Pursuing Hobbies in Korea: From Hiking to Book Clubs

Translated from the Korean original.

Ask Koreans about their most popular hobby and the runaway number one is ‘hiking’. Within Seoul alone there is a lineup of easily accessible mountains — Bukhansan, Gwanaksan, Dobongsan, Inwangsan — and nationwide there are as many as 22 famous peaks designated as national parks. On weekend mornings, the sight of subway cars packed with people in colorful hiking gear is a scene unique to Korea. At first I thought, ‘what’s so great about mountains’, but once I climbed to a summit and looked down, I understood right away why everyone falls for hiking.

Beyond hiking, the hobbies popular in Korea are truly varied. Climbing has exploded in popularity among the MZ generation, and Seoul alone has more than 100 climbing gyms. Pilates and yoga remain popular, and lately combat-sport workouts like CrossFit and jiu-jitsu are trending too. Monthly fees run about KRW 80,000–120,000 for climbing, KRW 150,000–250,000 for Pilates and KRW 150,000–200,000 for CrossFit, so some investment is needed, but for health and stress relief they are the best.

Small-group culture is another big feature of hobby life in Korea. On an app called ‘Somoim’ you can find gatherings by interest — reading, film, cooking, wine, board games and more. I join a book club once a month, and the time spent talking about books with people from all sorts of jobs and backgrounds is truly valuable. The fee is usually around KRW 5,000–10,000, about the price of a cafe drink, and it is also a great chance to meet new people.

One-day classes are also very active in Korea. Pottery making, candle workshops, perfume blending, leather craft and flower classes — lessons where you can try something and take the result home the same day are popular. Prices are in the KRW 30,000–80,000 range, making them perfect for a date course or a weekend activity with friends. Seongsu-dong and Ikseon-dong have an especially dense cluster of these one-day class studios, so there is fun in picking and choosing.

Gaming is also one of Koreans’ signature hobbies. It is hardly an exaggeration to say PC bang (internet cafe) culture began in Korea, and there are about 8,000 PC bangs nationwide. For KRW 1,500–2,000 an hour you can game on a top-spec computer, and you can order food like ramyeon or tteokbokki as well. Recently the number of console gamers enjoying the Nintendo Switch or PS5 has grown, and board game cafes are drawing popularity as a place to meet friends.

Leisure along the Han River cannot be left out either. Riding along the Han River bike paths, spreading out a mat and ordering chicken delivery, taking a walk at sunset — the Han River is a giant playground for Seoul residents. ‘Cooking ramyeon by the Han River’ is famous as a Korean-life bucket list item; the Han River parks have convenience stores where you can buy ramyeon and facilities set up for cooking it on the spot. My own favorite is cycling at Yeouido Han River Park in spring and autumn.

In Korea a hobby can be enjoyed alone, and it can become even more fun when shared with others. What matters is simply starting something. Korea really does have a great environment for taking up a hobby: accessible facilities, reasonable prices and all kinds of small groups — if you have the interest, finding a new hobby is not hard. How about starting something new this weekend?