The story behind C.Lab
How, after fifteen years of code, I realized that for a kid, code isn't a tool—it's a playground
From code for machines to code for creating
I came to Seoul, worked here, then earned a master's at KAIST. What followed was a long freelance stretch: for over fifteen years, code was my job. I built web apps, tools, and digital products for all kinds of clients. I loved it, especially solving problems. But over time, something was missing. Code solved problems; I wanted it to do something more—to create, and to pass something on to kids.
Still, I didn't go from code to kids overnight. I wanted something more hands-on, so I became a barista. Alongside that, I started teaching at academies: first art and cooking for little ones, then coding. That's where I caught the teaching bug, and saw how much better kids learn when they make things with their hands. Little by little, that question of code as a way to create came back. So I opened C.Lab, for real and not as a hobby, to show kids that code isn't a skill to save for later, but a way to express themselves they can use today.
A few months after opening C.Lab, I became a technology teacher at Lycée Xavier International. Since then, I teach on both sides at once: in a classroom and in my own studio. Watching the same kids code in these two settings has taught me a lot.
In schools, technology is taught as a subject. At C.Lab, I teach it as a language, just like drawing or music: a way to express ideas, build worlds, and tell stories. Moving between the two gives me the best of each—structure on one side, freedom on the other. And kids who discover code this way don't just learn syntax: they learn to create.
That's what C.Lab is all about. I'm not preparing kids for tech careers. I'm putting a tool in their hands to build whatever's in their heads.
What we believe
Every child has ideas. Most don't have a way to bring them to life. We teach code as a creative tool—so kids can turn imagination into something real. When they see code as a creative language, they stop asking, 'What is this for?' and start asking, 'What can I make?' They become builders, not just learners.
How we teach
Creativity first
We start with ideas, not syntax. Every project begins with 'What do you want to create?' not 'What command should we learn?'
Hands-on building
Less lecturing, more creating. Students learn by making things—games, animations, interactive art.
Small groups
Classes are intentionally small (4-6 kids max) so everyone gets real attention and space to explore.
Patient guidance
Mistakes are part of the process. We don't rush. We make sure every concept clicks before moving forward.
Child Safety & Trust
At C.Lab Academy, your child’s safety is our top priority. Our founder holds a criminal background check certificate, as required by Korean law for working with minors. We maintain strict child protection protocols and a safe, supervised learning environment at all times.
Let's build something together
If your child loves building, experimenting, or just asking "What if?"—this is the place for them.
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