animalchingucafe-blog

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Sources of Blog Info

8 Unique Animal Cafes

https://snackfever.com/blogs/magazine/8-unique-animal-cafes-in-korea

Tour of Seoul’s Best Animal Cafes

https://theculturetrip.com/asia/south-korea/articles/a-wild-tour-of-seouls-best-pet-cafes/

Bau House Dog Cafe Review

http://www.goingsomewhereslowly.com/2015/01/bau-house-dog-cafe-seoul/

CatDog Cafe Review

http://globaldaegu.blogspot.com/2014/09/living-daegu-cat-dog-pet-cafe.html

Thanks Nature Cafe Review

http://danielfooddiary.com/2017/10/21/thanksnaturecafe/

Meerkat Friends Reviews

http://ginabearsblog.com/2017/05/meerkat-cafe-hongdae/

https://seoulsearching.net/2017/04/21/cuddle-time-meerkat-friends-%EB%AF%B8%EC%96%B4%EC%BA%A3%ED%94%84%EB%9E%9C%EC%A6%88/

Wanggwan House Review

http://dwaejiinseoul.blogspot.com/2015/10/wanggwan-house-parrot-cafe-sinchon.html

Blind Alley Review

http://myfunfoodiary.com/2017/11/korea-raccoon-cafe-at-blind-alley-cafe-seoul/#sthash.XjRjes0o.dpbs

http://dwaejiinseoul.blogspot.com/2015/09/blind-alley-raccoon-cafe-sookmyung.html

The Galapagos

https://thesoulofseoul.net/2016/07/25/the-galapagos-a-trendy-animal-themed-cafe-in-hongdae/

http://www.seoulfully.net/2016/03/cafe-galapagos.html

Bunny Cafe

https://hannahinternational.co.uk/2017/09/19/bunny-cafe-hongdae/

Koopet

http://dwaejiinseoul.blogspot.com/2015/01/koopet-reptile-cafe-pet-store-samsung.html

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Useful Grammar for Dialogue

Here are some grammar points that are useful for deciphering the dialogue from my earlier post.

-Change of state: 어/아지다 “become, get to be”

-Expressing speaker’s wish: ~(으)면 좋겠다

-(으)려고요 “intending to”

-~(으)니까 “expressing a reason or logical sequence”

-~는 길이다 (be) on one’s way

-~어야/아야지요 definitely/indeed/surely should/ ought to/have to

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동물들은 행복해지?

Throughout the duration of working on this blog and researching the different animal themed cafes in Korea, one question plagued my mind: How do we know the animals are healthy and happy here? If you remember from my welcome post, I used to want to be a vet, so of course the well-being of these animals would be at the forefront of my thoughts. Well, as it turns out, many of them are! Looking and listening to blogs and vlogs of other animal enthusiasts such as myself, I found that many cafes are owner by breeders of the animals, or the animals are rotated out as they get adopted, donated from farms and the like. For example, the two sheep from the Thank You Nature cafe come from a farm owned by the owners of the cafe. In the summer time it is much too hot for sheep to have their full coat and hang out in a crowded cafe all day, so they take them back to the farm so that they can be kept in the shade and shaved so they stay healthy and happy. In the case of the bunnies at the Bunny Cafe, the owners make sure that you know all the rules about how to handle the bunnies and are extensively knowledgeable about the behaviors and mannerisms of each bunny individually. This kind of care and insight is what I believe keeps these animals happy and mentally healthy in their unusual living conditions. There is also the case of the raccoons in Blind Alley. You are told to empty your pockets and wash your hands not just so that you won’t lose your things or get dirty, it is to protect the animals too! These establishments have to be in the know about their animals and have to keep them healthy in order to run places like these where the animals are in near constant contact with people. I think that keeping these otherwise wild animals socialized is probably good for them. Wherever they came from, we know that they are being cared for and loved every day and they are being protected from any potential harm. This is why I think that these cafes are doing a great job in caring for their animal patrons as well as looking out for their customers. 

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미국카페 vs 한국카페

As a barista, I play close attention to the different nuances of a cafe. However, I am a mere Starbucks barista. Our cafes are pretty typical of many American ones. Pop or jazz music plays, the lighting is bright but not overbearing, the decoration is minimal, and the vibe is one of relaxation but also professional. Many people come to our cafes to do interviews or conduct small business meetings because the place is calm, quiet, and promotes an air of productivity. However, this is not the case in Korean themed cafes. The themed cafes, especially the animal ones, are all about the show. The decorations are the focus, and the idea is to make you think you are entering somewhere different than the world you just came from as you walk through the door. Where else can you be in a bustling city one minute and then the next, you’re sharing a cup of coffee with meerkats or sheep or even parrots? Korea has the right idea when it comes to escapism in these kinds of themed cafes. In fact, when I visited Korea, while I didn’t get to visit an animal cafe, I did go into a themed one: the Marley Cafe. The theme of course was Rastafarian and I enjoyed myself. The decoration and music was all a part of the scene and my family and I spent several hours there relaxed but also with plenty of room to play games or pull out a computer if we needed to. Some people had even fallen asleep there. I wish we had this kind of atmosphere in American cafes. I never truly feel myself relax in one here like I did in Seoul. I believe that more themed cafes, more attention to ambiance and things like that could really take this country to the next level with cafes, especially because the main market in Korea for these places is young people. Young people are always looking for a place to just kick back. Cater to us! I believe it would be more than worth it to follow Korea’s lead.

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Korean Dialogue: Visiting an Animal Cafe~ └|ﾟεﾟ|┐

지민: 현지, 안녕하세요! 요즘 한국은 어때요?

현지: 겨울 이니까 날씨가 추워졌어요. 첫눈은 아직 안와다고 많이 기대해요.

지민: 와, 추운 날씨 있으면 좋겠어요. 요즘 비가 많이 와요. 그런데, 오늘 뭐 할거예요?

현지: 동물카페에서 가는 길이에요. 귀여운 토끼를 만날 거예요. 

지민: 진짜요? 미국에 토끼카페가없어요. 여기서 토끼 만나기가 어려워요. ��진을 많이 찍고 저한테 보여줘요. 제발!

현지: 사진을 찍으려고요. 그럼 토끼가 만나려면 한국에 가야지요. 보고싶어요. 빨리 한국에 가면 많이 동물카페에 갈 거예요, 응?

지민: 좋은 생각이네요. 다음 여름에 갈거예요.

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Koopet Store & Cafe (쿠펫) ಠoಠ

Koopet has a little something extra to bring to the table compared to all the other cafes I’ve covered so far in this blog. This place doubles as a pet store along with being a cafe. It’s a great source of information for owning reptiles, and what better way to know if you want one than by playing with them right there in the store?! 

The cafe itself isn’t the focus, its more like a pet store that serves drinks so that you have something to sip on while you browse all the animals they have to offer. They sell tanks, food, and all kinds of accessories that you’d need if you wanted to take home a new reptile friend. Most of the reptiles are kept in their tanks but you are free to look around and watch them relax. Then, in the mail area they have turtles that you can feed and interact with. 

Here are some of the scaly friends that you can meet in the store:

The atmosphere seems calm and relaxed just like the animals themselves and I was impressed with the variety they had and how dedicated the staff are to making sure you know all you can about your new pet before you decide to take them home and give them love.

Hours: 10:30am - 10pm, closed on Mondays Address: 서울시 강남구 삼성동 147-7 (147-7 Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul)

Rating: 5/5

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Galapagos Cafe (갈라파고스 카페) (ᗒᗨᗕ)

The Galapagos has been described as trendy and jam-packed with animals for visitors to interact with. The vibe is a lot more upscale that many of the cozy comfy themed cafes that I’ve previously covered and the food has rave reviews! So, what kind of animals could inhabit such a classy place? Firstly, there’s this lovely tortoise waiting for you out on the deck if the weather is nice!

While most cafes seem to be pretty strict on not meeting the animals before you pay the admission fee or buy a drink, any random passerby can come up and interact with the tortoise until they are finally ready to go into the cafe. The inside of the cafe is very modern, bright, and seems pleasant to chill in for a long period of time. 

So, you’re in this lovely cafe, you’ve had some great snacks and a tasty drink, and now you’re wondering: What about those animals? The Galapagos has several to offer, with the first of which being sugar gliders!

Sugar gliders are nocturnal by nature, so if you visit the cafe during the day, chances are that they will be asleep. However, there is still the tortoises roaming around and even some bearded dragons in a glass enclosure to watch while you relax in the cafe. If you’re a fan of the night life, this place is the spot to be.

Address:  316-12 Sangsu-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Hours: Monday - Sunday 11AM - 11PM

Rating: 5/5

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네 작은 애들 (´⌣`ʃƪ)

I’ve done lots of talk by now about all the animals that Korea has to offer, but you may be wondering: What about you, blogger? Where are YOUR animals? Well, dear reader who is almost 100% guaranteed to either be a classmate of mine or my mom, I am happy to show you all of my fur babies so you can see who directly inspired me to begin this blog project. I currently have two cats and a dog. 

My oldest cat, Ingo, is 14 years old and full of personality. His interests include meowing to get your attention, only to then walk away when you give it to him, standing on the couch and yelling, sleeping in my spot on the bed, and beating up my dog.

Next youngest is Clint, 4 years old. He’s a bit of a spitfire and is simultaneously the smartest and dumbest cat I’ve ever met. His favorite things are smelling socks, jumping off of tables to scare his mama, staring at me from above menacingly, and sleeping on top of my laptop that I need to finish assignments.

Lastly is our newest addition to the family at 9 months old, Deku (named after my favorite character from my favorite anime series BNHA). Deku loves torturing my cats (even when he gets smacked by them for it), sitting on me even though he’s too big for that!!!, eating socks, and trying to get in the shower even though HEY I’M IN HERE YOU CAN’T COME IN!

I love my furry family and having them around every day is what made me interested in the phenomenon of animal cafes in Korea. I know that when I visit Seoul again that me missing my pets is going to be tough, so visiting a cat or dog cafe will be just the trick to help me get my fix of fluffy folks.

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The Blind Alley (더 블라인드앨리) ♡´･ᴗ･`♡

A popular cafe among the young people of Korea is a neat little place called Blind Alley. Located near the Sookmyung Women’s University, this cafe features some very odd new friend to meet: raccoons! They also have a friendly corgi named Cookie, a capybara, and sometimes a pig! The animals are kept separate from the actual cafe area, which costs 6,000KRW for entrance and does not include the food or drink. This is done because raccoons are known to snatch and grab things with their sneaky hands. Cookie the corgi however, has free roam of the place and will look at you hoping for some of your meal.

The raccoons were described to be active, playful, and a little mischievous and their play area was quite spacious with lots of places to climb and have fun! You can feed them snacks provided by the staff and hold or pet them too! Overall, Blind Alley is revered for it’s uniqueness, the fair prices on drinks and food, and it’s well cared for animals. Wanna visit Blind Alley too? All the info is down below~

Address:  76 Cheongpa-ro 47-gil, Cheongpadong 2(i)-ga, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Phone:  +82 2-701-6075

Hours: Monday - Sunday: 11AM - 10PM

Rating: 5/5 

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동물카페는 이상한 생각이잖아요? (゜-゜)

In America, pets are not a foreign concept. We do just about everything with our furry friends, taking them in and sharing our lives with them. So, if that’s the case, why do Americans find the idea of animal cafes so strange? Over the course of preparing this blog, I asked many friends and some family members questions regarding whether or not they’d like to see the phenomenon of animal cafes come here to the states (there are some, but not as many as I would like). Most of them said that they were opposed to the idea on the grounds of cleanliness. With that thought in mind, I did some research on how cafes in Korea keep the atmosphere bright and calm for the cafes while also not having it smell like there’s as many animals present as their usually are. Surprisingly, with enough staff being vigilant this task isn’t all that difficult to achieve. In some cafes that I researched, visited posted reviews stating that staff were quick to clean up any messes that animals made so that the overall vibe of the cafe was not marred by the smell or presence of waste. Also, they keep the floor clean enough that the cafe doesn’t smell like a zoo which many appreciated. I think that if we put our minds to it, especially with all the experienced zookeeper and animal experts that we have here in America, we could potentially strike it rich with the idea of animal cafes, especially in the big cities.

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Wanggwan House (왕관하우스) (●´□`)♡

A cafe in Shinchon called Wanggwan House is the place to go for all your bird needs. The cafe is run by a parrot breeder who also sells the birds to those who are looking for a cool new pet for their home. Other birds are also available to see in the cafe which makes for a very interesting atmosphere. You can learn a lot about birds even if you aren’t in the market to buy and the entrance fee is very reasonable at 5,000KRW, which even includes a drink. 

The birds are very active, flying around (although not far because most have their wings clipped) and chirping and squawking. You can offer your hand or finger to the birds in hopes that they will land on you and then you can make a new friend! You can purchase treats for the birds to eat for 1,000KRW. They even have a cockatoo that knows how to greet you with a chipper “안녕!”. Overall, the atmosphere seemed happy and bright with lots of noise. I’m not a huge bird fan, but even I think this cafe is worth checking out.

Address:  2nd floor, 101-5 Daehyeon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul

Hours: Monday - Sunday 11AM-7PM

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Meerkat Friends (미어캣프랜즈) ಥ◡ಥ

Located in Hongdae, the Meerkat Friends Cafe is a very cute space where you can come and play with one of the more rare furry friends: a meerkat! They have meerkats of all ages, big and little, and they are ready to come and cuddle. When you enter the cafe, before you can meet any animals you have to pay admission which includes getting a drink. Also, there is an extensive list of rules that the staff will make sure you see before you can go into the meerkat room. These rules are provided in both Korean and English. I was surprised to see that one of the biggest rules is that no one under 15 is allowed to come into the cafe. The staff at the cafe do not want young children mishandling the meerkats or making loud noises to disturb or scare them, so I thought that this rule was very well thought out. I found a comprehensive list of the rules in English that I will list below.

When you are familiar with all the rules, you are finally allowed to go into the meerkat rooms! They are said to be very playful but they are prey animals, so you cannot lift them off the ground, you have to wait for them to come and climb onto you. You also have to be careful, because they are known to take things from your pockets. 

Address: 19-12 Wausan-ro 21-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul (3rd floor)

Phone: 02-333-4683

Hours: Monday - Sunday: 12PM - 9:45PM

Rating: 5/5 for the extensive rules and attention to meerkat needs~

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Thanks Nature Cafe (땅스네이쳐카페) (人･㉨･)♡

The Thanks Nature Cafe is a standout in my opinion when you think of animal themed cafes in Seoul strictly because of their main attraction: two sheep! One male and one female named Honey and Sugar are available to spend the day with at this cafe and they are cute and calm, perfect for a cafe setting. Unlike the cafes I’ve previously seen, the sheep aren’t as interactive. They have their own pen in the cafe and you can come up to pet them, but they don’t roam the cafe like the cats or dogs do in other establishments. You can also feed them straw and they have been said to be very affectionate in their own sheep-y way. 

One thing that I found interesting about this cafe is that the owners send the sheep back to the farm during the summer time because it is too warm to keep them in the cafe. Back on the farm where they came from, the sheep have trees, access to a shady barn, and are shaved to help keep them from overheating. 

Address:  486 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea 

Phone:  +82 2 335 7470

Hours: Monday - Sunday: 11AM - 10PM

Rating: 4/5 because the sheep cannot share a snack with me in my seat

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CatDog Cafe (캣독카페) ✿♥‿♥✿

Just over an hour an a half by KTX from Seoul in beautiful Daegu, my next cafe that I researched was the CatDog Cafe. As you may have guessed, this cafe boasts both cat and dog companions in their lovely establishment. The staff has prices and the rules of the cafe listed in both English and Korean so that anyone can enjoy the place. They even have information on all the cats and dogs in the cafe, their names, and what treats they like. 8,000KRW is all it takes to get you unlimited fun with the animals and a drink of your choice. The treats for the animals cost extra and can be purchased from staff. The cats and dogs are separated by floor, with the cats on the 3rd and dogs on the 4th. Sometimes, animals get sick or upset and don’t want to be played with. The cafe deals with this by placing a ribbon on the animal’s neck and they have signs up that warn customers to not play with the animals who have ribbons on. Both the dogs and cats are very playful, especially if you have treats and the rooms they play in are colorful and fun to relax in for hours while you meet your new animal friends. 

고야이하고 강아지들 많으니까 카페가 좋아해요

ENG: I love this cafe because there are lots of cats and dogs. 

Here is the info for how you can have a great time at the CatDog Cafe!

Address: 120-16, Dongseongro 3-ga, Jung-gu, Daegu (3-4F)  

Phone: 010-7512-3089

Hours: Monday - Saturday: 1:30 - 9:30PM

Sunday: 1:30 - 9PM

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바우하우스 Bau House (♡´౪`♡)

The first cafe I decided to look into was 바우하우스, a dog cafe located in the Mapo district of Seoul. I myself have a dog, named Deku after my favorite anime, and I would love nothing more than to take him with me when I go out to enjoy a nice meal at a comfy cafe. In Bau House however, you don’t bring your own dog. Instead, you enjoy all the cute pooches that the cafe has to offer. Bau House has a reputation for their friendly staff and happy dogs, along with it’s cleanliness. Customers marvel at the quick cleanup effort from the employees whenever one of the furry friends has a little accident. Dogs are allowed to roam all over the cafe and if you’re lucky enough, one may join you at your table! You can also play with them in the main floor area to your heart’s content. The have big dogs, small dogs, playful dogs, and lapdogs; there’s a pup for everyone at Bau House! Below I found an excellent video detailing the atmosphere of Bau House and the personality of it’s furry inhabitants. 

If you want to visit Bau House yourself (and you SHOULD!) you can find their info here:

Address:  64 Yanghwa-ro, Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Phone:  +82 2-334-5152

Hours:  Monday: 1:30–10:30PM Tuesday: 1:30–10:30PM Wednesday: 1:30–10:30PM Thursday: 1:30–10:30PM Friday: 1:30–10:30PM Saturday: 12:30–11PM Sunday: 12:30–11PM

My Rating: 5/5 for cleanliness, atmosphere, and my love for dogs ♥(ˆ⌣ˆԅ)

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왜 이 블로그를 만들어요? Why did you make this blog?

When tasked with figuring out a topic for this blog, I took the time to think over my time in Korea for inspiration. I visited the wonderful city of Seoul during the Winter of 2015 and one thing that I heard of a lot but never got to visit due to lack of time was one of the ever-popular animal cafes. I have always had a strong passion for animals; originally I entered college as a biology major, planning on becoming a veterinarian upon graduation. Eventually my interest in languages took over and I switched my major, but now I have the chance to mix together both my love for animals and foreign language and the opportunity to share with you all the joys of Korea's animal themed cafes. Please enjoy this blog and the hard work that I've put into researching this lovely topic. I'm sure that you'll find a cafe that feature's your favorite animal, and maybe one day we'll meet there and share the experience together.

(✪‿✪)ノ 잘봐요!

Enjoy the blog!