Seoul Haebangchon: Korean Name Seal Making(Your Personalized Seal)

A Korean name seal is more than a souvenir with your name on it. In this Haebangchon workshop, you learn how a dojang has served as a personal mark in Korea, discover a Korean version of your name, and engrave it onto a stone seal to take home.

I like two things in particular: you get to make the seal yourself with an artisan’s help, and you leave with a useful set of keepsakes, including a pouch, name card, and ink pad. The choice of more than 30 designs gives you room to make the result feel personal rather than off the shelf.

One thing to plan for: finding the B1 entrance takes a little attention, and the workshop involves hands-on engraving. Check the directions before you set out, and allow enough time to arrive without rushing.

What makes this Haebangchon seal workshop special

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• Your Korean name comes first: Learn its pronunciation and meaning before you begin carving.
• More than 30 design choices: Pick from traditional and modern styles, then decide whether you want an artist-designed stone or a natural stone you decorate yourself.
• You do the engraving: A professional seal artisan guides you through making your own dojang.
• A keepsake set goes home with you: Your seal comes with a traditional pouch, Korean name card, and ink pad.
• The venue offers other cultural activities: You can also find a Korean Lucky Charm Atelier, Korean Playground, Real Korean Class, and Summer Hwachae Lab at the same venue.
• The entrance is at basement level: Look for the blue-and-white awning at the B1 entrance on Sinheung-ro 3ga-gil.

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Your Korean name gives the seal its meaning

The workshop begins by introducing you to your Korean name. You learn how to pronounce it and what it means before choosing a design. That order matters: the seal is not simply a carving exercise, but a way to connect a name and its sound with an object you will carry home.

You do not need to know Korean before arriving. The activity is described as beginner-friendly, and the artisan provides guidance as you work. Families can take part, too. There is no age limit, though infants and children must be included in the passenger headcount when booking.

The exact explanation you receive about your name may depend on the name itself and the workshop’s approach. The key point is that you are introduced to both pronunciation and meaning, so you have some context for the Korean characters you will carve.

Choosing a design, then making the mark

After learning your name, you choose from more than 30 seal designs. The options include traditional and modern looks, so you can lean toward a classic stamp or a style that feels more personal. This is the point where the package choice matters.

The natural stone option has no artwork on the sides, leaving you to decorate it yourself. The artist-designed stone includes artwork on the sides and costs more. If you want the act of making and decorating to be part of the experience, natural stone may suit you. If you prefer a more finished look, the artist-designed version is worth considering.

Next, you practice writing your Korean name before engraving. This gives you a chance to become familiar with the characters and prepare for the hands-on part. Then, with guidance from a professional artisan, you engrave your name into the seal.

The carving is the most distinctive part of the visit, but it also calls for care and attention. One account of the workshop describes the instructors helping participants stay safe during the hands-on work. If you are making the seal with a child, keep in mind that the activity involves engraving, even though the workshop is family-friendly.

A cultural souvenir with a practical use

Dojang have traditionally served as personal seals in Korea, used in place of signatures and to authenticate important documents. Learning that background gives the finished object a purpose beyond decoration. You are making a personal mark in a form that has been part of Korean life for centuries.

At the end, you take home your personalized seal, a traditional seal pouch, a Korean name card, and an ink pad. That set makes the activity feel more complete than a craft class where the finished piece is the only takeaway. The name card also gives you a reminder of the Korean name you learned.

If you are looking for a small, meaningful souvenir, this has a clear advantage over a generic gift shop purchase: you choose the design and make the seal yourself. It can also be a good fit if you enjoy hands-on activities or want a cultural experience that does not require prior language skills.

How the price compares with what you take home

The activity is advertised from about $37.35, while the package details list natural stone from $33.95 and artist-designed stone from $49.05. Prices can vary, so check the option and final amount shown when you book.

The less expensive natural stone package is a sensible choice if you want to focus on carving and are happy to decorate the stone yourself. The artist-designed option costs more but includes artwork on the sides, which gives you a more finished-looking piece. The better value depends on what matters to you: having more room to make the seal your own, or choosing a design with additional artwork already included.

The price covers more than a stone blank. You receive instruction, help from an artisan, and a pouch, name card, and ink pad to use with the finished seal. If you enjoy making things and want a souvenir connected to Korean culture, that bundle is a reasonable use of an activity budget. If you mainly want a quick keepsake and do not care about learning or making it yourself, a ready-made souvenir may be cheaper.

The available information does not give a workshop duration or group size. If you are planning a tightly packed day in Seoul, check those details with the operator before booking rather than assuming the activity will fit into a short gap.

Finding the B1 entrance in Haebangchon

The venue is in the Design DADA Building at 10, Sinheung-ro 3ga-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The meeting-point field also gives 43-11, so use the full address and the entrance directions to guide you. The important detail is that the workshop entrance is at B1, beneath a blue-and-white awning. You do not need to go upstairs.

From Noksapyeong Station on Line 6, leave through Exit 2 and walk straight. At a fork, take the left path. A pottery shop with large traditional jars outside is a useful landmark; continue toward Bonny’s Pizza Pub, turn left there, walk a short distance, then take the first alley on your left. Look for the striped awning and enter underneath it.

If you are coming by bus, get off at Yongam Senior Center Entrance, also identified as 용암경로당입구. Walk along the road between GS25 and Bonny’s Pizza Pub, continue straight, then take the first alley on your left. The same blue-and-white awning marks the entrance.

The location is in Haebangchon, a neighborhood many international visitors include in their Seoul plans. The workshop can be paired with other activities at the same venue, including a Korean lucky charm workshop, a Korean class, a Korean Playground, or a seasonal Summer Hwachae Lab. Those are separate experiences, so check what is available and book the activities you want.

Free luggage storage is offered for one day of your choice on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. If you are carrying bags, confirm the details with the operator before your visit. For help, the activity provider can be contacted by WhatsApp or email.

Who will get the most from the workshop

This is a strong choice for you if you like craft activities, want a closer look at a Korean tradition, or prefer a souvenir with a story behind it. It is also a good option for families and first-time visitors who do not speak Korean, since no language experience is required.

The workshop has earned especially warm praise for its instruction and support. Sophia and the team are mentioned as friendly and helpful; in one case, they accommodated an earlier class and provided drinks during hot weather. That kind of flexibility may not be available every time, so do not plan your schedule around it, but it does suggest a hands-on setting where help is part of the experience.

You may want to skip it if you are not interested in making something yourself or have little room in your day for a workshop. The exact duration is not provided, so check before booking if timing is important. Also arrive on time: participants who are at least 10 minutes late are not eligible for a refund.

Should you book this Korean name seal workshop?

Book it if you want a personal souvenir and enjoy learning by doing. The best parts are the chance to understand the role of a dojang, the guidance while you engrave, and the complete set of items you take home. I would choose the natural stone if making and decorating the seal is the main appeal, and the artist-designed version if you want artwork on the sides.

Skip it if you want a very quick stop, are uncomfortable with hands-on engraving, or care more about sightseeing than making a keepsake. Before paying, confirm the package price, workshop timing, and meeting point details. With those checked, this is a thoughtful way to take home a small piece of Korean culture that you helped create.

FAQ

What is a dojang?

A dojang is a traditional Korean personal seal. It has been used for centuries to represent identity and authenticate important documents, often in place of a signature.

Do I need to know Korean to join?

No. The workshop is beginner-friendly, and no Korean language experience is required. You learn the pronunciation and meaning of your Korean name as part of the activity.

What do I take home?

You take home your personalized Korean name seal, a traditional seal pouch, a Korean name card, and an ink pad.

What is the difference between the stone options?

The natural stone option has no artwork on the sides, so you can decorate it yourself. The artist-designed stone includes artwork on the sides.

Where is the workshop entrance?

The venue is at the Design DADA Building, 10, Sinheung-ro 3ga-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Enter at B1 beneath the blue-and-white awning; you do not need to go upstairs.

How do I get there by metro?

Take Line 6 to Noksapyeong Station and leave through Exit 2. Follow the left path at the fork, continue toward Bonny’s Pizza Pub, turn left there, then take the first alley on your left. Look for the blue-and-white awning.

Is there an age limit?

There is no age limit, and the activity is family-friendly. Infants and children must be included in the passenger headcount when booking.

Can I cancel for a refund?

A full refund is available if you cancel at least 48 hours before the activity date, in destination local time. Late arrivals of 10 minutes or more and no-shows are not eligible for a refund.