Character dolls / Photo = Flickr
There is a kidult craze in Korea right now. Kidult is a compound word of Kid and Adult and refers to adults who like cute characters and toys that used to be the exclusive domain of children. Looking at cute characters makes you feel like you have escaped reality for a moment and returned to childhood. We introduce three character attractions that provide healing to adults in the middle of downtown Seoul.
Sticky Monster Lab, expressing life through characters: Still Life
Still Life Exhibition Exterior / Photo = Intern Reporter Park So-ye
If you are looking for a unique character exhibition in Seoul, we recommend ‘Sticky Monster Lab: Still Life’. This exhibition embodies the characters living in M City. You can get a glimpse of the monsters’ day as it passes through time from morning to night.
Still Life Morning Section / Photo = Intern Reporter Park So-ye
The first section to appear is morning. Monsters can be seen greeting the morning in their own way, preparing to open a store, eating breakfast, or brushing their teeth. Even though everyone had the same expression, the atmosphere and emotions seemed different depending on the use of space.
Still Life Noon Section / Photo = Intern Reporter Park So-ye
The noon section shows different monsters independently placed on 27 exhibition stands, as the exhibition name, Still life, means. There are social activists, rock stars, and taxi drivers. Just like a still life painting that looks different depending on what angle you look at it from, you can imagine their different lives and backgrounds by observing them from various angles.
Still Life Kiosk / Photo = Intern Reporter Park So-ye
At the kiosk, you can experience drawing using the monster coins you received upon entering. Cards with monster pictures come out of the photo booth, and miniatures come out of the vending machine.
Still Life Afternoon Section / Photo = Intern Reporter Park So-ye
The afternoon section shows MCT’s central square where company buildings are gathered. The advertisements contain future-oriented and hopeful messages such as Dream Come True or Revolution. However, the monsters’ movements and expressions look somewhat tired.
Still Life Evening Section / Photo = Intern Reporter Park So-ye
The evening section covers the process from sunset to night. In this section, we maximize and express moments of feeling lonely and lonely rather than special and happy moments in everyday life. Monsters sometimes lie helplessly alone looking at the ceiling, leave work looking exhausted, or stand idly in an unattended elevator.
The simple-looking monsters overlapped with aspects of modern society. We spend this helpless and lonely night, but we still have to face the morning again. Here, you can feel the second meaning of the exhibition’s name, Still Life, which is ‘Nevertheless, living life.’
Still Life MonX Building Breakfast and Dinner / Photo = Intern Reporter Park So-ye Still Life Drive-in Theater / Photo = Intern Reporter Park So-ye
After watching the monsters’ day at different times, you will come across the MonX building and a drive-in theater. The MonX Building condenses the streets of MCT into one building. At the drive-in theater, you can enjoy short animation works produced by Sticky Monster Lab.
MCT Monster / Photo = Intern reporter Park So-ye
The monsters in MCT have no expression on their faces, whether in happy or sad situations, but it is said that they thought that an expressionless face could express a variety of emotions. It is said that if you put your own emotions into the face of an expressionless monster, that is the correct answer.
This exhibition, which is being held at Seongsu Ground Seesaw, will continue until January 7th next year. Inside the exhibition, you can also listen to a free commentary recorded by actor Woo Do-hwan, so I recommend looking around while listening. It may be an opportunity to look back on our daily lives by looking into the lives of other monsters that seem similar to our own.
Viva Salon with your favorite character as a drink
Viva Salon / Photo = Intern reporter Park So-ye
There is a cafe that recreates characters from animation through drinks. Viva Salon, which has already become a popular spot among nearby college students, was fully booked from the moment we entered.
Viva Salon / Photo = Intern reporter Park So-ye
At first, Viva Salon only sold drinks, but thanks to the owner’s love of collecting characters, they also started running a prop shop. In fact, there are many private collections that have now been discontinued, such as T.Y. Bear. The cute props filled throughout the store stimulated the desire to purchase just by looking at them. In fact, there are many customers who just look at the prop shop without drinking anything.
Viva Salon menu / Photo = Intern reporter Park So-ye
The cafe’s signature menu is character latte art. The menu showed familiar and welcome characters such as Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Loopy, and Olaf. The most popular menu item is Toy Story.
First, you can select a character according to your taste, and then select the drink flavor. There are five types available, including cafe latte, vanilla latte, mocha latte, chocolate latte, and matcha latte, so you can enjoy it according to your taste. Of course, you can also order regular drinks without characters.
Viva Salon Toy Story / Photo = Intern Reporter Park So-ye
The visuals of the menu I received were cuter than I imagined. Drinks decorated with character figures from ‘Toy Story’, from Woody to Buzz to aliens, have appeared. After taking pictures for a while, I was able to taste the drink. The warm and soft chocolate latte went down my throat happily.
Viva Salon drink / Photo = Viva Salon official Instagram
When asked about how character selection is done, the official explained, “We create characters that we want to play at the time or popular characters. However, since we have to recreate them in a round cup, there are many restrictions, so we select characters that can maintain synchronization.” .
In fact, they wanted to add a ‘Wallace and Gromit’ menu, but it was canceled because it was difficult to save the face model. It is said that the characters to be added next year are currently in the planning stage, so I was excited to see what kind of characters would come out next.
A gift to myself, Birthday To Me
Birth Day to Me exterior / Photo = Intern reporter Park So-ye
Café Birthday2Me, now in its 4th year, is already a mecca for kidults. The pink stairs and cute character posters make you feel like you are entering a fairy tale. As soon as you open the door and enter, the bouncy music reminiscent of an amusement park is heard, adding to the excitement.
The bear characters that welcome you from the entrance are Cafe Bus Day to Less than its own characters. These characters, who have been together since the cafe was founded, have the names Bus, Day, Two, and Me in order.
Birthday2me cafe prop shop / Photo = Intern reporter Park So-ye
After passing the checkout counter, it is divided into two areas: a space where you can enjoy drinks and a prop shop. The cafe space is a place where you can sit and eat dessert, and is decorated with chairs, tables, and character props. The prop shop is filled with cute dolls and character props for purchase.
Birthday To Me Menu / Photo = Intern Reporter Park So-ye
The cafe’s popular menu items are peach soda and custard pudding. As I looked at the cute and cute Japanese desserts, I couldn’t help but want to take pictures. Duck madeleines and cute bear-shaped cookies are also popular.
When I took a bite of custard pudding, a pleasant sweetness lingered in my mouth. The combination of sweet and soft pudding with refreshing peach soda was perfect. Overall, they mainly sell sweet desserts, so if you like sweet things, this is heaven.
Birthday To Me / Photo = Intern reporter Park So-ye
Since it is called a kidult mecca, I was curious about the age range of visitors. A cafe official said, “Not only young people but also older people visit a lot. “Thanks to the cute interior, foreign tourists also enjoy visiting,” he said.
Since it is a cafe with a cute and kitschy sensibility, the question posed with the expectation that many people in their 20s and 30s would visit received an unexpected answer. They say they like the pink interior because it evokes girlish emotions. This cafe is like a gift because it not only brings happiness with sweetness and cuteness, but also helps you find your childhood innocence that you had forgotten.
