About K-pop Seoul Map

Who I Am

My name is Seung Ju Baek. Born on June 13 — the same date BTS made their debut. I run Bomnal Cafe, right in front of the HYBE building in Seoul.

I'm an ordinary Korean woman. After getting married and having a child, my world became small. In Korea, it's genuinely difficult for a married woman with a young child to keep working. I wanted to work. I tried. I was turned down, again and again.

So I stayed home and raised my son, alone most of the time.

Then one evening, I put my child to bed early. I cracked open a beer and turned on the TV. That's when I saw BTS for the first time.

Seven boys on stage, eyes blazing with something I had lost. Watching them felt like something dormant inside me was waking up. Their energy didn't make me sad about my own life — it made me want to do something with it.

After that night, I fell into what Koreans call "덕질" — the deep, joyful rabbit hole of being a fan. And my life started to change. Before BTS, my evenings after putting my son to sleep were filled with beer and walks around the neighborhood, replaying another exhausting day. After BTS, those same evenings became different. Their music comforted me. Their performances gave me energy. And slowly, a fierce desire to do something of my own started to grow.

How Bomnal Cafe Was Born

I told my husband I wanted to open a small cafe. He was against it at first. But he couldn't stop me — not when I was this determined.

I wanted to go out, meet people, sell something with my own hands, earn my own money, and feel that sense of accomplishment again. I had spent five years raising our child. He was finally in kindergarten, and I finally had some time.

Then a space opened up right in front of the HYBE building.

The rent was painfully expensive. But I knew — this was it.

I signed the contract within two days. My adventure had begun.

Life got busier than I ever imagined. I couldn't be there for my son the way I used to, and the guilt crept in. But what followed surprised me: my husband's full support. He saw me meeting fans, planning events, running the cafe with genuine happiness — and he decided his job was to hold everything else together. He started leaving work early every day to take care of our son.

The Fans Who Changed Everything

Over the years, I've met countless K-pop fans through the cafe. Among them, BTS fans — ARMY — hold a special place.

The period I've been running Bomnal Cafe, from 2023 to 2025, overlapped with BTS's military service. Even during that quiet period, fans kept coming. When a member's birthday arrived, we would transform the cafe and host an event. On those days, the line for drinks and merch stretched far down the street.

Meeting international ARMY taught me something I never expected. They love BTS sincerely — just like me. They find comfort and inspiration in the music — just like me. But they also had a deep hunger to understand Korea itself. They wanted to know the culture behind the music. The things I took for granted — military culture, age hierarchy, why Koreans bow to their elders — were mysteries to them.

That's why this site exists.

So many people have loved me and my little space, Bomnal Cafe. This is my way of giving something back — sharing what I know, as a Korean, in a way that brings fans closer to the culture behind BTS.

Bomnal Cafe (봄날카페)

Bomnal Flower Cafe — named after BTS's beloved song "Spring Day" (봄날).

The go-to fan event cafe in front of HYBE. For every comeback, birthday, or special occasion, the cafe transforms completely to match the artist's concept. Our usual white-toned interior changes — sometimes bold and intense, sometimes soft and warm. Banners go up outside, right where the artists can see them on their way in.

Over the years, several HYBE artists have noticed our events and shared photos — moments that mean the world to both us and the fans who helped create them.

For BTS events, I work especially closely with ARMY to build something truly special. Every detail is discussed and planned together. This isn't a cafe doing events for fans — it's fans and I creating something together.

Contact

Bomnal Cafe event inquiries: kiki111111@naver.com

KakaoTalk (fastest response): Bomnal Cafe KakaoTalk

We host events not only for BTS but for all HYBE artists — SEVENTEEN, ENHYPEN, and more. Please include the date and artist name in your inquiry.

For any questions about this website, collaborations, or anything else, please use the email above.