A ‘stress-café’ craze is sweeping Seoul, South Korea – one of the world’s most overworked cities. Decorated with cosy furniture, the cafés give off lazy-day vibes and often offer magazines, games, television and rest areas resembling bedrooms. Shim Story, public convenience lounge, is one particular example, providing individual rooms and massage chairs for customers to relax or take a nap. Use of the rooms is charged per hour and include a choice of a beverage. The cafés provide a place to rest and offer relief to the sleep-deprived population. Similar ‘stress’ and ‘healing’ cafés have been open across the country since around three years ago, however, the trend is now rapidly expanding. Across the various cafés open, customers can enjoy anything from calming aromas and oxygen generators to hammocks.
STRESS CAFÉS
