Seoul cafes serve coffee, tea… & fortunes
Like most of the other cafes in Seoul, saju (which means fate) cafe serves coffee, tea, and cakes. But unlike ordinary cafes, it also serves fortunes.
Saju cafes are very popular among the younger Koreans who are eager to hear what fortune-tellers have to say. “These days, lots of high school students worry about their future. And so instead of not knowing what the future holds for us, it’s nice to find out a bit,” said Jang Yu Lim, a customer at a saju cafe.
Customers under the age of 26 are charged 12,000 won (US$10) while others have to pay 20,000 won. The fortune-telling is based on information like birth dates, the time you were born and sometimes facial expressions. It can cost between 5,000 won and 100,000 won depending on the location and reputation of the fortune-teller.
“There are lots of people in January to March. That’s because it’s the new year – a time when people are curious about their future,” said Seo Yoon Hak, owner of a saju cafe and fortune-teller.
I wonder if this would be a successful move for Starbucks here in the U.S.? I could just see it now, a fortune teller will predict that you are going to marry the handsome stranger sitting at the table next to you . . . .