Korean Pottery & Culture Retreat with Sophie
Join me for a 7-day creative retreat through Seoul, Icheon, and Gongju, where we’ll experience Korea through the beauty of craft, culture, and connection. From exploring royal palaces and traditional markets to stepping inside local pottery studios, we’ll meet two Korean master potters, discover Korea’s rich ceramic traditions, and get hands-on with clay through meaningful workshops along the way.
OVERVIEWDiscover the heart of Korea through art!
An Authentic Itinerary
May 16 - 22, 2027Designed by Goodmate Travel and Sophie (@sophiechaistudio), this 7-day creative retreat invites you to experience Korea through the world of craft, culture, and ceramics. Journey through Seoul, Icheon, and Gongju as you meet master potters, step inside local studios, discover centuries-old ceramic traditions, and create your own pieces through hands-on workshops. Along the way, explore royal palaces, artisan neighborhoods, traditional markets, temples, and local communities.
Itinerary
-
This 7-day retreat is a Korean pottery and cultural immersion experience designed for travelers who want to explore Korea while deepening their connection to ceramics.
Rather than an intensive pottery course with hours in the studio every day, this journey is about experiencing pottery within the wider context of Korean culture, history, food, and everyday life. We’ll travel through Seoul, Icheon, and Gongju, meet two Korean pottery masters, explore local pottery communities, and learn about the traditions and stories behind Korean ceramics.
Throughout the retreat, Sophie will be there to help bridge the experience between guests and the masters. Having spent an extended period learning from Master Lee Hyang-gu and observing his techniques, she’ll share her own insights, tips, and takeaways along the way, helping guests get even more from each demonstration and workshop.
Most importantly, this is a chance to travel, create, learn, and connect with fellow pottery lovers while experiencing Korea beyond the studio.
*The retreat welcomes pottery enthusiasts of different levels, although some previous wheel-throwing experience is recommended to get the most out of the hands-on workshops.
-
Welcome to Korea! After settling into your hotel in the heart of Seoul, we’ll ease into the week with a cozy welcome orientation. Get to know Sophie & your fellow travelers over local comfort food, laughter.
Meals included: Dinner
-
Begin your journey into Korean culture by dressing in traditional hanbok and exploring the beautiful grounds of Gyeongbokgung Palace, once home to the royal family of the Joseon Dynasty. After a traditional Korean lunch, wander through the charming streets of Insadong, where artisan shops, ceramics, local crafts, and traditional tea houses offer your first glimpse into Korea’s creative heritage. In the evening, dive into Seoul’s vibrant food culture at Gwangjang Market, tasting local favorites and experiencing the energy of one of the city’s most iconic traditional markets.
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
-
Leave the energy of Seoul behind and travel to Icheon, a city celebrated for two of Korea’s most beloved traditions — ceramics and rice. Taste the region’s famous Icheon ssalbap through a traditional multi-course lunch before slowing down over coffee at a local café. Then, step into the world of Korean ceramics as you meet your first master potter and visit the studio. Learn about the master’s creative process, techniques, and philosophy while discovering why Icheon has become one of Korea’s most renowned pottery regions.
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
-
Today, it’s time to get hands-on. Spend the morning learning directly from your first Master Potter Lee Hyang-gu for a hands-on wheel-throwing workshop, learning the techniques and careful approach behind traditional Korean ceramics. Discover his distinctive method for creating moon jars, gaining insight into how he shapes and balances their iconic rounded form on the wheel. After lunch, enjoy time to wander through Icheon’s pottery community, browsing local studios and kilns, meeting makers, and discovering everything from traditional ceramics to contemporary designs. End the day over a relaxed group dinner, sharing discoveries and inspiration from the day.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
-
Continue south toward Gongju and the beautiful landscapes surrounding Gyeryongsan National Park, where nature, history, and ceramics come together. After a scenic stop and lunch, make your way to Gyeryongsan Pottery Village to meet your second master potter. Here, you’ll discover Buncheong ware, a distinctive Korean ceramic tradition known for its expressive, natural character. Step inside the master’s studio, hear the stories behind the craft, and experience a completely different approach to Korean pottery from what you discovered in Icheon.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
-
Return to the studio for another hands-on experience, this time creating and personalizing your own piece under the guidance of your second master potter. After immersing yourself in the craft, head out to discover another side of Gongju through its local artist community, handmade goods, regional produce, and street food. You’ll also explore one of the area’s cultural highlights, Gongju’s fascinating Baekje heritage. Then celebrate an unforgettable week together with a farewell dinner — followed, of course, by a night of Korean karaoke!
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
-
Enjoy one last morning surrounded by the quieter landscapes of Gongju before checking out and making the journey back to Seoul. After a week of meeting master potters, working with clay, discovering Korean traditions, sharing meals, and exploring together, it’s time to say goodbye to the friends you’ve made along the way. Head home with new techniques and perspectives, a deeper appreciation for Korean ceramics and culture, and plenty of creative inspiration to carry into your own work.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Trip Highlights
Must-do experiences await, ready to be ticked off your bucket list!
What’s Included
Activities
✔ Welcome Orientation
✔ Gyeongbokgung Palace Guided Tour
✔ Traditional Hanbok Fitting Experience
✔ Insadong Visit
✔ Gwangjang Night Market Food Tour
✔ Icheon Pottery Master Workshop
✔ Icheon Ssalbab (Rice course meal) Experience
✔ Icheon Ceramics Village Visit
✔ Icheon Cafe Nonspace Visit
✔ Gyeryongsan Visit
✔ Gongju Ceramics Village Visit
✔ Gongju Pottery Master Workshop
✔ Gongju Gongsanseong Fortress Visit
✔ K-BBQ Experience
✔ Final Karaoke Session
✔ All transport between destinations
✔ And so much more…😉
Accommodation
✔ 2 nights hotel stay in Seoul
✔ 2 nights hotel stay in Icheon
✔ 2 nights hotel stay in Gongju
Meals & Transportation
✔ 4 Breakfast meals
✔ 5 Lunch meals
✔ 6 Dinner meals
✔ Private Bus
What's Not included
❌ International flights
❌ Meals not listed in the daily itinerary
❌ Activities that are not listed above in “What’s included”
❌ Individual orders at cafes, bars, or other informal gatherings
Meet Your Hosts
Sophie Chai
Hi, I’m Sophie Chai, a ceramic artist and creative, and I’ll be joining you on this pottery journey through Korea.
I’ve been sharing my pottery journey online, including my time training in Icheon, South Korea, where I became Master Lee Hyang-gu’s longest international student and fell completely in love with the tradition of Korean moon jars.
I’m so excited to return to Korea and experience it with you. Together, we’ll explore Korean culture and ceramics, visit some of the country’s renowned pottery regions, and meet Korean masters to experience and learn about their techniques firsthand.
Having spent an extended period learning and observing these techniques myself, I’ll be there throughout the journey to share what I’ve learned, offer my own insights and tips, and help you get the most out of each experience.
Whether you’re just beginning your pottery journey or are further into your practice, I can’t wait to explore, learn and create alongside you.
Start Your Adventure Here
Korean Pottery & Culture Retreat with Sophie
from $3,800
7 DAY, 6 NIGHTS
May 16 - 22, 2027
SEOUL, Icheon & Gongjuor
Contact Us
cs@goodmatetravel.com
We usually respond within 24 hours
Why travel with us?
Goodmate Travel Crew
Your journey is led by a dedicated Goodmate host from start to finish, with local hosts joining along the way to open doors you wouldn’t find on your own. Every trip is designed around the group so it flows naturally and feels personal.
What Our Travelers Say
“I cannot recommend Goodmate Travel enough! This trip was a life changing experience! First time ever traveling solo with a group of people I had never met. What an amazing experience. We had so much fun together, saw so many beautiful places. Ate a lot of delicious food.
If you want to get a first impression of South Korea, like I wanted to. This is seriously the trip for you. Small group, fun and caring tourguides and amazing itinerary.
I cannot recommend Goodmate Travel enough. I actually booked my second trip with them 3 weeks after I came back!”
—Sanne. B
More Reviews From Our Travelers
F.A.Q
-
That’s the essence of GoodMate Travel: a multitude of our travelers join our journeys because they are embarking on solo adventures and seek to connect and share experiences with fellow like-minded individuals hailing from various corners of the globe.
-
Our tours offer a Small Group Experience, typically with an average of 16 participants and a maximum of 24.
-
During our trips, rooms are typically allocated on a twin-share basis. For solo travelers, we match them with another traveler of the same gender, as indicated by the gender marker on their application form. However, if you prefer your own private space, the option to reserve an individual room is also available on most of our trips. If you’re traveling with a friend or partner, you’re welcome to request to share a room together — just let us know in the notes section when booking.
-
You have the option to make a one-time payment or take advantage of our deposit and final payment plan. To secure your reservation, a 10% deposit is required. The remaining 90% of the tour cost must be paid in full no later than 60 days before the tour’s start date.
-
International flights are not included. Guests are asked to book their own flights and arrive at the designated meeting point in Seoul. We’ll share the exact meeting location along with clear instructions on how to get there from the airport.
-
For cancellations made 60 days before the trip, you will receive a refund minus the non-refundable deposit, which is 10% of the total trip cost.
If you cancel between 30 and 59 days before the trip, we will refund 50% of the total trip cost.
If you cancel between 15 and 29 days before the trip, we will refund 30% of the total trip cost.
Unfortunately, no refunds will be issued for cancellations made within 14 days of the trip.
Bookings made within 24 hours are eligible for a full refund, with a 3% deduction from the paid amount for credit card processing fees.
-
We will make every effort to accommodate your dietary requirements to the best of our abilities. However, in certain remote locations, it may be challenging to provide specific guarantees. If there are places on your itinerary where this may pose a challenge, we will notify you in advance. To ensure we can meet your needs, please inform us of any dietary requirements or allergies at the time of booking.
-
Traveling with Goodmate Travel requires you to have comprehensive insurance covering cancellation, personal injury, death, medical expenses, repatriation expenses, evacuation expenses, personal liability, and loss of personal property before embarking on your journey. It’s crucial to ensure that your insurance also extends to all the activities you plan to enjoy, especially if you’re an adrenaline enthusiast indulging in adventure activities. Your safety and peace of mind are our top priorities.
-
Airport pickup and drop-off are not included. That said, getting into the city is simple and affordable using the airport limousine bus or the AREX train. Closer to the trip, we’ll provide step-by-step guidance so you can arrive smoothly and confidently.
We’re here for you
Yeri, Guest Success Director
Contact
hello@goodmatetravel.com
Address
1006, 85, Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03190, South Korea
Social
Our awards
