Damotori

The Korean TV show Reply 1994 takes place in Sinchon. In the show, students from the countryside first meet one another at a particular boarding house in Sinchon. It’s where students from Yonsei, Ewha and Sogang Universities came together to indulge in their youth and culture. Everyone’s meeting point used to be the Sinchon clock tower. Long story short, Sinchon is the epitome of ‘90s college life. And ever since 1987, Damotori is the bar that has been the go-to watering hole for freshmen and the upperclassmen. Now there are five more branches, but to get the full-on ‘90s experience, go to Damotori 1 (each branch has a number according to the order of establishment). Scribble your favorite song on a napkin, pass it to the DJ and they will play anything from protest songs to the pop hits of the era. Plus, there’s no need to feel awkward if you go ahead and sing along with your friends. Recent grads of these schools come to reminisce on their glory days, and the current students avoid this particular branch so that they don’t run into their professors. Get your grasp of Korea in the ‘90s here at Damotori 1.