13 of Best Culinary Schools in Korea: Requirements & Visa

People choose to attend culinary schools in Korea because there is so much that is attached to being a chef.

Studying in a culinary school improves your life in many ways and can also allow you to improve the lives of those you are eventually going to be working for as a chef.

Studying culinary arts will help you expand your horizons in many ways, not only will it help you become a professional chef, it creates a way for a deeper appreciation of food as culture, food as a form of art, your health and more, all of which you can pass on to your customers through your culinary efforts.

In this article, we will not only discuss the culinary schools in Korea but also we will discuss some of the reasons why you should study culinary arts.

Reasons to Study the Culinary Arts

As we have stated earlier, studying culinary arts helps improve your life and by now, you must have known that attending any of the culinary schools in Korea is just a step towards success. Below are some of the reasons to study culinary arts.

  • Learn to appreciate cooking as an art form
  • Learn to appreciate different cultures
  • Learn how you can encourage a healthy lifestyle
  • Have the ability to travel the world
  • Learn from many professionals in your field

Learn to appreciate cooking as an art form

Preparing food is not just about sustenance or helping people get food ready-though they are very vital reasons, but it is also about sharing art with people.

For chefs, there is this beautiful way of placing their food in an art form-which a regular cook might not think about in a way that your customers can take pleasure looking at.

There is a way chefs can combine aroma and tastes in order to create different kinds of feelings.

Attending these culinary schools in Korea helps you appreciate food as an art form.

This in turn will result in you putting more care into the food you create, and potentially allow for more fulfilment from watching customers enjoy your food.


Learn to appreciate different cultures

Food is closely intertwined with culture.

Because of the way people pass down family recipes from one person to another, by studying culinary arts, you will be exposed to how different cultures prepare different types of food.

What this does in return is to make you give more appreciation for different cultures which in turn helps build empathy for people in general.

Through studying culinary arts, you will learn how different cultures prepare different kinds of food and in turn, you will be able to share your knowledge of the different cultures with people around you; most especially your customers.


Learn how you can encourage a healthy lifestyle

Also, one of the beautiful things that attending the culinary schools in Korea will do for you is to teach you about nutrition.

These days, many chefs have emphasized the need to prepare delicious meals that are actually healthy in a bid to promote a healthy lifestyle to their customers.

The importance of a healthy lifestyle cannot be overemphasized and that is the same reason most restaurants now offer vegan options these days.

Some restaurants, such as farm-to-table restaurants practice sustainability and environmental responsibility and by that act, their customers become aware of such subjects.


Have the ability to travel the world

Yes, it is very true, you can work your way up, but one of the benefits of attending any of the culinary schools out there is that a culinary degree can give you the opportunity to seek any chef position all over the world.

Therefore, travelling around the world becomes a possibility, your experiences are improved, and above all, you will be able to share your personal experience with the people you meet all over the world.


Learn from many professionals in your field

Instead of just learning from a single chef at a restaurant, you will be taught by numerous culinary professionals, and of course, you know what that means; exposure to unique skill sets and experiences.

This also allows for a well-rounded view of the culinary arts and above all impact your culinary career positively.

What are the potential career paths for chefs?

  • Chef (resorts, hotels, restaurants, cruise ships, catering and banquet)
  • Restaurant owner
  • Culinary educator
  • Food logistics coordinator
  • Franchise operator or owner
  • Food journalism -writer or critic
  • Menu developer and consultant
  • Food and beverage product sales and marketing

Other career paths after graduation

  • Hotel food/beverage cooking area
  • Dining-out business department
  • Family restaurants
  • Fast food restaurants
  • Menu development areas
  • Food manufacturing companies
  • Barista in wine/coffee specialty stores
  • Table coordinator
  • Food coordinator
  • TV-CF food stylist
  • Party planner
  • Restaurant consultant
  • Menu planner
  • TV cooking show MC
  • Shopping host for cabled home-shopping (related to food and tableware)
  • Barista (food/beverage area in prestigious hotels)
  • Teacher in cooking schools/education facilities and others

List of culinary schools in Korea

  • Le Cordon Bleu-Sookmyung Academy
  • Institute of Korean Royal Cuisine 
  • Culinary Institute of Dong A Kyungok Kim
  • Sol International School-Culinary Arts department
  • Culinary school at Kyung Hee University
  • Boksun Han’s Cooking School
  • I Love Hansik – Cooking Class
  • O’ngo Food Communications – Korean Cooking classes & Food Tours
  • OME Cooking Lab
  • Yoojini’s kitchen
  • School of Culinary Arts woosong Univesity
  • Department of Culinary Arts & Hotel Food Service-Yeosung University
  • Korea University of Technology and Education Cheonan South Chungcheong

Le Cordon Bleu-Sookmyung Academy

This is one of the culinary schools in Korea that is interested in turning ambitious chefs into professionals. They offer a wide range of culinary arts, management, and hospitality program.

7th Fl., Continuing Education Bldg.
Sookmyung Women’s University, 100, Cheongpa-ro 47-gil
Seoul , Yongsan-gu ,  04310
South Korea
 +82 2 719 6961
 +82 2 719 7569

Institute of Korean Royal Cuisine 

This is an educational culinary academy that offers various lectures and classes on Korean cuisine of all kinds.

6F, 85, Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jongno-gu,
Seoul, Republic of Korea
+82-2-3673-1122
Fax+82-2-3673-2647

Sol International School-Culinary Arts department

The culinary arts department at Sol International school is one of the culinary schools in Korea that provides the best education in culinary arts in Asia. This school offers:

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Culinary Arts (4 year)
  • Associate’s Degree in Culinary Arts
  • Associate’s Degree in Baking & Pastry (Not recruiting for Spring 2022)

This school is also one of the largest and only English language culinary schools in Korea for four years and two years degree.

I Love Hansik – Cooking Class

This cooking school holds cooking classes in various varieties of Korean foods that captivate the taste buds.

They promote Korean food culture to foreigners and consequently developing Korean food tourism.

The culinary school at Kyung Hee University

Kyung Hee University has a department of culinary science and food service that was established to research the academic and practical aspects of the subjects that are related to the theories of culinary science and food service management.

They, therefore, provide students with the systematic courses taught by professionals, so that eventually they can be acknowledged as professionals also in the culinary industry.


O’ngo Food Communications – Korean Cooking classes & Food Tours

This institution offers a coking program to individuals who love Korean food and have a strong interest in Korean cuisine.

There are different classes suitable for beginners as well as professionals, all tailored to meet students needs including food allergies and dietary restrictions.

135, Bukchon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul,
Republic of Korea
+82-2-3446-1607


OME Cooking Lab

This is regarded as one of the culinary schools in Korea because they offer Korean home cooking classes with local market tours.

Here, students learn various Korean foods with professional Korean instructors.

Students will also be able to experience the traditional market while sourcing fresh ingredients for their cooking classes.


Yoojini’s kitchen

This is a cooking studio where you learn Korean cooking and nutrition.

Location : 76, Donggyo-ro 9-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea 
+82 10-6315-9591

School of Culinary Arts woosong Univesity

This is one of the culinary schools in Korea that offers a program that simulates a modern restaurant kitchen.

They have a high tech laboratory and a lecture system that provides their students with a high level of international sensitivity.

They have an effective curriculum that offers numerous overseas internships as well, all in a bid to help students acquire foreign language skills, as well as practice foreign adaptability in order to be able to compete in the modern culinary market.

Tel : +82-42-629-6821 / Fax : +82-42-629-6497
171 Dongdaejeon-ro (155-3 Jayang-dong), Dong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea (


Department of Culinary Arts & Hotel Food Service-Yeosung University

This is one of the culinary schools in Korea whose mission is to nurture global culinary management professionals who have professional knowledge of the hotel and food industry.

They are one of the culinary schools in Korea that operate classes, in-site practice, and customized student career guidance that centre around the food & hotel business.

Students are also provided with consumer-oriented education that will give them the social skills combined with intelligence.

  • Chungkang College of Cultural Industries
  • Sungkyunkwan University
  • Kyung Hee University
  • Yonsei University
  • Shingu College
  • Dong-A University
  • Yong-In University
  • Taegu Science College
  • Chonnam National University (Yosu)
  • Seoul Arts (Hansung Technical College)

How long is a culinary school in South Korea?

It depends on the schools, you can get programs that can last for a few weeks, programs that can last for a few months, 2 years and even up to 4 years.

How can I become a chef in Korea?

International cuisine is gaining popularity in Korea and as such a few foreigners are moving into the country to start a career over there.

Qualifications to work in Korea as a chef

Depending n the workplace and the type of culinary job you are going for, qualifications vary.

If you have a high school diploma or GED, you might be needing 6 years of experience in the culinary, beverage, or food-related professional area.

If you have a 2-year degree from an accredited university in Culinary Arts, hotel and restaurant management or a related major, you might need four years of experience in the culinary, beverage or food-related professional area.

However, the number of years of experience can be lower, make proper research before starting your application.

According to the Korean immigration website, in order to apply for the visa, work experience requirements defer and it all depends on the kind of license that you have.

The license holder of the Intermediate Level or higher (Examples: Level 1~2 for China)] work experience requirements exempted.

Elementary Level License Holder at least 3 years of experience

Those who have completed 6 months of training or more at least 5 years of work experience.

To become a chef in Korea also, some employers may also ask for strong communication in Korean language skills, above all, you should have the ability to work under pressure and be able to do several tasks at once.

Documents required for Visa

You can apply for an E-7 visa. You will need:

  • Chef Certificate/license
  • Career Certificate/Resume
  • Apostilled degree/diploma (confirmation is required on education completion certificate. If you do not have apostilled degree/diploma you can get authentication from a Korean consul in your country)

However, contact the nearest Korean Embassy or consulate to get accurate information on the documents you need to apply for a visa.

If you meet all the requirements for 2 years, the single-entry visa will be issued.

Your working hours and salary

Before choosing to work as a chef in Korea or even before choosing any of the culinary schools in Korea, knowing your salary outlook is one of the things to consider.

Hours of work are likely to involve early mornings and/or late nights depending on where you work.

You can also expect to cover weekends sometimes and even public holidays. You can also find part-time, casual and seasonal work.

Your salary depends on where you work. It also depends on your qualifications, skills and experience.

You can expect to make around 1.8 to 2 million KRW as a starting salary.

You can potentially make around 3 to 3.5 million or more depending on your skills and work experience.

On the other hand, part-time and seasonal jobs usually offer hourly wages which can be anywhere between 7,000 KRW to 10,000 KRW depending on the working hours.

There are even jobs offering as low as 6,500 KRW per hour. So you can use your discretion and shop around.

Conclusion

Attending the culinary schools in Korea will not only teach you the creative side of the culinary industry but also expose you to the best career opportunities out there.

What do you think about these culinary schools in Korea? Please leave a comment below.

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