After catching a retrospective exhibition by artist Yoo Young-kuk(유영국) at the Seoul Museum of Art ( Why SeMA (Seoul Museum of Art) Should Be on Your Seoul Itinerary), I would typically spend my time wandering around Jeong-dong-gil(정동길). But this time, I headed straight to Gwanghwamun(광화문). I had tickets for the 1:50 PM screening of the film ‘Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie’ at Cinecube an independent cinema located right in the heart of Gwanghwamun. ()
With about an hour to kill before the movie, I didn’t feel like having a full meal. I wanted to grab a light bite and a good cup of coffee, so I wandered into the alleyways behind Gyeonghuigung Palace (경희궁 / Naesu-dong). This neighborhood is one of my personal favorites—and a place I highly recommend—as it’s home to a collection of “hidden gems”: Coffeest, famous for its iconic Vienna coffee; CommonMansion, which serves an incredible fish sandwich; and Emu Art Space, another fantastic independent cinema.
Gwanghwamun Aden
- Address: 1st Floor, 37, Gyeonghuigung-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- Hours: 08:00 – 20:00
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gwanghwamun_aden/
- Map: Google Maps | Naver Map (Recommended for navigation in Korea)
On this day, I headed to the newly opened Gwanghwamun Aden, located right across from the CommonMansion building. Since I’ve been on a mission to hunt down the best outdoor seating spots during these beautiful May and June days, I couldn’t resist after seeing photos of this place. As soon as I arrived, I snagged an outdoor seat and started picking out some bread.
I was really craving a veggie-packed sandwich, but it wasn’t available at the time, so I opted for a Bulgogi Panini and a Green Onion Cream Cheese Salt Bread instead—a combination that ended up pairing perfectly with my iced Americano. It was filling enough that I didn’t have to worry about my stomach growling during the movie. Due to my tight schedule, I couldn’t stay long, but the cafe features a spacious indoor area, making it a great spot for either solo work or catching up with someone.
After finishing the movie at Cinecube (check out my other post for a guide to ), I picked up a chocolate ice cream from Godiva in Gwanghwamun and started walking toward Seochon(서촌). It felt like the temperature and humidity were creeping up, but having something cold to eat while walking made it much more bearable.
I was heading up to Seochon specifically to visit “Automatico,” a photo booth I’d been eyeing ever since I discovered it. By the end of the day, I had actually stopped at three different photo booths.
Automatico
- Address: 1F, 33-1, Jahamun-ro 9-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- Hours: 11:00 – 21:00
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/automatico.kr
- Map: Google Maps | Naver Map (Recommended for navigation in Korea)
To briefly share my thoughts: Automatico is a vintage-style photo booth with a classic European analog vibe. It’s a bit “unfriendly”—there’s no screen to preview your pose, and it captures the shot without warning. But for someone like me, who’s used to the typical Korean “insaeng-ne-cut(인생네컷)” style, that unpredictability felt charming.
Photo Comma (Seochon Branch)
- Address: 1F, 49-2, Pirundae-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- Hours: Open 24 hours daily
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/photocomma.booth
- Map: Naver Map (Recommended for navigation in Korea)
PhotoComma seems to blend a vintage aesthetic with the standard Korean photo booth style (+you can print two copies and download your photo/video via QR). My only slight gripe was that the black-and-white prints came out a bit darker than they appeared on the screen.
Young Archive (Seochon Branch)
- Address: Youngchive, 47, Pirundae-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- Hours: Open 24 hours daily
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youngchive_official
- Map: Google Maps | Naver Map (Recommended for navigation in Korea)
Then there was Young Archive, located in a hanok (한옥). They offered a wide variety of booths to choose from, and there was a great range of frame styles and layouts. I personally prefer black-and-white photos, but I found myself loving the color version from Young Archive.
Maybe it was the lingering mood from the film ‘Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie’, but wandering through the alleys of Seochon, passing by Tongin Market(통인시장), and popping into every photo booth we spotted made the day feel that much more special and fun.
Safe travels, Soy Kim
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