One of the most enjoyable ways to study is to do it outside campus,even if your Korean university is the most highly-ranked or well-equipped.
Sometimes, (or maybe, many times), the best places to study are not your room or the university library.
Maybe you need a different scenery or a more vibrant background — somewhere you’ll feel inspired and can lock in to finish that dreaded assignment or reading list.
Somewhere like cafes. If you’re studying in South Korea, there are so many cafes with people, food, and matcha — everything you need.
But they can get really noisy. There will no doubt be people walking in and out of the cafe, and chatters from those gossiping about who’s dating whom.
But that doesn’t mean there are quiet cafes in Seoul, or even public spaces.
You just need to know where are the best places to study in Seoul.
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8 best places to study in Seoul
Hongdae
비트로드 (Beatroad)
Opening hours: Every day (11 a.m. to 10p.m.)
Naver reviews: 4.59 stars
Location: 서울 마포구 잔다리로6길 35 3층 비트로드 (Mapo-gu, Jandaliro-6gil, 35, Level 3)
Beatroad Cafe is a “hidden gem” in Hongdae. It’s spacious, quiet, and serves some of the best coffees in the busy neighbourhood. Hope, a student I met from Ehwa Womans University, agrees, “It’s good coffee. Actually, one of the best I’ve had.”
There are numerous tables and countertops for you to sit at, as well as electrical sockets available for your use if you need to charge your devices. Beatroad Cafe does play music; however, it isn’t really loud. You can always wear headphones and earphones to drown out the music.
There will be people walking in and out of the cafe, as there’s a K-pop store above the cafe. But it wasn’t that distracting — for me at least.
Speaking about K-pop, if you want to be served by K-pop idols, then this is the place.
Blitzers, a K-pop boy group, works here part-time. (Disclaimer: If you do bump into any of the members, do be respectful and ask for permission before filming or taking their photos.)
Seoul Startup Hub was founded in 2017. Source: Nicole Chin
Gongdeok
서울창업허브 (Seoul Startup Hub)
Opening hours: Monday to Friday (9a.m. to 9p.m.), Saturday to Sunday (9a.m. to 6p.m.)
Naver reviews: —
Location: 서울특별시 마포구 백범로31길 19 (Mapo-gu, Baekbeom-31gil 19)
Located in Gongdeok, Mapo-gu, the Seoul Startup Hub is a large, government-supported incubator and accelerator in Seoul, South Korea. It provides comprehensive resources, including free co-working and office spaces, mentoring, training, and investment opportunities, to help startups launch, grow, and expand globally.
It’s one of the best places to study in Seoul. Why? Well, it’s quiet, and there are free public spaces for you to work at.
There’s also a free public library for you to use.
It is a little different from studying at a cafe, as you don’t need to order a drink to stay in the area, but there won’t be an issue for you to bring your own drinks (as long as you clean up after yourself).
We advise you get there early — spots are limited.
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Guro Digital Complex
메이비 카페 (MayB)
Opening hours:
Naver reviews: 10,584 reviews
Location: 서울 구로구 디지털로32나길 51 1층 메이비 (Guro-gu Digital-ro 32na-gil 51, Level 1)
Located by exit 2 of Guro Digital Complex station (구로디지털단지역), MayB Cafe is one of the best places to study in Seoul.
It features a spacious seating area, along with a diverse selection of drinks and food. The cafe isn’t exactly quiet as they do play music in the background; however, it can be easily drowned out with headphones/earphones.
Please keep in mind that it may be busy during lunch hours, as there are many offices nearby, but it is quiet during dinner time.
Another plus: the Guro Digital Complex isn’t exactly a place where foreigners/tourists frequently visit.
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Seongsu
Lowkey
Opening hours: Monday to Friday (10a.m. to 8p.m.), Saturday (12p.m. to 9p.m.), Sunday (12p.m. to 8p.m.)
Naver reviews: 4.61 stars
Location: 서울 성동구 연무장3길 6 1층, B1층 (Seongsu-gu, Yeonmujang-3gil, 6, Level 1, Basement 1)
Just a short walk from the hustle and bustle of Seongsu, there’s Lowkey Cafe. Just like its name, the cafe’s lowkey and tucked in a corner lot — the main cafe on the ground floor and a sitting area in a basement.
It’s quiet — well, the basement is. There’s music playing, and it’s slow, soft, orchestral music, and it might even help you concentrate. There isn’t much space on the first level, and it can get noisy, as people are constantly walking in and out.
At the time of my visit, the cafe collaborated with a local artist and showcased his artwork at the basement level of the cafe.
A note of caution: the wooden chairs may become uncomfortable if you’re studying for long hours.
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Cafe Far Ben
Opening hours: Every day (10a.m. to 9p.m.)
Naver reviews: 171 reviews
Location: 서울 성동구 성수이로 65 (Seongsu-gu, Seongsu-iro 65)
Cafe Far Ben is a short walk from Seongsu Station’s exit 3. It isn’t exactly located on the busy streets of the neighbourhood, so if you like being away from the crowd, this is the place for you.
They played loud music in the background, which made people talk louder so their friends could hear them. Even with my headphones, it was hard to drown out the music.
But it is spacious and offer a decent-sized menu of drinks and desserts.
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Sinchon
10593 베이글커피하우스 (10593 Bagel Coffee House)
Opening hours:
Naver reviews:
Location: 서울 서대문구 명물길 28 1층 (Seodaemun-gu, Myeongmulgil 28 Level 1)
I stumbled upon this cafe on my way to another cafe. The outside is cute and I love bagels. Upon entering this cafe, I was greeted by the aroma of bagels and coffee (hence the name).
Drinks here are reasonably priced, and there’s a wide selection of bagels for you to choose from. If you enjoy snacking while studying, this is one of the best places to study in Seoul.
The music played in the background is loud, but it’s easy to drown out with noise-cancelling headphones. The seats are comfortable, soft, and wide — so there’s a lot of space for you to chill on, especially on their second level.
It can get busy during lunch hours, making it hard to find a seat. But as soon as it hits 1:30 p.m., things quiet down.
Global Startup Hub, one of the best places to study in Seoul, was founded in 2016. Source: Global Startup Hub
Gangnam
글로벌 스타트업 Global Startup Hub (GSC)
Opening hours: Monday to Friday (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.) / 24 hours (for members)
Naver reviews: —
Location: Global Startup Centre 1F, 165 Yeoksam-ro, Gangnam District
The Global Startup Hub (GSC) is by far the best place for you to study; that’s not a cafe.
Located in Gangnam, GCS offers free coworking spaces, meeting rooms, visa support, and tailored programmes for foreign entrepreneurs in South Korea. It’s operated by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) and the Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development (KISED).
Fun fact: The GSC is similar to the Seoul Startup Hub, but specifically designed for foreigners.
While startups primarily use it, you’ll still be able to access public amenities. There are several free tables for you to use, meeting booths and rooms, solo telephone booths, and even libraries.
But to use the booths and rooms, you’ll need to book them from the website.
The atmosphere is quiet. There will be people walking in and out, but the overall atmosphere is peaceful.
Myeongdong
한양문고&카페 (Hanyang Books and Cafe)
Opening hours: Every day (11a.m. to 9p.m.)
Naver reviews: 461 reviews
Location: 서울 중구 명동길 14 지하2층 (Jung-gu, Myeongdong-gil, 14, Basement level 2)
In Seoul’s busiest neighbourhood, Hanyang Books and Cafe is tucked away in the basement level of a building. At the front, you’ll be greeted with a massive “Hanyang Books” sign.
The cafe is located on the building’s lowest level. It’s spacious and offers ample seating. There are electrical outlets, but it depends on where you sit.
And save for lunch hours when office workers pop by the cafe for a quick coffee, things are quiet. Expect no loud, distracting music in the background.
Please note that you must purchase a drink to sit at the cafe, or you will be asked to leave.
