In order to help our fellow Seoulites get their beach bodies ready for the summer, we’ve compiled a list of the 5 best English speaking gyms in Seoul.
Note: Keep in mind that gym membership fees vary depending on the length of contract and promotional periods.
Star-Kali Fitness | Seodaemun-gu, Seoul
Star-Kali Fitness aims to help you not only improve your body, but also your daily lifestyle habits. Its training program is based on years of data research and experience, and Star-Kali designs unique fitness programs based on individual physical profiles and schedules.
Star-Kali offers exercise classes such as Pilates and Yoga, and Zumba. Its Zumba class is composed of energetic dance routines perfect for burning hundreds of calories while jamming to catchy music. In addition to locker rooms and showers, the facilities here include an indoor golf range and sauna. Here is a list of the center’s personal trainers and other branch locations.
Estimated Membership Fees
- 6 months (360,000 KRW)
- 1 year (480,000 KRW)
- 20 PT sessions (1,250,000 KRW)
Boxing Gym Everest | Mapo-gu, Seoul
For those who dream of becoming the next Floyd Mayweather, Everest Boxing is the place to train. The head trainer at Everest is a former professional boxer who trained at the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy in America. However, if you’re just a beginner looking to get a feel for the sport, there’s no need to fret. Everest offers a 3-6 month program that teaches the basics of boxing. Advancement in the program will depend on your abilities and improvement. During this program, you’ll also work with trainers to improve your diet and body physique.
Boxers from countries like the USA, England, Taiwan, Russia, and Germany have trained at Everest in the past. It’s a truly international setting with multilingual trainers and staff.
Estimated Membership Fees
- 1 month (150,000 KRW for the initial month, 110,000 KRW for the next)
- 3 months (300,000 KRW)
- 6 months (500,000 KRW)
FitClub | Yongsan-gu, Seoul
FitClub is a fitness and Pilates studio located in the heart of Itaewon with bilingual staff (English & Korean). Every personal trainer at FitClub has at least ten years of experience in their respective fields. Some specialize in weight loss, while others are experts in muscle gain. Also, every trainer is certified by both local and international fitness organizations.
Consultations are free of charge at FitClub and most programs offered are one-on-one, ensuring that clients perfect posture, function, and form. One thing to consider before you register, however, is that the gym is on the smaller side – so if you’re on a budget, consider participating in a group class!
Estimated Membership Fees
- 1 on 1 Training
- Group Class (30,000 KRW)
Samsung Lesports Center | Seocho-gu, Seoul
Lesports is a combination of the words “leisure” and “sports.” As a result, the center features an indoor pool, dozens of running machines, hundreds of weights, a golf range, and even a bowling alley! In terms of value, Lesports in the best fitness center Seoul has to offer. It also offers family packages that provide memberships at a discounted price. However, make sure you’ll be in Seoul long-term since memberships are for one year. The fitness programs at Lesports also include a personal training package (though cost will depend on your fitness goals).
Lesports is one of Seoul’s biggest fitness centers, which means you won’t have any trouble finding open machines and weights. One warning before you hop in the pool, however: in Korea, every swimmer is required to wear a swimming cap and swim jammers. You won’t be able to enter the pool if you’re wearing trunks or boardshorts. Gold and Premium memberships will give you access to every feature of the fitness center, while other packages may limit use to certain facilities.
Estimated Membership Fees
- 1 Year Swimming Pass (2,000,000 KRW)
- 1 Year Gold Pass (4,250,000 KRW)
- 1 Year Platinum Pass (5,450,000 KRW)
Calisthenics Park | Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Since some of the gyms in Seoul can be pricey, what could be better than a gym that’s free of charge!? Located near Daechong Station, this outdoor park serves as a calisthenics paradise. Here you’ll find sit-up benches, pull-up bars, parallel bars, rings, and a variety of other fitness equipment. There are also traditional bench press racks and ab crunchers!
The park is open to the general public, which means there’s no membership fee! However, there may be a crowd on the weekends, so we recommend getting in your workout during the weekday.
Estimated Membership Fees
- NONE
Thanks for checking out the best English speaking fitness centers in Seoul. If there’s a gym or fitness center we neglected, feel free to include it in the comments below!