[VIDEO] Korean fans throw parties for idols who never come. Cafe owners love it
More than 100 people filed into a small cafe in Seoul's Hongdae area on Sept. 12 to celebrate the birthday of Felix, a member of K-pop group Stray Kids. Felix was not there. No one expected him to be. The event, known in Korea as a birthday cafe, is far from rare. In Hongdae alone, nearly 100 happen every week. Not all of them are for idols. During our visit, cafes across the neighborhood were…
![[VIDEO] Korean fans throw parties for idols who never come. Cafe owners love it](/img/12761617)
More than 100 people gathered at a Seoul cafe in Hongdae on September 12 to celebrate Felix, a member of K-pop group Stray Kids, despite the fact that he wasn't present. This type of birthday cafe event is commonplace in the area, with nearly 100 happening weekly. While not all are dedicated to idols, cafes in the neighborhood also celebrate animated characters and virtual YouTubers.
For coffee shops in Korea, fan events have become a vital source of income. In 2024, there were 107,055 cafes in the country, but this number declined in early 2025 as profits faced challenges. To attract customers, cafe owners agree to a deal with the event organizers. The fans rent the cafe for a few days and pledge a minimum number of sales.
In Felix's case, the organizers committed to selling 350 drinks over four days, priced at around $5.50 each. Choi I-su, 44, one of the five fans organizing the event, explained that Felix's team agreed to the arrangement. The cafe owner keeps all the proceeds from the drinks, while the organizers cover the costs of decorations and free gifts themselves.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
