The Bomnal study cafe in Seoul, South Korea, features well-lit individual desks to keep you focused. (Yoojin Lee/Stars and Stripes)
Would you pay to study in a cafe that does not serve coffee?
A study cafe in Seoul is not a Starbucks-style destination that offers caffeinated beverages, breakfast or lunch, but a place like a library filled with desks and chairs for studying.
Have you ever felt bored doing the same thing in the same place and thought a change in the environment is what you need to stay motivated? A study café might be the perfect answer.
They are popular with South Korean students who simply want a quiet place to focus away from school and home. Food and conversations are not allowed in the study area, so there is little worry about being disturbed.
Writing on the wall of the Bomnal study cafe in Seoul, South Korea, proclaims, "Your spring is coming." (Yoojin Lee/Stars and Stripes)
You might think paying just to study at a desk is a waste of money. But the price can be quite affordable.
Space is available at 3,000 won — about $2 — for a two-hour visit and 7,000 won for six hours. You can also save unused time and use it later. A day pass costs 10,000 won, and a monthly pass is available for 100,000 won.
Popular seats are usually taken by the pass holders or people who arrive early in the morning.
Pass holders can leave their stuff on their desks, monitored 24 hours under cameras. Lockers are also available for 9,000 won a month.
Teenagers aren’t the only ones visiting study cafes. Many adult students preparing for exams or certifications also use them. But, of course, during midterm and final seasons, these places get busier.
The break room at the Bomnal study cafe in Seoul, South Korea, is furnished with a small fridge, water fountain, coffee maker and snacks. (Yoojin Lee/Stars and Stripes)
Almost all study cafes are open 24/7. Some are operated only with a kiosk. So, whether you are a morning lark or a night owl, you have no excuse not to study.
The place I visited is called Bomnal, which means “spring” in Korean. The café is decorated like a park, with real plants, fake trees and an air purifier.
The refreshing environment helped me focus. Bomnal also had a break room equipped with a coffee machine and some snacks. Students can refresh their brain with a cup of tea and regain energy before going back to their desks.
I regularly visited study cafes during middle school and high school in South Korea. They helped me concentrate better and stayed open longer than my school library.
Bomnal Study Cafe
Location: 59, Pyeongtaek 4-ro, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
Hours: Open all day, every day.
Prices: 3,000 won for two hours; a monthly pass costs 100,000 won.
Dress: Casual
Directions: A 20-minute drive from the Millet Gate at Camp Humphreys, South Korea.
Information: 0507-1447-5016
