Ring-making workshop in Eunpyeong, Seoul: Munak wax carving

I made a silver ring through wax carving at Munak (무낙) near Yeonsinnae. Instead of hammering metal, this experience involved carving and smoothing jewelry-making wax into the shape I wanted. I joined alone and made a ring engraved with a star.

Where is Munak, and do I need a reservation?

Munak is on the second floor at 23 Tongil-ro 83-gil, Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul. It is about a five-minute walk from Exit 7 of Yeonsinnae Station. The original post listed its hours as daily from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and the one-day workshop operates by reservation.

What are the workshop interior and workstations like?

The interior was larger than I had expected for a workshop. With white walls, wood-toned worktables, and furniture, it felt calm and tidy.

Each seat had a worktable and tools for shaping wax.

One side displayed silver rings, necklaces, and other jewelry made at Munak. Seeing the finished pieces made me look forward to my own ring.

What is wax carving, and should I prepare a design?

Wax carving is a method of cutting, carving, and smoothing jewelry-making wax to create a model in the desired shape. Once the wax model for a ring, pendant, or other piece is finished, it is cast and finished into Silver 925 jewelry.

Before visiting, I looked for ring designs and brought a rough sketch of the shape I wanted. You can bring reference images, and if you do not have a design in mind, they said you can discuss the direction on site. After trying it myself, I thought it would make the work easier to consider the desired thickness and overall shape in advance.

Can you shape a ring even if it is your first time?

First, I carved the inside of a blue ring-shaped piece of wax to fit my finger. I gradually refined this wax into the ring shape I wanted.

Next came matching the thickness. After the instructor looked at the design and marked an appropriate thickness, I filed it down little by little. At first, I worried about carving away too much, but they explained the order of the work and how to use each tool, so I got the hang of it quickly.

It was fun to see the shape get closer to what I had imagined as I filed it down. It had been a while since I had made something with my hands, and the time felt calming.

How did I add the star and gemstone accent?

After shaping the overall form, I engraved a star myself. Rather than working directly on the ring, I practiced several times on a separate piece of wax first.

I also wanted a cubic-zirconia-like accent, so I added a lab-grown diamond. At the time of my visit, it was an additional option costing ₩5,000 each.

Carving and smoothing the wax model until it was complete was the part I did myself. Munak then made it into a silver ring, and said the added lab-grown diamond would be set during the finishing process.

When do you receive the finished ring, and how did it turn out?

I was told that completion would take about two to three days. I could receive it by delivery or pick it up at the workshop. The finished ring was cuter than I expected, and I really liked it.

The packaging was thoughtful too, so it felt like I was giving myself a gift. I also thought it could be nice to give to someone else.

How much are the workshop and additional options?

At the time of my visit, the regular price for the wax-carving one-day workshop was ₩108,000. I was told that an opening event offered it for ₩98,000 through Sep 30, 2026. Additional charges may apply depending on options such as the design's size and weight, gemstones, plating, and engraving.

Is it suitable to do alone or as a date?

I participated alone, but the instructor checked in at every stage, so it was not difficult to make. I liked that the shape I carved myself remained as a silver ring. I thought it could also be fun for friends or couples to make matching rings or friendship rings together and complete each other's designs.