Summer program availability changes annually. Verify dates, age ranges, and language support directly with each venue before enrolling.
Summer in Seoul offers a surprising range of activities for English-speaking children — but finding them requires knowing where to look beyond the standard hagwon search. For ages 9 to 12, the options span art, music, cooking, Korean language, sport, and structured camps, with varying degrees of English support depending on the provider.
International School Summer Programs
The most structured, fully English option is an international school summer program. Schools including Seoul Foreign School, Korea International School (KIS), Seoul International School (SIS), and Dwight School Seoul run summer camps with full English instruction.
These programs are designed for international children, include a range of activities, and offer drop-off supervision. Registration typically opens in March or April — they fill up. Check each school’s website directly for the current year’s program and availability.
Cost is higher than local programs but the language and supervision experience is fully managed.
Art Studios and Creative Classes
Several art studios in Seoul run English-friendly summer workshops for children:
- Itaewon and Hannam-dong have art studios accustomed to foreign families, with instructors who communicate in English or work through mixed instruction
- Hongdae area — concentrated creative and art studios, some with English capability
- Ceramic studios, painting ateliers, and crafts workshops often run seasonal summer programs
Search “kids art class Seoul English” and check Instagram — studios showcase their work and list seasonal schedules there. Contact them directly and ask whether your child can participate comfortably without Korean.
Music Academies
Piano, guitar, drums, and vocal academies are dense across Seoul. Most teach in Korean, but some academies in Itaewon, Yongsan, and Gangnam have instructors with English communication ability.
For a summer short-course rather than ongoing lessons, call ahead and ask whether they can accommodate a non-Korean-speaking child for four to eight weeks. Individual music teachers found through expat networks often offer the most flexible arrangements.
Cooking Classes for Kids
Cooking studios (쿠킹 스튜디오) run children’s workshops in Seoul. English-accessible options are more limited but exist. Asking in the Expat Parents Korea Facebook group for current recommendations returns faster results than searching independently.
Korean cooking classes designed for children — making kimbap, tteok, or similar — may work even with minimal Korean if the instructor demonstrates clearly. Worth asking whether a non-Korean-speaking child can follow along.
Korean Language Programs
For a child interested in learning Korean, summer Korean language programs designed for heritage learners or international students are an excellent fit for ages 9 to 12. Several university language institutes and private language academies run summer programs with structured curriculum, appropriate pacing, and experienced instructors.
These programs are conducted in Korean but with instruction adapted for learners — they are not the same as attending a regular Korean school class.
Community Center Programs
District community centers (주민센터) and district office (구청) programs run summer activities at low cost. These are primarily in Korean, but activities like swimming, sports, and art may work with minimal language if your child is confident socially.
Ask at your local 주민센터 what summer programs are available and whether non-Korean-speaking children have participated before.
What to Ask Before Enrolling
- Can a child who does not speak Korean participate comfortably?
- Will the instructor communicate in English or use another approach?
- What is the ratio of Korean to international children in the class?
- Are there other non-Korean-speaking children currently enrolled?
- What happens if my child is confused or needs extra support?
- Is a parent welcome to stay nearby for the first session?