Dongdaemun Hanbok Cafe

Wherever I travel, I make it a point to wear the traditional costume local to the place. The photos make for such unique keepsake and who'd say no to a photoshoot?

I was so excited when my Korean friend Aju agreed to go to this Hanbok cafe. I was shocked when she told me that it was gonna be her first time in Hanbok too!

It definitely helps when you're with a local who can give you a fun fact or two about the costume's historical and cultural importance. 

In this Hanbok Cafe you can request to have your hair done too like in those photos. How fun! You can then fake a scene from one of these dramas

or this 

we didn't want to risk looking funny so no thank you

This is how the cafe looks from the changing room. All studio and no cafe

As you can tell, they do professional photoshoots

There's no tables and chairs in this cafe...

...but who needs them when you have this tea room!

Enjoying our (empty) cups of tea 

Fun props #1

Fun props #2

Fun props #3

Fun props #4

Fun props #5. A Korean to be cooked along with them veggies. 

Just kidding lel. No cute Koreans were harmed during the photoshoot. 

Didn't get to see cherry blossoms cause it was summer but this would do

Notice the b162 watermarks in most of the photos? It's the most popular photo-editing app in Korea (at this time, mid-2015) which Aju used to take 99% of our photos

If you're wondering what lies beneath the seemingly bulky/balooney costume,

The first layer worn is this white tutu-ish long skirt which gives the handbook the balloon-y shape followed by the pink cloth which is worn on the chest - it bandages your boobs a little (probably their version of a corset) and doubles as a skirt.

         

hi am I Korean yet

The shopkeeper and her daughter

We only got the drink we ordered after the photoshoot session - which made sense because 1h of camwhoring left us so thirsty!

It costs 15,000 won per person for 1 hour of hanbok rental and a drink, which is very reasonable. It's a discounted price which we got from showing the Hallyu guide book (it's full of discounts so grab it when you're in Korea!)

If you want swanky studio-style photos and print-outs, it's 50,000 won per person.

Source: visitseoul.net

The normal rental price of the Hanbok ranges between 20,000-40,000 won, depending on how elaborate the costume is. The ones Aju and I wear are the most basic, but we like it simple :)

Oh you're allowed to change your hanbok once if you're unhappy with what you're wearing. Which I did because I wore a pale pink one which was totes unflattering on my skin colour. 

Click here if you want to check out the various hanbok designs! 

Dongdaemun Hanbok Cafe

Opening hours:    11:00am-7:00pm

Contact: 070-7569-0652

Address: 서울 중구 을지로6가 18-40 3층

(Approx. 150 m from Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station Subway Line 2, 4, and 5, Exit 15)

Kamsahamnida for reading my post. Annyeonghaseyo!