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Painting peonies and tigers: Where to learn minhwa in Korea
Students paint during a minhwa class offered by the Korea Minhwa Association in Seoul's Insa-dong, Jan. 6. Korea Times photo by Kim Se-jeong
By Kim Se-jeong
“Dip your finest brush in color. Keep your brush vertical — this is very important. Lower it gently onto the paper. Don’t apply pressure. You’ll see tiny yellow dots appear,” a teacher told students learning Korean traditional folk painting, demonstrating how to add stamen and pistil to a peony painting during a class in Insa-dong, central Seoul, Jan. 6.
Known as minhwa, Korean folk painting thrived during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). The works, often created by anonymous artists, depict animals, trees, flowers and everyday objects, and were traditionally painted with the hope of warding off bad luck and ushering in good fortune.
An Mi-gyung, a minhwa instructor, demonstrates how to add stamen on a peony painting during her class in Seoul, Jan. 6. Korea Times photo by Kim Se-jeong
The class is run by the Korea Minhwa Association, an organization dedicated to promoting minhwa at home and abroad.
“There are many places where people can learn minhwa, but the classes offered by our association are the longest-running and among the most widely recognized in Korea,” said An Mi-gyung, the association’s vice president and a class instructor.
An said interest in minhwa has been growing steadily in recent years.
“We receive many phone inquiries about classes both in Korea and overseas. Schools often request one-day workshops, and when we organize exhibitions abroad, we are frequently asked to offer short classes there as well,” she said.
An’s weekly class currently has about 14 students on the day of the visit, five of whom were beginners.
Their first assignment was practicing making straight lines using a traditional brush. “Basics are very important,” An told the beginners. “It may feel boring, but you need to stay focused. Once you master the basics, you’ll have room to be creative.”
A student paints a bird during a Korean folk painting class in Seoul, Jan. 6. Korea Times photo by Kim Se-jeong
Behind the beginners sat students who had been studying minhwa for about six months. They were working on "hwahwedo" paintings featuring peony blossoms and branches. Nearby, more advanced students were painting "hwajodo," which depict birds and flowers.
“Students gradually get opportunities to try different types of minhwa paintings,” An said.
The association currently offers 10 minhwa classes at its headquarters in Insa-dong, long regarded as one of Seoul’s oldest neighborhoods for galleries and antique dealers.
“Insa-dong was likely the birthplace of minhwa,” An said, explaining the significance of the organization's location. “It was where court painters worked during the Joseon Dynasty. They probably lived nearby and people would have asked them to replicate what they painted at court or to create other works. Other artists would then copy the paintings by court painters.”
A beginner practices drawing lines during a minhwa class in Seoul, Jan. 6. Korea Times photo by Kim Se-jeong
An added that renewed attention to minhwa due to the Netflix animated film “KPop Demon Hunters” has begun to reshape the cultural landscape of Insa-dong.
“Traditional art supply shops in the area are making a comeback thanks to the rising popularity of minhwa,” she said, noting that art studios are also benefiting. “Studios that once taught other genres are now replacing them with minhwa classes.”
Choi Jung-a, a student in the class and restaurant owner in Insa-dong, said she has noticed increasing interest from foreign visitors as well.
“I have minhwa paintings displayed in my restaurant and many foreign diners ask where they can buy one or learn how to paint it themselves,” she said.
Where to learn minhwa
The Korea Minhwa Association is one of several places that offer minhwa classes. According to An, in addition to private studios, minhwa classes are more widely available at community centers these days. The Korea Times has compiled a list of private studios and museums where both foreigners and locals can try minhwa.
Alloc Seoul / Captured from Instagram
Alloc Seoul
Located in central Seoul, Alloc Seoul offers an opportunity to try minhwa painting while exploring one of the city’s historic districts. Instead of powdered pigments, classes at Alloc Seoul provide acrylic paints. One-day classes in English are available. More information can be found on their Instagram account @allocseoul.
Minhwa Gain
Minhwa Gain is run by artist Noh Seo-ah and offers one-day workshops as well as longer courses at her studio near Ewha Womans University in Seoul. Noh has won awards at the Minhwa Awards organized by the Korea Minhwa Association and her minhwa-inspired designs were featured on Korean traditional outfits worn by models at Milan Fashion Week in 2025. English classes are available. More information is available on Instagram @minhwa_gain.
Sunday Minhwa
Based in southern Seoul, Sunday Minhwa operates across multiple platforms. In addition to in-person classes, it runs a YouTube channel with more than 11,000 subscribers. Its videos guide viewers through basic techniques and painting methods for the art form. For inquiries about offline classes, visit @sunday_minhwa on Instagram.
Gahoe Minhwa Museum / Captured from bbkk.kr
Gahoe Minhwa Museum
The Gahoe Minhwa Museum is a private museum in central Seoul that offers traditional folk painting classes. One-day workshops give participants an opportunity to paint tigers, peonies, lotus flowers, dragons and mandarin ducks on paper, wood panels or fans.
The museum also offers intensive courses for those seeking in-depth training, but requires fluency in Korean. They are currently recruiting students, with plans to launch classes in March. More information is available at gahoemuseum.org.
Lucysson Atelier / Captured from Lucysson Atelier's blog
Lucysson Atelier
Lucysson Atelier, the only minhwa studio in Jeju, is popular among tourists. It offers one-day classes in which participants can paint on wood, paper and fans. A two-and-a-half-hour class is available in English. More information is available on Instagram @lucysson_gallery_jeju.
The School of Minhwa
The School of Minhwa is one of the largest online platforms for learning about the folk art, offering courses ranging from one-day classes to advanced programs. Students who complete the advanced course are eligible to apply for a minhwa artist certificate. All courses are conducted in Korean. More information is available at tsom.kr.