Seoul Searching | Revisiting SMTown: SUM Liverary Cafe.

I'll let you in on a secret. I almost always chance upon a Korean celebrity whenever I go to COEX Mall right after visiting Bongeunsa Temple. I call it the 'Bongeunsa magic'. Like last spring when I saw some of the IKON members in passing during the 2016 C-Festival.

A few weeks later, I chanced upon Park Seo Jun's meet and greet event for the shoe brand that he was endorsing. And this happened after Yue accidentally toppled over one of the snow globes in the temple's souvenir shop. Can you imagine how I went from mad to glad after seeing one of my favorite Korean actors up close, in the flesh? It was crazy, I tell you.

Last winter was no different. Yue and I went to the temple for our usual visit, crossed the street afterwards to get to COEX Mall, and headed straight to SMTown because I wanted to grab a bite at the SUM Liverary Cafe. Lo and behold, I saw a throng of teenagers waiting excitedly at the SMTown Square! I knew right then and there someone was coming because almost all of them had their camera phones ready, and some of the girls even had DSLR's with long-range zoom lenses.

EXO For Life event, December 2016.

As Yue and I joined the crowd, I asked one of the girls who was coming. With a huge smile, she answered, "EXO!" And I was like, "Oh my God, EXO?!" even though I was not really a fan. I mean, it's not everyday that I'll get to see Kpop idols at a close distance without having to spend an arm and leg so I might as well make the most out of this opportunity.

Kai and Suho (I think).

Minutes later, the boys emerged from this huge metal door across the Square, and the crowd went in a frenzy! Turns out they had an event at the SMTown Theatre and stopped by briefly at the Square to say 'hi' to their fans.

Baekhyun.

Chanyeol and Baekhyun.

As soon as the group left the area, Yue and I made our way to the fourth floor of SMTown, where SUM Liverary Cafe is located. In one of my previous posts, I've mentioned that this floor is a cafe, art gallery, souvenir shop, and mini grocery all in one place.

SMTown Liverary Cafe.

The mood was quite festive when we entered the place. Most of the customers were EXO fans who were still on a high after the fan meeting. 

Christmas feels on the eve of New Year's Eve. :)

Yue and I checked out their goods and we discovered that the SUM Market has gone beyond popcorn, potato chips, and instant noodles. They now have chocolates, trail mixes, laver, and even cereals, too!

Premium chocolates.

Chocoballs.

Gochujang.

Trail mix.

Laver on the top shelf, cereals on the bottom.

They were even raffling off EXO merchandise signed by the EXO members themselves. You get a raffle ticket if you buy a pack of the EXO Laver, EXO Cereal, and EXO Gourmet Popcorn.

EXO Winter Album event.

Meanwhile, at the SUM Cafe, they still have these cute macarons and cupcakes on the menu.

Macarons.

Cupcakes.

Their 'Artist Ade Bottles' (lemonade in drink bottles bearing the logo of SM Town artists), on the other hand, now have a new look.

Artist Ades! :)

These clay figures of EXO were also on display. They're not for sale, but the albums can be bought at the Celebrity Shop on the second floor.

More EXO.

Almost all seats at the cafe were taken so Yue and I decided to buy food to go instead of eating there.

Busy day at the SUM Cafe!

I bought a Super Junior Yummy Box which contains a bagel, butter, and strawberry jam. It's housed in a reusable container designed as a CD. 

Super Junior Yummy Box.

On our next trip, we'll try to visit the SUM Cafe in Cheongdam-dong. It's located on the underground floor of SM Entertainment's building so there is chance of bumping into Leeteuk or Taemin, or maybe even Siwon! I hope the Bongeunsa magic will still work wonders the next time around!

Hite x Shinee!

Celebrity Shop, second floor.

Guess who? :)

SMTown Floor Guide.

Inside the Celebrity Shop.

Siwon merchandise! :)

To get to SMTown, take the Seoul Subway Line 2 and get off at Samseong Station, Exit 5 or 6. The station is directly connected to the mall, with entry at the Millenium Square.

SMTown at COEX Artium
513, Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
+82-2-6002-5811