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[HanCinema's Travel Diaries] Step into Busan's adorable Kakao Talk store

Yesterday, I had the aboslute joy of stumbling across the standalone Kakao Friends shop in Busan, which is pretty much one of the cutest places that I've ever seen. It's a franchise based in the Kakao Corp, which has birthed one of the most popular messanger services in Korea: Kakao Talk. If you're in Korea, you know Kakao Talk. I use it to communciate with everyone in Korea. And what's more, there are six adorable characters who are the emoji mascots of Kakaotalk who have populated this huge Kakao Friends shop in Busan. Kakao Corp is more than just Kakao Talk and you can read about it here. But now, we have to get to the cute that is the Gwangbok-ro shopping area Kakao Friends shop in Nampo-dong, the Myeong-dong of Busan.

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The Kakao Friends shop is four stories of cute with life-sized Kakao Friends to pose with, accessories to buy and decorate with, a cafe (aptly named Apeach Cafe after the peach-faced mascot) on the fourth floor to indulge in, and household items to use and style your home. As with all speciality and themed stores, the items are a little pricey, but it is very much worth the experience. I noticed people young and old traversing each floor of the store, enjoying the brightly colored experience with jaunty swing music setting the mood.

Phone Cases

Notebooks and supplies

Life-sized Kakao Mascots Apeach and Ryan greeting the Gwangbok-ro shoppers outside

Wake up with Ryan the lion!

Kakao mascots ready to pose with you.

Cute mini-pouches to hold your precious littles.

I managed to get this shot after a couple of little girls finished posing with them.

Thirsty?

Travel with Ryan the lion who will protect you on your way.

I remember seeing this unicorn at KCON LA 2017!

Apeach is certainly enjoying the unicorn.

Macaroons from the 4th floor cafe. These were on the sweet side so come with a sweet tooth!

Cafe named after peachy Apeach.

If you want to check the store out, head on over to Gwangbok-ro off exit 7 of the metro line 1 at Nampo Station and hit the store between 10:30 AM and 10 PM.

Written by: Lisa Espinosa AKA Raine from 'Raine's Dichotomy'

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