Community Guide

Kyo Lee

Published in 2025, Kyo Lee’s debut poetry collection i cut my tongue on a broken country is highly sensory right from its title.

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.

Do you crave the thrill of taking in the deep scent of paper and physically turning the pages of a book? Open the doors to Duranno Bookstore, located in Markham just north of Toronto, and the blend of fresh ink and heavy paper will instantly give you the comforting feeling of stepping into a friendly neighborhood bookstore back in Korea. While they primarily carry Christian literature, they also stock books on parenting, finance, business, and health, and will gladly order any general books you are looking for. In particular, their bilingual English-Korean books—perfect for parents and English-speaking children to read together—serve as wonderful cultural bridges tailored perfectly for our diaspora families.

200HOUSE Studio

This studio is famous for its relaxed photo sessions tailored to the child's condition. They take special care to ensure that even shy children or those who need time to adjust to the shooting environment can feel comfortable, beautifully capturing their natural expressions. It has an exceptionally high satisfaction rate among parents looking for family and first birthday portraits.

Ann Y. K. Choi

Author Ann Y.

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.

Jieun June Kim

Upon the surfaces of this colorful city, Korean-Canadian visual artist Jieun June Kim is tracing a uniquely radiant and warm trajectory.

Ellee SY Lee

A time to pause and rest while facing the unseen world of the mind—painter Ellee SY Lee harmoniously blends the subtle energy of the East with the vibrant colors of the West to paint a paradise within the heart.

Oori Noa

Founded by co-owners and spouses Hanna and Johnny for their daughter "Noa," this is a Canada-based online brand. Their motto is "clothing that lets children play freely while still looking trendy." Their cozy brown and beige baggy pants—reminiscent of earth, sand, and forests—along with their light, stretchy bamboo-blend loungewear, immediately evoke images of children playing without restriction.

Amuse Ground | ARTBOX

This is the hottest new rising star in the Toronto K-Pop scene! They celebrated their grand opening at the Scarborough Town Centre amidst incredible hype and massive lines of fans. It's a fantastic blend of K-Pop merch and official Korean "ARTBOX" lifestyle products. The moment you walk in, you'll easily lose track of time browsing the bright pastel displays and the quirky, charming lifestyle accessories imported directly from Korea.

LaBelle Fleur Floral Studio

LaBelle Fleur, located in Vaughan, is a vibrant and lively space. As experts in breathtaking floral arrangements for weddings and large-scale events, their paper layering technique—which makes the flowers stand out like a painting—is truly remarkable. Their voluminous, cloud-like wrapped bouquets evoke awe from anyone who sees them, and they offer fresh flower delivery services throughout the GTA.

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.

Petit Lune Kids

A Toronto-based lifestyle curator that has gained strong word-of-mouth among trendy Korean moms. They offer a well-rounded selection, from the chic tone-on-tone styling that graces their Instagram feed and lovely outing outfits for little ones, to items for moms as well. They are quick to introduce the latest Korean trends through pre-orders and also offer a local pick-up service.

Gyopo Brewery

The moment you step into Gyopo Brewery on Dundas West, it feels like you've been transported to a hip pocha (street food tent) in Seoul, infused with a trendy Toronto vibe. The smoky, mouth-watering aroma of LA galbi grilling over charcoal in the open kitchen fills the air. However, the real star of the show here is deliciously fermenting away in their basement brewery.

Seokhoon is an art therapist at Miya Creative Care, supporting a broad spectrum of clients from neurodivergent children to adults and seniors. Through the sensory creative process of mixing paints and bringing color to a canvas, he helps breathe life into the hidden vitality within.

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.

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.

Esther Kim

These are the works of Korean-Canadian artist Esther Kim (birth name Doyeon Kim), who goes by the moniker 'DOË'.

Clara Kim

Clara Kim was not an artist who set out on the path of visual arts from the very beginning; rather, she arrived at painting after immersing herself deeply in the sensory realm of music.

Jenny Heijun Wills

In particular, the life and work of author Jenny Heijun Wills—who was born in Korea and adopted into a white Canadian family—articulates the nuances of cultural disconnection and alienation with striking clarity and poetic precision.

Master Rim's Taekwondo

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

Jinny Yu

It is Jinny Yu, a professor of visual arts at the University of Ottawa and one of the most influential artists of Korean descent on the global stage.

Monyeo Banchan

Monyeo Banchan, which offers side dishes filled with the warm affection of a mother-daughter duo

Blooming One Floral Studio

Blooming One in Markham is like a hidden gem. Delicate pastel bouquets ready to be delivered across the city are their signature. Filled with the florist's dedication to creating picture-perfect, romantic gifts, this is a must-remember spot for upcoming special anniversaries.