Gyms & hobbies

How gym memberships work, what PT costs, and the sports and classes worth joining.

In short

A gym (헬스장 helseujang) works on monthly memberships, and longer plans are much cheaper per month: ~₩50,000 for 1 month vs ~₩120,000 for 3.
Bring indoor shoes. You have to change out of your outdoor shoes. Towels and gym clothes are often provided.
Personal training (PT) is popular but expensive (~₩50,000–100,000+ per session, sold in packages).
Other options: climbing, swimming, hiking clubs, yoga/pilates, martial arts, screen golf and hobby classes. Good for fitness and for making friends.

It's easy to stay active in Korea. There are gyms everywhere, sports are social, and lots of people meet through hobby classes. Here's how memberships work and what you can join.

Joining a gym

Membership, no pay-per-visit: monthly is normal, and 3/6/12-month plans bring the monthly rate down a lot. One month is ~₩50,000, three months ~₩120,000, and annual deals can be ~₩88,000+ total on promos. Keep an eye out for promotions.
Sign up in person at a branch (or through apps/booking platforms). You'll usually need a Korean phone number. Some chains let you pay with a foreign card through Naver Pay/Toss/WAUG.
Chains: budget/24-hour places like SpoAny, mid-range GOTO Fitness (register at one branch; multi-branch passes exist), plus Anytime Fitness (global) and big leports centers (pool/golf/classes). You register at a specific branch even if you can use others.
Lockers may cost a small monthly fee. Many gyms provide towels and workout clothes, so you might only need to bring indoor shoes.

What to expect inside: change into indoor shoes (mandatory). Shared shower/locker rooms are normal (being naked in the locker room is routine, see culture). Dumbbells often only go up to about 35–40 kg, and machines are sized for a smaller average build. Contracts can be hard to cancel early, so try a place with a shorter plan first.

Personal training (PT)

PT is common and the quality is high, but it costs a fair bit: roughly ₩50,000–100,000+ per hour, sold in packages of several sessions. Trainers help with form, programs and often diet. In areas with lots of foreigners (Itaewon, Hongdae, Gangnam) you can find English-speaking trainers. Ask before you buy a package.

Classes & group fitness

G.X. (group exercise) at big gyms: yoga, pilates, spinning, zumba, dance. Often included or a small extra.
Pilates & yoga studios are everywhere (pilates is very popular). Many sell class packs.
Women-only gyms/floors exist if you'd prefer that. Check before joining.

Sports & the outdoors

Hiking (등산): Korea is ~70% mountains. Hiking is free, social and very popular. There's Bukhansan, Gwanaksan and lots of other trails, and hiking clubs welcome foreigners even with little Korean. Go in autumn foliage season.
Climbing: bouldering/indoor climbing gyms are popping up in every city. Casual and easy for foreigners to join.
Swimming: public and private pools need a swim cap (often mandatory) and sometimes have set lane-swim times.
Martial arts: taekwondo, and temple-based Sunmudo (see templestay).
Screen golf & screen sports: hugely popular here. Indoor golf/baseball bays are cheap and fun with a group.
Team sports: expat leagues for football, ultimate frisbee, basketball, and running crews (Seoul/Busan). See making friends.

Hobbies & classes

Apart from sports, class-based hobbies are big in Korea and an easy way to meet people: pottery, cooking, K-pop dance, art, photography, board-game cafes, language exchanges, and one-day "원데이 클래스" experiences (book via Naver, Somoim, or Meetup). Community centers (주민센터/문화센터) also run cheap subsidized classes.

Common questions

How much is a gym?

Around ₩50,000/month, and much less per month on 3–12 month plans. PT is separate (~₩50,000–100,000+/session in packages).

What do I need to bring?

Indoor shoes for sure. Many gyms provide towels and workout clothes. Lockers may cost a small fee.

Can I join without much Korean?

Yes. Signing up is simple, and areas with lots of foreigners have English-speaking staff/trainers. Booking apps may need a Korean number.

Best way to meet people through exercise?

Hiking/climbing clubs, expat sports leagues and hobby classes (Somoim/Meetup). They're built around meeting people.

Sources: 2026 foreigner gym/fitness guides (10 Magazine, WAUG, Go! Go! Hanguk), chain info (SpoAny, GOTO Fitness, Anytime Fitness). Prices approximate and vary by branch/promotion.

Last verified: July 2026. Membership prices, contracts and branches change, so check at the gym. General information; consult a professional before starting a new exercise or diet program.

Looking for a gym or a club?

Ask others for recommendations in your area. Post in the community and tag it Living.

Ask the community →