Cooking Japchae together: A cultural exchange at Sejong Hakdang, KCCI India
Students share vegetables from home, cook together, and experience Korean culture in a warm and simple way.
On Feb. 25, 2026, students at Sejong Hakdang, KCCI India participated in a small cultural activity that turned into a very memorable experience for everyone. Instead of having a regular class, we had the chance to learn about Korean culture in a much more practical way — by cooking together.
For this activity, students were asked to bring vegetables from home that could be used to prepare japchae, a popular Korean dish made with glass noodles and different vegetables. Everyone brought something according to their choice. Some brought carrots, some brought onions, and others brought spinach or other vegetables. Because of this, it felt like everyone had contributed something to the final dish.
While preparing the ingredients, the classroom slowly became lively. Some students were busy washing and cutting vegetables, while others arranged the ingredients on the table. A few students were simply watching carefully because it was their first time seeing how Japchae is prepared. Even though the task was simple, everyone seemed excited to be part of it.
Most of the students also came wearing kurti, which added a nice Indian cultural touch to the activity. It created a very comfortable and friendly atmosphere. One moment that made everyone smile was seeing our teacher also wearing a kurti with Indian jewellery. The jewellery had been gifted by the students earlier, so it felt meaningful to see her wearing it that day. It showed that cultural exchange is not only about learning but also about appreciation.
While cooking, our teacher explained the basic steps of preparing Japchae and also shared small details about Korean food culture. Students listened carefully and sometimes asked questions while helping with the cooking process. Little by little, the ingredients came together and the dish started to look complete.
By the time the Japchae was ready, the classroom was filled with its delicious smell. Everyone gathered together to taste the dish that we had prepared as a team. It felt satisfying because every student had helped in some way.
Although it was a simple classroom activity, it created a warm moment for all of us. Cooking together made the cultural exchange feel natural, enjoyable, and memorable for everyone involved
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