Dabang facts for kids

A dabang is a special kind of shop in Korea. It's a place where people mostly go to drink coffee and tea. They also serve other drinks that don't have alcohol.

You might hear other names for dabang, like coffee house or coffee shop. In Korean, some other words are dasil, daejeon, and chatjip. Even modern coffee shops like Starbucks are sometimes called byeoldabang in Korea. This name comes from 'byeol', which means 'star' in Korean.

History of Dabang

Early Tea Houses in Korea

As Korea started to connect more with Western cultures during the late Joseon Dynasty and the Korean Empire, places similar to dabangs began to appear. In ancient Korea, there were places to drink tea. For example, in the Unified Silla period, there was a place called Daejeon Won, which was like a tea house. During the Goryeo Dynasty, the government managed tea and other drinks for important events. In the Joseon Dynasty, tea ceremonies were part of welcoming foreign guests.

The First Modern Dabangs

The very first modern dabangs were often found inside hotels built by foreigners. For example, the Sontag Hotel in Seoul, built in 1902 by Ms. Henriette_Sontag, had a dabang. This hotel was made for foreign diplomats visiting Korea.

After the March 1st Movement in 1919, more modern dabangs started to open. Around 1923, the first Japanese-owned tea rooms, "Futami" in Myeong-dong and "Mt. Kumgang" in Chungmuro, opened. Futami looked a lot like the coffee shops we know today.

Korean-Run Dabangs and Cultural Hubs

In 1927, a Korean filmmaker named Lee Kyung-Son opened a tea room called "Kakadu." This is seen as the first dabang run by a Korean person. These early dabangs were more than just places to drink. They were often meeting spots for artists, writers, and thinkers. They were places where new ideas and cultures were shared.

In the 1930s, dabangs started to become more focused on making a profit, like regular businesses. Famous dabangs like "Troica" (Russian style), "Erisa" (music dabang), and "Mimosa" (French style) became popular. Some, like "Fugaro," even held weekly music concerts.

Dabangs During and After War

During World War II, especially after 1941, it became hard to get coffee and sugar. Many dabangs had to close. After Korea's liberation in 1945 and the Korean War in 1950, the old style of dabang slowly changed.

Right after the Korean War in 1953, when there weren't many places for culture, dabangs became important. They were places where people could meet, share ideas, and enjoy art. They also served as meeting spots for people who didn't have jobs.

Changes in the 1960s and 1970s

In the 1960s, dabangs started to be run more by women. They managed the counters and served customers. By the 1970s, dabangs became very colorful inside. People visited them more for business meetings than just for the taste of the tea. Some business people even used dabang phones for work if they didn't have an office.

The 1970s was also when instant coffee became popular in Korea. This meant people could drink coffee at home. So, dabangs started to become more fancy and specialized. Many music-themed coffee houses with young DJs also became popular.

The 1980s and 1990s

In the 1980s, dabangs offered many different kinds of tea. They often had higher prices and luxurious decorations. Chain dabangs, like 'Nandarang', also began to appear. When the night curfew was lifted, late-night dabangs opened in big cities.

However, in the 1990s, dabangs slowly lost their popularity. Coffee machines became common, and people started to prefer more modern cafes.

Modern Day Dabang

After the 1970s, the number of dabangs grew. In 1992, there were about 45,000 dabangs in Korea. But then, the number started to drop, especially after the 1997 Asian financial crisis.

Today, the number of traditional dabangs has greatly decreased. Modern cafes and international coffee shop chains, like Starbucks, have taken their place. While some places still use the name "dabang," the original style of these unique Korean shops has mostly changed.