Words can’t describe how much this experience and trip changed my life. Korea has always been on my bucket list of countries to visit, so when this opportunity came to me, I decided to go for it. Don’t get me wrong, I was very nervous and skeptical at first because I wouldn’t know anyone and it was my first international trip ever. It was also my first time traveling alone to a country that I didn’t know the language. I was skeptical because I didn’t know anyone that had used GoodMate travel before, but I honestly just trusted the fact that they had prior videos of previous trips and trusted the fact that they were followed by other Instagram Korean influencers that I also followed. I honestly went into this trip with no expectations and let me tell you, GoodMate Travel delivered and went above and beyond. Jae the founder of GoodMate Travel was beyond amazing. He coordinated wonderful activities and the accommodations were beyond wonderful. As soon as I met him I knew he was such a genuine and nice person just by the way he expressed himself. You could feel the passion he had to share the beauty of his country with others. His energy just radiates and that alone helped make my trip 1000 times better. I wanted to know Korea through the eyes of a local and Jae delivered. We saw such amazing places and met amazingly people that joined us along the tour for different activities. Jae did just an amazing job at helping us get out of our comfort zone by helping us order simple items in Korean, and as someone that is currently learning the language, this was something that I truly appreciated because it helped me practice. I love that Jae was passionate about travel and truly wanted to give us a local experience. He made sure to help us navigate the city well and truly took the time to get to know everyone. We traveled like locals, ate such amazing food from local spots. I met such wonderful people on this trip, I was even confident to go out at night with others from the group and see the night life and meet locals at the bars and speak to them without being embarrassed of the little Korean that I know. At no point did I ever feel unsafe, of course you should always be aware of your surroundings, but overall Korea is a relatively safe country to travel, which is important as a solo female traveler. Overall, I was extremely sad when the trip ended. I cried happy tears because I truly felt so close to my travel mates and Jae. They felt like family to me, which just shows how close and comfortable we all felt during this trip. I hope to one day return and met up again with Jae and my travel mates. I 1000 % recommend GoodMate Travel to anyone that is looking to start solo traveling or just traveling in general. You will have such an amazing experience that only Jae and his team can provide. Please please book with GoodMate Travel, no amount of words can express how amazing this experience was and how wonderfully planned everything was. It’s definitely worth your money.

Jae is absolutely an amazing person and teacher. He makes you feel comfortable and at ease, in ways that you don’t feel bad if you make a mistake. Jae knows you are just beginning and is extremely patient. He does not give up on you and will continually help you with your pronunciation until you get it right! My favorite line he says “that’s it” once he says that I can breathe again lol! The atmosphere in the classes are great because of Jae, his humor is the best and his joy is simply contagious. Jae always encourages us to get out of our comfort zone and is able to push us in a gentle and fun way to do better. He wants everyone to succeed! I am truly amazed in just a few months at the progress I have made in learning Korean because of Jae and his classes. In addition to all the great things Jae’s classes has to offer simultaneously you are able to build great friendships with your fellow classmates all around the world and (probably) would have never met if it were not for these classes! I am beyond grateful for Jae and I encourage anyone wanting to learn Korean to look no further! You won’t find anyone better than him!

Jay is a born teacher! He knows exactly what to teach, how to teach it and always make us feel super safe with the learning. Plus, he makes every class so much fun and engaging! The time just flies by and we learn so much! Every class I’ve taken with him has built upon the last and he always reviews so it helps so much! He takes the time to support everyone’s pronunciation during each class and is beyond supportive and patient. As an educator myself and an administrator who has observed many teachers, Jay has all the right ingredients in his classes and everyone is welcome and he leaves no one behind! He provides time in small groups where not only we practice but get to know each other, then Jay stops by to give more attention and practice in those small groups! Joining my first class with Jay in March of 2021 was the best decision ever in my journey to learning Korean. I highly recommend and encourage you to take his classes, you will not be disappointed! Jay is an excellent teacher and his teaching style is in my opinion the best out there!

A previous student of Jay's recommended I take his course and I am so glad I did! He is an excellent instructor, encouraging learning and growth while creating an environment that is fun and nurturing. Jay's course provides an opportunity to intentionally build conversational skills in such a friendly way that I looked forward to each class with enthusiasm (much more so than my university classes :P ) and I could see the change in my skill in only four short weeks. I am grateful for the foundation that Jay has given me and solidifying my desire to continue improving my speaking skills. Not only is he attentive to each of his students, he also creates opportunities for connection among classmates. I am so grateful I was able to develop new friendships with folks across the country and around the world! If you've read thus far and you're still on the fence about taking Jay's course, then to you I say: DO IT! :) Cheering for you as you take your seat in Jay's class! And thank you Jay! I am looking forward to one day meeting you in Korea :)

I have had the pleasure of experiencing Jae's hospitality first hand! My daughter, a few of her fellow teachers and myself enjoyed his night food market tour at Gwangjang Market. We had an amazing time and I cannot wait to enjoy this event again when I visit Seoul this Fall. The food was plentiful (see the attached photos of SOME of the food we enjoyed) and Jae made the event extra exciting by sharing Korean culture and knowledge with us. I promise you won't be disappointed! Jae is professional, friendly and will make you feel like an old friend or better yet, FAMILY! We still keep in touch! Another perk of attending Jae's food tour, you will by pass the long line waiting to enter the market! I also highly recommend that you take Jae's trip planning event through his AirBnB page. Jae will help you plan a trip of a lifetime whether you're visiting Seoul or any other beautiful area of South Korea! Jae will answer any questions you may have to put your mind at ease and make your trip memorable!

Tonight my last lesson Easy korean Conversation. Here I learned, among other things, how to greet, that I like/love chicken, but most importantly, how to order/ask for Soju. Jae's way of teaching is clear, understandable, not monotonous, explains why and how, by using examples, very useful for me because english is not my native language. The lessons where not boring, in a fun way you get to know the language and facts about Korea. Not to mention the jokes or Jae's singing skills when he sees the word tomorrow. What I really liked, is that you practice/talk to each other in a small group and Jae then gives any additional suggestions/improvements. Despite the time, 1 am zombie from Amsterdam, I was motivated and eager to learn. I really enjoyed, especially laughed, with the group, especially when I said Dutch words. Thank you for the new experience!

I met Jae on Instagram... I followed his work and dedication to making his language and culture known and that's why I decided that Jae would be the right person to teach me and I was not wrong.. it was the best decision ever. Even with 9 hours of time difference, in addition to the kilometers between us, I could feel Jae's dedication and patience, his friendliness and constant smile towards the group. I've had a few online experiences with Jae and none of them disappoint!! You will learn and have fun! Its definitely a win-win, trust me! Plus, I now can count on a network of friends all over the world thanks to him. Thank you for making learning easy.. the world needs more people like you!! I hope to be able to personally participate in one of your tours, soon! Love from Portugal!!

Traveling around Korea with Jay was amazing. I sincerely recommend it to everyone.I can't express how much this means to me. It was my first international trip, and the first time I flew alone outside of Europe. Korea is a beautiful and safe country and with GoodMate travel You will know Korea like a local. You will visit places without tourists, eat delicious food at local restaurants and you will meet people from all over the world who will become your friends. Jay is the most patient and encouraging person, a great tour guide who shares his passion for traveling and meeting people. I really recommend traveling with GoodMate travel, I'm already planning my next trip with them.

I’m so glad I found Jae’s classes! Jae is a great teacher - he’s patient and incredibly helpful. He makes sure that you really understand the concept and he takes time to explain it thoroughly. His classes are focused on speaking out loud, which is nerve-wracking at first if you’re like me and hate talking in class. However, it’s the most beneficial way to learn and Jae will guide you every step of the way. Even though learning a new language is hard, Jae makes it enjoyable and you genuinely look forward to the next class. As a bonus, it was so fun to connect with people from all around the world! If you have the chance to take his course, I’d definitely recommend it.

We never went to Korea before and goodmatetravel was a great help from begining to end. We learned a lot about history and culture and tried al kinds of new foods. On the bus we learned a bit of korean that we could use in the shops. For the free time we had they helped us with recomandations and they where always jest a phonecall away to help. We lost our luggage traveling there and we called Jae for help. He took care of the problem and after a day we had our luggage delivered in the hotel we stayed. During this trip we made lots off friends from all over the world. This was our best trip ever. We did a lot of things but we did not feel in a rush at all.

For the first time in my life I joined a group trip. This was the best thing that happened to me in a really long time. This trip was amazing! We had so much fun together, went to beautiful places and had the most delicious food. I already signed up for the next trip in spring 2024! If you want to experience South Korea, this is the trip for you! I cannot recommend Goodmate travel enough. I’m so happy to be traveling with them soon again! Will I see you in Seoul? Oh and by the way; Jae is such a great and caring tour guide! I cannot wait to meet Chris next year as well. You will fall in love with Korea on the first day!

4.5 Jae was very insightful and helpful. He is easy to connect to and made the classes seem structured and attentive. It is very important to be there for class because you may miss some of the notes. [I still missed some of the notes being there as it can be fast paced at times.] If you prioritize romanization over Hangul, it may be pertinent that you be there for class to best understand how to pronounce and learn the words. I can't wait to join the 3rd installment so that I may continue to learn under his guidance. I honestly love the class and still benefit from the relationships I've encountered through/from it.

Jae is an excellent teacher. His approach to teaching is practical and easy while challenging at the same time. He is extremely patient and kind, I never feel rushed or judged when I make mistake. He makes us all feel comfortable in class, which makes it easy for us to learn. The learning material is good and easy to follow. Jae also makes sure we understand everything before moving on to the next topic. His classes are fun and interactive and full of people from around the globe, and thanks to Jae, I had met amazing people that now I can call friends including him Thank you for your time and dedication Jae

I started taking classes with Jae a few months back and I have to say that he has been my favorite Korean teacher so far, I really feel like I've learned a lot in the short time we spent together. He's super understanding and always makes sure you understand the topic of that day in class. I also appreciate his usage of the breakout rooms because they really help me get to know the other students as well as allows me to bounce ideas and questions from one student to another. It's really helpful. If you're trying to learn Korean definitely check out jfromkorea. Find him on Instagram and TikTok. ^.^

I was nervous and excited to start with my easy Korean conversation class with Jfromkorea! As a first time Korean language student, I didn’t know what to expect. Jae’s easy going & fun personality put me at ease & I felt comfortable. He seems like a natural teacher as you see his enjoyment watching us interact & understand the lesson. I especially appreciated his method of teaching “on a gradient” – that is- teaching simple concepts and slowly adding to these as we were able- with much repetition & encouragement to say it out loud! Thank you Jae!! Looking forward to my next class with you! Susan

Learning from Jay has been amazing. I have taken three classes with Jay and loved all the sessions. Jay really make the classes fun and very easy to understand. He really took care of each students very well too making sure no one gets left behind. Not just learning Korean, you’ll learn facts and a lot of amazing Korean cultures from Jay in the classes too. You gained many wonderful friends from around the world from the classes too. Hoping one day I can visit Korea and join Jay’s tour in exploring Korea. Because seeing how fun the classes are i’m sure it’ll be fun joining his tour as well.

Being a solo traveler, I didn't know what I was getting myself into with the Real Korea Trip, but I had a spontaneous moment and booked the trip for the spring. I'm so glad I did. I highly recommend any trip or excursion by Goodmate Travel!! Jae and the travel guides were so friendly and welcoming for everyone on the tour. They gave us tons of tips for where to go and what to do in every location. Also, the food was absolutely amazing wherever we went! P.s. if you're worried about not knowing anyone, I made friends who I've already traveled with once since the trip ended! Book the trip!!

Such a fun experience! I joined the food tour Gwangjang Market with a great group of friendly solo travellers and couples and an engaging, funny and knowledgeable guide. All the food was included in the price, which I really appreciate and our guide knew all the stallholders so we didn't have to wait long. There was a really wide selection of things to try (some that were quite... erm... adventurous but plenty of "safe" ones too) including stuff that I'd never have known to try if I were on my own. The tour was a bit pricey, but I'd say it was definitely worth the money.

Goodmate Travel and their tours are an out of this world experience! If you are looking to merge with the South Korean real flavour, have fun and feel like a local.. do not think twice. I was the luckiest in the world to join Jae and a small group of like-minded souls to build together great experiences and memories while discovering a tons of things this country has to offer. The attention to detail, the care, the organization and the effort behind the scenes ensures you really make the most during the time you are there.... 그냥 해!

An amazing 8 days experience wandering around South Korea in April 2023. Jae and Chris put so much passion and knowledge in what they do, always with a big smile. In each city we also had very professional tour guides who let us experience "local". I got the chance to see beautiful places, eat exquisite food, put my cooking skills into practice and learn about the culture and history. I would suggest to anybody a Goodmate travel tour, I made new friends and realized a dream that I kept within for a long time :)

You’ll have the most amazing trip ever. Jae is super kind and caring and somehow you’ll feel like you learned and did all you could in Korea and Korean culture in really a short amount of time and not feel rushed. I felt like everything was great and Jae was super fun! You could tell he took a lot of time to develop this trip and make sure every person had a great trip. Couldn’t recommend it enough. I could go on a lot about Jae and this trip but just do yourself a favor and do it. Worth every second.

I know the perfect 5-star score seems questionable but honestly, Goodmate Travel deserves it. This company is the ideal choice for exploring South Korea. Goodmate Travel has prepared a high quality, well-rounded, and compact tour, while also being foreigner-friendly and within a decent budget. All of the guides are carefully selected and you truly make great connections during the trip. I travelled alone and on a modest budget, and got so much out of the package tour. I truly recommend it.

I'm so lucky to find Jay's online classes. Despite the time difference, I continue to take classes because its fun and I feel more excited and motivated to learn Korean. I like that Jay focus on speaking loud and repeating phrases. Thank's to this, I can finely use what I learned in the real life situations without looking in my notes. And an extra bonus is meeting wonderful people from all corners of the world. I hope that some of them I will meet on the Jay's trip in Seoul.

I took my first class with Jae in October of 2020 and he never disappoints. He makes class comfortable and it’s like we’re a little family learning Korean together. If it wasn’t for Jae, I would not have continued my journey learning Korean and I can’t see myself having another teacher. He is very patient, encouraging, and explains everything very well. I’m thankful he teaches how I learn. I’m excited to start a new class with him soon.

I enjoyed his lessons so much! He made the learning experience fun and, above all, safe to try and make mistakes without criticism. Instead he cheered you on and is always encouraging. After each lesson I was excited for the next one. I appreciated the attention he gave each student without leaving anyone out and the enthusiasm he emanated. As a bonus, I met wonderful people from all over the world. Thank you Jae!

AMAZING !!! I was waiting for this food tour for a year and it did not disappoint ! First the food we tried was amazing, it makes you try different things you might not eat or be too scared to eat on your own otherwise. Also, Jacob was a great guide, since he made the whole group feel connected and we had time to share some experience together ! It's everything you expect from a human adventure and more!

I joined the GoodMate Hoonie tour back in October. It was one of the best trips I had. The locations were carefully planned, the accomodation was very comfortable, had authentic Korean food at great local resturants, great group size and fun activities such as cooking class, yacht tour, Hanbok experience plus free time to explore. It felt like I was traveling with friends! I highly recommend it!

Jae is such a lovely genuine person. His teaching style is very fun and you learn so much from him. I am so glad that I was able to attend a class with him and hopefully will be able to more. He has brought people together from over the world to learn this amazing language. Thank you Jae and it was a pleasure to meet you and your amazing abilities to make us learn and laugh!! ❤️

I think of myself as an adventurous guy. I’ve eaten all different kinds of things from all over (lived in China, family in Vietnam, spend a lot of time trying things from different cultures in Toronto). Had a lot of things on this tour I’d never tried before. I LOVE walnut cakes, and the live squid was a super fun an interesting experience! Unforgettable. Thanks so much!

This food tour was the highlight of my trip to Seoul! As a solo traveller and first time to Seoul, this food tour allowed me to experience food, drinks, and games I wouldn't have otherwise had a chance to eat/drink/play. The tour gave me the confidence to go back the next day, explore the market, and buy food. Jacob was an enthusiastic and accommodating host.

I only took one class with Jae but it was enough to see the care and effort that he puts into each of his sessions. I loved each one of them and the best part about his classes are the people that we meet. It truly is global and love that all of us are bound by a common interest. I hope more people discover his classes. It really is worth the time!

Jae is a fantastic teacher! The interactions between him and the other classmates are always a good time. He is beyond friendly and patient, easy to talk to and always has the time to answer questions. I have enjoyed it so much and the experience is wonderful. I highly recommend him for anyone whose starting or more advance to try his class out.

I was so interested to experience the food culture at Gwangjang Market and was so happy to find a tour with Goodmate Travel. My group was accompanied by Jacob (Jin) and he was amazing! He was very kind and super knowledgeable on the food and which sections to go to. I left so full and happy with my experience and would book them again!! ^-^

Awesome tour around the food market sampling delicious food and having fun. Our guide was knowledgeable and shared many stories about Korean cuisine and culture, especially at the end where we did some drinking games and sampled "live" octopus! Really great value for money and was one of my favorite activities while in Korea.

Jae’s classes are fun and challenging. I have learned tremendously and gained much confidence in speaking Korean all thanks to Jae! Jae is delightful, warm, funny & encouraging, with a beautiful gift for teaching and bringing people from all around the world together. 10 out of 10 would recommend Jae’s classes and also Jae

Jae 씨 is easygoing, friendly, and humble. His teaching is easy to follow. Because he loves interacting with people, he is more engaging and keeps his students smiling. You will leave with much more than when you started. I cannot wait to take another class with his laid-back personality and/or meet him in South Korea.

We thoroughly enjoyed the tour with HaeJin. She is fun, took fabulous care of us and importantly showed us and let us taste a variety of delicious food. And nit ti forget, she introduced us to the fascinating world of Korean drinking games. Highly recommend and will probably join again when I’m back in Seoul.

An unforgettable experience for me and my husband! Chris and Jae are so kind and knowledgeable. Each day was filled with memorable activities. Everything was well organized and they were always available to help us with whatever we needed. I can't wait to do another trip with them.

This was an amazing trip, I wemt with my mom and dad. We had so much fun with all the planned activities and people we got to know on this trip! I recommend this trip to everyone if its your first time or not traveling to Korea.

Wonderful experience, meeting so kind people, eating so much food flavours, see and feel so many parts of Korean heritage or present time… thanks ! I left Korea to get back there better! …

Очень хороший тур по рынку, один из лучших (сравнивая несколько стран).

Easy Pizzy class... gooood teacher!!!!