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Description
International Cooking Exchange Program & Lantern Garden Project in Tongyeong, Korea
Join a unique seaside country house project and share your country’s flavors and culture with us!
About the Project, the House & My Lifestyle
I live between Seoul and Tongyeong, spending about 50% of my time in each city. When I am in Tongyeong, a beautiful and artistic coastal city in southern Korea, I fully immerse myself in my favorite hobbies at my second house: international cooking and collecting unique lanterns from all over the world.
Please note: I am strictly a private individual and NOT a business. I am not asking for help with any commercial or business activities whatsoever. All cooking-related activities and help requested on my profile are strictly for my personal enjoyment, learning, and cultural exchange purposes only.
[Location & Our Historic House]
Great Location: Tongyeong is easily accessible, located just a 1.5-hour drive from Busan (Korea's second-largest city) and 4 hours from Seoul.
A House with History: My estate is located right in downtown Tongyeong. It was originally built 50 years ago by one of the wealthiest figures in the region. Today, it remains one of the largest and most historic private homes in the city, offering a truly unique and spacious atmosphere.
This project is purely for cultural exchange and passion. My goal is to create a warm, private, and creative space surrounded by beautiful lights, where open-minded travelers from different countries can meet, cook, and share life stories together.
What We Will Do Together & What I Offer
I am looking for foreign friends who want to share inspiration and enjoy a slow-living lifestyle by the sea.
If you can help me for about 4 hours a day with teaching me your favorite international dishes or assisting with my house and garden maintenance (such as decorating the World Lantern Garden in the yard), my cultural exchange program will be a perfect fit for you!
[Your Free Time & Meals]
Plenty of Free Time: After your 4 hours of help, the rest of the day is entirely yours. You are completely free to travel around, explore the beautiful nearby islands, and enjoy your personal time.
Cooking & Meals Together: In return for your help, I provide a comfortable private/shared room and ingredients for meals. We will have a wonderful opportunity to visit the vibrant local traditional markets together, source fresh local ingredients, and experiment with various world cuisines.
My main culinary interests include:
BBQ (various styles), Pizza (with an authentic wood-fired oven), Tacos, diverse Homemade Pies, Ice Cream, and sausages.
Sharing your own country's traditional recipes and comfort food.
If you love nature, cooking, and beautiful gardens, and want to experience an authentic, high-quality Korean local life in a historic home with total independence in your free time, come and make unforgettable memories with us in Tongyeong!
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Interests
Movies & TV
Self development
Pets
Charity work
Farming
Culture
Carpentry
Writing
Plant care
Photography
Gardening
Drawing & painting
Cooking & food
Books
Animals
Sailing / Boating
Team sports
Adventure sports
Nature
Outdoor activities
Camping
Hiking
Cycling
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
About the Host, I live in Seoul and spend part of my time in Tongyeong, After studying in the U.S. and working at Samsung Group as a corporate strategist and global management consultant, I decided to start my “second life” by the sea — surrounded by nature, good food, and creative people.
I’m a dog lover who has studied dog behavior for many years.
The dogs I’ve trained have appeared on Korean TV as “genius dogs,”
and my YouTube channel “Border Collie Mickey & Choco” reached 1 million views within just 3 months (currently paused).
You can also visit my farm house on Yokji Island, about an hour away by ferry. You can enjoy fishing, kayaking, or simply relaxing by the sea.
Help
What I’d love to learn or share with you.
wood-oven pizza, smoked BBQ, Japanese oden & ramen, Mexican tacos, asado, Homemade pies, ice cream & sausages, Korean comfort food (which I can teach you!)
💡 Preferred Volunteers
Preference is given to people who have experience in cooking, baking, or café work. but more than skills, I’m looking for someone who truly enjoys cooking and loves sharing food and culture with others.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Japanese: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
I love cultural and language exchange through food and daily life. I can help you practice Korean, and I’d love to learn your language while we cook and talk together.
Accommodation
Accommodation & Meals
You’ll stay in a clean, comfortable private or shared room (1–2 people per room) with heating, air-conditioning, and Wi-Fi.
We always share meals together like friend— and sometimes local neighbors or friends drop by to eat with us, too.
It’s a warm and friendly home environment, not a workplace.
You’ll have your own quiet time to rest, and we often enjoy good food and conversation together in the evenings.
There, you can experience fishing, kayaking, or simply relax and enjoy peaceful island life surrounded by nature.
We will provide 3 shared meals a day. We will enjoy cooking and eating together as part of the cultural exchange.
What else ...
On your days off, you can explore Tongyeong by riding my e-bike and visiting local markets, hidden alleys, and seaside cafés.
You can also walk along the beach with my friendly border collies and enjoy the peaceful harbor view.
Sometimes we take short ferry trips to nearby islands or visit my second project on Yokji Island.
Life here is quiet and warm — we cook, talk, and share stories with local neighbors and travelers.
Please keep the place tidy and respect others’ space, just like a family home.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
The house has a strong Wi-Fi connection and several quiet spots to work — you can use the living room, terrace, or garden area depending on the weather. Many digital nomads enjoy working here in the morning and joining our cooking or cultural activities in the afternoon. The environment is peaceful, surrounded by trees, sea breeze, and birdsong, making it easy to focus and relax at the same time.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
My animals / pets
mickey and choco
type youtube "border collie mickey and choco"
Photos
