In Korea, especially around Seoul and Gyeonggi-do, there’s a unique type of cafe called a Manhwa Cafe (It mostly stocks Korean webtoon books, Japanese manga, and various novels.), and “Beoltoon” (벌툰) is one of the most popular chains.
Each branch has a different interior concept, and the one I visited was themed after Mongyu Dowondo (Dream Journey to the Peach Blossom Land), a classic Korean landscape painting.
My 10-year-old absolutely loves this place. It’s an entertainment paradise where you can enjoy comics, webtoons, board games, Nintendo Switch consoles, and even watch YouTube—all from the comfort of your own private little room.
They also serve delicious food and drinks. The price is incredibly reasonable, too—only 3,600 KRW (about $2.70 USD) per hour to use all the facilities.
Usually, my child visits with friends, but this weekend, we went on a special parent-child date.
Beoltoon is famous for its cozy, private rooms stacked in two levels (1st and 2nd floors), each offering privacy with white curtains. Inside the room, you’ll find a small table, power outlets, and plush cushions, making it the perfect spot to lie down comfortably and read. You can even charge your phone right there. Some branches—like the one we visited—even have foot massage machines!
Whenever I come out to a busy downtown area in Seoul with my child, I always need a break in the middle of the day to just lie down and rest. That’s why we almost always end up at a manga cafe or a board game cafe.
Among many manga cafes, we frequent Beoltoon because it’s exceptionally clean, pleasant, and stocked with tons of books suitable for children. My child loves reading Korean webtoons here, while I usually pick out a novel. This time, I read a Japanese novel titled “Twenty-Nine, Decided to Die in a Year” by Amari Hayama. It was incredibly engaging.
Lying on those soft cushions and reading books always makes us hungry and thirsty. My child immediately shouted for ramen! Beoltoon sells a wide variety of food and drinks at very affordable prices.
Ordering was super high-tech. We just tagged our phone to a device provided by Beoltoon, and the ordering page popped up right on my phone screen. (Ordering methods vary by branch; some use kiosks, while others, like this one, use NFC tags.)
My child ordered Jin Ramen with a side of rice and a Candy Soda Pop drink. I tried a new menu item called “Kujirai-style Shin-Gye-Chi” (Shin Ramen with egg and cheese). The food bill came to 21,000 KRW.(14.74 USD)
When the food is ready, a vibration pager buzzes. You just take the pager to the counter to pick up your food. We had a delicious ramen feast and enjoyed a relaxing time reading books and playing board games together.
It was the perfect way to recharge during a busy weekend in the city.
