for his exceptional qualities as a guide and translator, as well as for his humanity, which made this experience unforgettable. Thanks to him, I had the chance to discover fascinating traditions such as traditional Korean archery, whose beauty and precision amazed me, as well as traditional Korean wrestling, an experience that was both intense and rewarding. These two activities were a real culture shock for me, in the best of senses: they opened a unique window on the soul of Korea. I deeply loved every moment, and it is largely thanks to Sébastien’s warm and enlightened accompaniment. (translated from French)
— Alex P. (Dec, 2024)
A great experience with Sebastien from Jinja Korea Tours! We started the day by observing the experienced traditional Korean archery shooters on targets located at 145 meters. An impressive sight. Then, I had the chance to learn about this practice for an hour with Sébastien’s wise advice, then he took me on a tour of the archery museum to complete this cultural and sporting discovery. The weather was rainy but it was not a problem because we were sheltered. We then went to a very nice traditional Korean restaurant where we had a “makguksu”. I highly recommend Jinja Korea Tours for any visit to Seoul or South Korea! The organization and attention to detail made this experience perfect. Thank you again, Sébastien! (translated from French)
— David L. (Oct, 2024)
Book your experience
Only the next 180 days are shown in the calendar. To book a later date or in case the calendar doesn't appear, please contact us here.
⏳ This is a 1 or2 day experience for you only. Go watch a competition of Ssireum and enjoy the traditional style of one of the most ancient fighting sport of Korea.
Competition calendar
⚠️ Dates are usually communicated by the organizers for the current year only.
Ssireum is probably the most ancient fighting sport of Korea along with archery. There are wrestling next to mounted archery scenes painted on tomb walls from the Goguryeo period. South Korea recognized it as the 131stNational Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2017. It was then inscribed on the UNESCORepresentative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2018.
Program
- Try Ssireum on an authentic sand arena wearing the Korean wrestling belt (1h)
- Souvenir photos and videos
- Receive a certificate
✅
Guiding in English with translation from Korean
✅
Restaurants recommendation (meal fee not included)
I would like to express my deep gratitude to Sébastien for his exceptional qualities as a guide and translator, as well as for his humanity, which made this experience unforgettable. Thanks to him, I had the chance to discover fascinating traditions such as traditional Korean archery, whose beauty and precision amazed me, as well as traditional Korean wrestling, an experience that was both intense and rewarding. These two activities were a real culture shock for me, in the best of senses: they opened a unique window on the soul of Korea. I deeply loved every moment, and it is largely thanks to Sébastien’s warm and enlightened accompaniment. (translated from French)
— Alex P. (Dec, 2024)
Book your experience
Only the next 180 days are shown in the calendar. To book a later date or in case the calendar doesn't appear, please contact us here.
Haedong Geomdo* is a Korean martial art using a Korean sword. It is practiced with codified forms, cutting (paper, bamboo, straw, etc.), breathing exercices, etc. It is also practiced as a competitive sport using foam swords for more fun and safety.
* different romanizations exist: Haidong/Haedong Gumdo, etc.
Program
- Try (or watch if you prefer) the martial art along w/ the master's students (1h)
- Learn how to properly hold a Korean sword
- Take souvenir photos and videos
- Receive a certificate
✅
Guiding in English with translation from Korean
✅
Restaurants recommendation (meal fee not included)
⏳ How long: 2h 📍 Where: Seoul
Rates
People
Rates
1
200,000 KRW
2
285,000 KRW
3
365,000 KRW
4
450,000 KRW
5 +
ask
Student
-20%
Book your experience
Only the next 180 days are shown in the calendar. To book a later date or in case the calendar doesn't appear, please contact us here.
Martial art, fighting sport and game practiced by all ages as early as the 17th century, this hybrid fighting form mixes kicking, tripping and standup wrestling without hand strikes (in competition). South Korea recognized it as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage, no. 76, in 1983. It was then inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2011.
A match is traditionally won in 1 round when a fighter making the opponent touch the ground with any body part except their feet, as in Korean wrestling, albeit without grabbing clothes. A second way of winning is to kick the face with the foot. One hit is enough to win, avoiding repetitive impacts to the head. In contrast with Taekwondo, grabbing a kicking leg and attacking the legs is allowed.
>>> Initiations outside of the regular classes — albeit without students — are also possible according to the Grand Master availability. Contact us for more info.
Program
- Join (or watch) an authentic Taekkyeon class led by a Grand Master (1h30).
- Visit the last traditional outdoor training spot of Taekkyeon
- See the Horsehair cap rock where warriors would meditate
- Take souvenir photos & videos
- Receive a certificate
✅
Guiding in English with translation from Korean
✅
Restaurants recommendation (meal fee not included)
