According to a report in the Nihon Keizai Shimbun on October 19, South Korea is a major cafe country, with about 15,000 new stores opening each year, but just as many cafes closing down each year.

In such a highly competitive environment, a "concept cafe" is emerging that strives to create a difference. The combination of art and café has become a hot topic.

According to reports, a manga cafe will open in 2021 in Yeonam-dong, a popular area in Seoul. In the open space with large windows, there are 22 easels. Here, customers can draw as they wish while drinking coffee.

Customers can choose from acrylic paints or oil sticks on canvases ranging from A4 to A3, or they can use anime characters, famous paintings, or pictures found on the Internet as their sketches and paint them with their favorite colors.

Reports say that the price including drinks is 23,000 won (about 116 yuan) if an A4 size canvas is used. Guests can use as many art materials as they want within a two-hour time limit and can take the finished work straight home.

A 23-year-old woman came with a friend to paint a landscape. She said, "I can paint my favorite painting while chatting endlessly. It will become a good memory."

According to the report, there are many cultural facilities in Yeonam-dong and the neighboring Hongdae area, including art universities, theaters, galleries, and art supply stores. As a neighborhood where young people who love art gather, there are also cafes where you can experience pottery.

One of them is "JOOL" pottery café. There are four pottery tables for kneading clay, where customers can enjoy making tableware under the guidance of an instructor. Guests can also draw on the pottery while drinking coffee, and they will receive their fired pottery in a month.

The price for making pottery with the pottery turntable is 50,000 won, and the price for painting on existing pottery is 25,000 won. Because it is easy to have a "non-daily" experience in the city, many couples and families come to visit the store.

The importance of the cafe to the museum is also self-evident. It is not only a place to rest, but also an irreplaceable experience that allows for the exchange of ideas.

And while the cafe allows the museum to reach new audiences, there is no doubt that, more importantly, it provides an open and comfortable space to spark conversation and reflect on ideas.