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Imsil Cheese Village: Where Korea’s Cheese Story Beg작성일 | 2026-09-18

Imsil Cheese Village: Where Korea’s Cheese Story Began

Address & Contact

Address: 4 Cheese maeul 1-gil, Imsil-eup, Imsil-gun, Jeonbuk-do, Republic of Korea
Phone: +82-63-643-3700
Website: imsilcheesemaeul.kr

Operating Hours:
Village shop & cheese cafe: 09:00–18:00, year-round
Experience center: Wednesday–Sunday, 09:00–18:00
Closed Monday–Tuesday for experience programs

Admission:
Free
Experience fees vary by program.

Advance reservations are required for experience programs.

Village Introduction

Imsil Cheese Village is closely connected to the beginnings of Korea’s cheese industry. Belgian-born priest Father Ji Jeong-hwan arrived in Imsil in the 1960s and introduced dairy farming as a way to support local farming communities. After learning cheese-making techniques abroad, he worked with local residents to establish cheese production in Imsil in 1967.

What began as a new source of income for local farmers eventually grew into one of Imsil’s best-known regional industries. Today, the village continues this story through hands-on programs centered on cheese, dairy products, farming, and rural life.

Rather than simply tasting Imsil cheese, visitors can learn how it is made, prepare food themselves, and experience the agricultural setting that gave rise to one of Korea’s most recognizable regional specialties.

Experience Information: Cheese & Dairy Experiences

Imsil Cheese Village offers a range of hands-on programs centered on dairy products and local food. From stretching fresh mozzarella to preparing pizza, the experiences allow visitors to follow cheese from ingredient to finished dish.

Mozzarella Cheese Making

One of the village’s signature programs introduces visitors to the process of making fresh mozzarella cheese.

Participants soften, stretch, and shape the cheese before packaging what they have made to take home.

Duration: Approx. 60 minutes
Price: KRW 15,000 per person
Participants: Groups of 20–150
Reservation: Advance booking required
Closed: Mondays and Tuesdays

Imsil Cheese Rice Pizza Making

Visitors can also use Imsil cheese to prepare their own pizza, combining a cooking activity with one of the region’s best-known ingredients.

The village specifically offers an Imsil cheese rice pizza-making program, giving visitors another way to enjoy the local specialty beyond cheese making itself.

Yogurt Making

The yogurt-making program introduces another side of Imsil’s dairy culture. Visitors can learn about the preparation of yogurt while experiencing how fresh milk can be transformed into different dairy products.

Rural Experiences Beyond Cheese

The village experience extends beyond the kitchen. Visitors can also take part in activities connected to farming and rural life.

Programs include:

• Goat feeding

• Goat-milk soap making

• Eco-bag decorating

• Mug decorating

• Tractor rides

These activities make it possible to experience Imsil Cheese Village as more than a food destination, particularly for families and groups looking for a hands-on countryside visit.

Local Food: A Taste of Imsil Cheese

Cheese remains at the heart of Imsil’s local food identity. Much of Imsil cheese is produced using milk from dairy farms in the surrounding community and is known for its mild flavor and chewy texture.

Visitors can try Imsil cheese in several forms, from fresh and string cheese to grilled cheese and cheese-topped dishes. Pizza is another familiar way to enjoy the region’s signature ingredient, especially after taking part in one of the village’s cheese-making programs.

Rather than being limited to a single product, Imsil’s cheese culture has developed into a wider range of foods and experiences that reflect the region’s long relationship with dairy farming.