Celebrities who tried opening cafes in Korea say 'think twice'

Korea may appear to be a paradise for coffee enthusiasts, with establishments seemingly dotting every street corner. However, those who have attempted to run a cafe in the country have a cautionary tale to share: think twice before following suit.

Singer and rapper Hanhae recently disclosed his own unfortunate encounter with the cafe industry. Lee Hyo-ri, a K-pop icon, recounted that even the highly successful Jeju cafe owned by her husband, musician Lee Sang-soon, did not generate as much revenue as its long queues might have indicated.

These insights were shared on the Monday episode of JTBC's relationship reality show "Love War," following a guest who expressed a desire to open her own cafe. Hanhae was quick to dissuade her from pursuing this path. "I have personally failed at operating a cafe, so this doesn't seem like someone else's concern," he remarked.

Hanhae elaborated that he once opened a modest cafe in Seoul's Sangam-dong, specializing in yogurt and coffee. Nevertheless, he faced difficulties competing when a large franchise nearby began offering coffee at a remarkably low price of just 900 won ($0.64) per cup. The reality of the situation, he pointed out, was far from glamorous.