{
  "id": 18028312,
  "title": "Every space has a story: Urbanplay connects people with local culture",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/03/every-space-has-a-story-urbanplay-connects-people-with-local-culture",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-03T22:17:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/business/companies/20261104/every-space-has-a-story-urbanplay-connects-people-with-local-culture"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Cafes in Korea have transformed from simple coffee shops into vibrant cultural hubs. They now offer visitors an opportunity to discover local brands, explore curated products and exhibitions, and enjoy specialty menus created in partnership with nearby businesses. This trend is not limited to cafes alone; retail spaces are also being repurposed as venues for exhibitions, performances, and pop-up events.\n\nHong Joo-seok, the CEO of Urbanplay, emphasizes the unique value of every physical space. He believes that the true worth of a location is not solely based on its design, but on the experiences it provides and the narratives it shares with its visitors. According to Hong, the success of a space depends on the thoughtfully planned content and the services that keep users engaged with a brand even after they have left the premises. In an interview with The Korea Times, he clarified that Urbanplay is not merely a design firm; they focus on curating the content within the space and designing an engaging user experience.\n\nEstablished in 2013, Urbanplay acts as a bridge between brands, local creators, and audiences through the use of physical spaces. Their approach involves collaborating with various parties to create immersive experiences that showcase local culture and foster connections between businesses and consumers.",
  "summary": "In Korea, cafes are no longer just places to grab a cup of coffee. They are increasingly becoming cultural venues where visitors can discover local brands, browse curated products and exhibitions and sample menus developed in collaboration with local businesses. The shift extends beyond cafes, with retail spaces doubling as venues for exhibitions, performances and pop-up events. For Urbanplay CEO…",
  "key_points": [
    "Urbanplay transforms cafes into cultural hubs in Korea",
    "CEO Hong Joo-seok values experiences over design",
    "Urbanplay curates content and user experience for brands"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}