Rolling Together: 2026 Kimbap Workshop
Date: October 7, 2026
UBC Asian Studies Korean Language and Culture Program
On October 7, 2026, the UBC Korean Language and Culture Program hosted an interactive and heartwarming Kimbap Workshop!
Held at the Asian Centre at UBC, the workshop offered a hands-on cultural experience centered around kimbap, a traditional Korean comfort food known for bringing people together. Students also received tteokbokki, introducing one of Korea’s most classic food pairings.
Connecting Beyond the Classroom
The event brought together 27 students from across KORN 301 and KORN 411 courses. While students from different class levels often have few opportunities to interact during the busy academic term, the workshop’s shared worktables naturally invited everyone to sit together and connect. What began as polite introductions quickly turned into vibrant conversations, warm laughter, and lively camaraderie as students put on their gloves and gathered around the food stations.
Making and Enjoying Kimbap Together
The workshop tables were thoughtfully set with classic ingredients: sesame-seasoned rice, yellow pickled radish (danmuji), seasoned carrots, cucumber, burdock (ueong), and fluffy egg omelets.
Under friendly guidance, students stepped through every stage of authentic kimbap-making:
- Placing a sheet of roasted seaweed (gim) and spreading the rice evenly over half of the seaweed, leaving the other half uncovered
- Adding the colorful ingredients across the center of the rice
- Applying just the right pressure to roll the seaweed and rice together to keep the kimbap tightly wrapped, without bursting
- Brushing each roll generously with sesame oil and carefully slicing it into neat, bite-sized pieces
Great Food, Good Laughs, and Lasting Bonds
Once the slicing was complete, the students sat together to enjoy their homemade rolls, sharing their creations and tasting each other’s dishes across the tables.
With participants from both KORN 301 and KORN 411 courses, the meal provided a natural setting for academic and personal exchange. Students asked about each other’s classes, discussing what coursework looks like across different proficiency levels and sharing insights into how they spend their class time. The conversations also expanded to shared interests in Korean cinema, literature, and everyday culture, allowing participants to build meaningful connections outside the regular classroom setting.
Special Thanks & Looking Forward
Thank you to all 27 students who came out, rolled kimbap, and brought great energy to the room! Special thanks as well to the professors and student organizers who helped set up the tables, prep all the ingredients, and run the session smoothly.
The Korean Language and Culture Program plans to host more hands-on cultural events like this in the future. We hope to see many of you at our next gathering!