Community Guide

Master Rim's Taekwondo

Master Rim's Taekwondo, with its vast community network spanning four locations including Ajax and Whitby

Comma

When you want to catch your breath from the busy city life, head over to 'Comma' on Queen West. Just like its namesake punctuation mark (,), this modern Korean cocktail bar is thoughtfully designed to be a beautiful resting spot in your day. Under soft lighting, the sophisticated interior is filled with the cheerful clinking of glasses and the warm hum of friendly conversations.

Kyungmin Kate Lee

For artist Kyungmin Kate Lee, photography has always been a vital window to communicate with the world and a medium for recording everyday emotions that words fail to capture.

Sori Forest Hangeul

If you are looking for customized bilingual Hangul education for children from 3 years old to kindergarten (JK/SK), be sure to pay attention to this place. It is led by an early childhood education expert (ECE Diploma) who boasts 12 years of teaching experience in Korea and 10 years in Canada. Perhaps due to her 8 years of experience exclusively teaching Kumon Hangul, the classroom is filled with the cheerful sounds of children singing children's songs as they absorb the sounds and principles of Hangul like sponges. Thanks to theme-based learning grounded in the Nuri curriculum (the Korean national preschool curriculum), delightful playtime unfolds that stimulates all five of the children's senses.

Sherry Park

Sherry Park's studio, nestled in this very place, makes it instantly clear why her works are so peaceful yet brimming with vitality.

Pottery by Unha

You also cannot miss the classes at 'Pottery by Unha,' where you can deeply connect with clay while learning traditional Korean ceramic surface decoration techniques. Artist Unha Hill passes down traditional and highly expressive techniques such as Buncheong (grayish-blue slip-coated stoneware) and Sanggam (inlay). The sensation of touching moist clay spinning on the pottery wheel, and the deep immersion of delicately carving the surface with a sculpting tool and stamping intricate floral patterns, provide a sensory joy that is hard to experience elsewhere.

LIGHTUPK

Just a one-minute walk from the Woodbine TTC subway station, this East Toronto gem boasts an impressive scale! Stepping inside, you'll be visually overwhelmed by the countless albums and posters covering the walls, making you feel as if you've walked right into a massive K-Pop festival. Do you know the best part about this place? Their sales are directly reflected on major Korean music charts, meaning you can personally help boost your favorite artist's global rankings!

J Kim Therapy

Entering Jinny’s office on Pape Ave, you feel a solid sense of stability, as if the noise of the chaotic world has been shut out. Grounded in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), she integrates mindfulness and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to provide customized sessions perfectly tailored for each individual.

Zadie Xa

Stepping into an exhibition by Zadie Xa (Korean name Cha Yu-mi), visitors cease to be passive observers viewing art merely with their eyes.

Jinwoo Park

Oxford Soju Club, the first novel by Montreal-born Korean-Canadian author Jinwoo Park, is garnering significant attention.

Simon Kim

Based in Richmond Hill, Ontario, visual artist Simon Kim (Kil Soo Kim) might at first glance appear to speak a familiar painterly language.

Sarah & Tom

This is a true classic and a longstanding landmark representing Toronto's Koreatown! They recently expanded and relocated to an even larger, shinier new storefront on Bloor Street. Beyond the walls packed wall-to-wall with albums, the distinct scent of new stationery tickles your nose, while shelves overflowing with fluffy, adorable Korean character plushies make it impossible to look away. Thanks to the perfect harmony of cute knick-knacks and K-Pop merch, it's a magical space where walking out empty-handed is nearly impossible.

Wonder Pens

Tucked away on Clinton Street, Wonder Pens is a family-run haven for fountain pen enthusiasts. As soon as you open the door, the subtle, vintage scent of wood and ink instantly calms the mind. Browsing through everything from vibrantly colored bottled inks to premium imported bleed-proof notebooks makes you want to hold a pen and write letters all day long.

Jiin Kim

This is the story of author Jiin Kim.

North York Taekwondo

Moving to the bustling center of Yonge Street, you will find North York Taekwondo. This dojang is already well-known in the area for the powerful energy radiating from its world-class instructors and its bright, upbeat adult classes. The passion of the instructors, who push students to their absolute limits without losing the lively atmosphere, is highly praised. Anyone from 4-year-old kids to adults can join, and they also run an excellent summer camp for the upcoming school break.

John Choi

What gives this book a distinctly different depth from other coming-of-age novels is author John Choi’s unique background.

Sodamhwa

If you are looking for a gift to convey your heart to someone special, 'Sodamhwa' is the perfect answer! When I first saw their kkot-jeungpyeon (flower-patterned fermented rice cakes) blooming beautifully like real blossoms and their adorable watermelon-shaped seolgi (steamed rice cakes), I was so mesmerized by their visual beauty that they almost felt too pretty to eat. Their crispy, sweet oranda (puffed wheat snack) and dense, chewy yakgwa pair harmoniously with tea or coffee. You can conveniently order these flower-like, lovingly made desserts via their Kakao Channel.

Kidztales Korean Language School

Located in Richmond Hill, this isn't just a simple language school! When you first open the doors and step inside, you are welcomed into a cozy and warm space under bright, cheerful lighting, meticulously designed by language development and early childhood education experts. Co-operated by a clinic specializing in speech therapy and occupational therapy (@kidztalesclinic), it fosters children's communication and literacy skills in a scientific and structured way. The small-group Hangul fairy tale and story gym classes help children grow up healthily and stress-free in a bilingual environment.

Christina Park

Author Christina Park has a truly unique and impressive background.

Color Atelier

The final spot on our list is Color Atelier, a studio that adds a touch of scientific precision to the process. Rather than stopping at a visual draping analysis, they combine it with a colorimeter device that precisely measures the lightness, redness, and yellowness of your skin tone in numerical values, ensuring an objective diagnosis. The studio is operated by an expert who has completed programs at Jung Saem Mool Art & Academy in Korea, alongside experience in the Vancouver and Toronto beauty industries.

Ins Choi

Ins Choi (Choi In-seop) is a Korean-Canadian actor, playwright, and theater director who was born in Seoul, immigrated to Toronto, Canada, and grew up in Scarborough.

Luna Bakery

True to its name, 'Luna' captures the beautiful changes of the four seasons in its traditional confections and rice cakes. The fluffy texture and nutty aroma unique to freshly steamed rice cakes will surely stop you in your tracks. Thanks to their philosophy of strictly using fresh seasonal ingredients, it is always a joy to discover new flavors each season. Providing excellent authentic desserts to both wholesale and retail customers, keep them in mind for your upcoming parties or holiday events.

Art Therapy with Sally

Raised by parents who immigrated to Toronto in the 90s, Sally overcame the loneliness of being a minority immigrant through art. Just like her favorite comfort food—Korean ramen with its familiar, spicy aroma—she exudes the comforting and approachable charm of a friendly neighborhood older sister (dongne unni). She offers thoughtful virtual therapy sessions tailored for BIPOC clients.

YDC Gaon Hangul School

This is the newly opened Gaon Hangul School located near Finch Station in North York. Group and 1:1 private lessons are actively conducted in newly renovated, clean, and modern classrooms. Going beyond simply learning the language, it is a place where students can explore the deep charm of Korean culture. It is highly recommended not only for second-generation diaspora children navigating their identity but also for children from multicultural families curious about K-culture.