Korea's photo booths offer creative ways of leaving memories

If you are having trouble deciding what photo booth to use out of more than dozens out there, here are four of the most well-known photo booth brands you will find in Korea, along with one for those looking for something different.

BTS members take photos together in a frame. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Walking the vibrant streets of Seoul, especially young university neighborhoods, you may see a long queue in front of photo booths, all of them having their own colorful decorations and atmosphere, offering different options in terms of camera features, filters and aesthetics.

Most of these photo booths are open 24 hours a day and unmanned. They normally accept cash or credit cards, and some even have ATMs or change machines that will break larger bills into smaller ones for cash payments.

They have varying prices, generally starting at 4,000 won ($3) for two photo strips and 2,000 won for every two additional photo strips. The strips can be printed only in multiples of two.

Another notable feature of Korean photo booths is that you can download the photos online using the quick response code that’s printed on the strips. Once you scan the code, it will lead you to a link where you can download not only digital copies of the photos but also a video of you taking pictures in the booth.

It is important to note that the codes are only available for a one-day period.

If you are having trouble deciding what photo booth to use out of more than dozens out there on the streets of Seoul, here are four of the most well-known photo booth brands you will find in Korea, along with one for those looking for something different.

A branch of Life Four Cuts in Eunpyeong District, northern Seoul [LIFE FOUR CUTS]

Life Four Cuts

Life Four Cuts is arguably the pioneer of the photo booth market. Life Four Cuts, simply put, refers to booths where people can dress up to take a four-image photo strip. You can never go wrong with any of the photo frames or features offered at the company’s photo booths.

Starting out small, with a single unmanned booth on the streets of Daegu in 2017, Life Four Cuts has seen immense success, branching out all across Korea. As of October 2022, it has almost 400 stores nationwide.

It is one of Korea’s biggest and most popular photo machine franchises, and because taking photo strips has become so common, Life Four Cuts has become the generic name, similar to Band-Aid and Post-it.

The company collaborates with various companies for its special frames, featuring popular characters from Disney and Kakao Friends. It also offers a 'personal color' filter, but it may not be for everyone as some may find the feature unhelpful.

A branch of Life Four Cuts in Sinchon, western Seoul, has a wall that is full of photos taken by visitors. [CHLOE PUI YING SAVANNAH YU]

Especially one in Sinchon, western Seoul, which is newly opened with upgraded features, sporting big light emitting diode (LED) screens playing K-pop music videos with a spacious modern interior. The branch even has a powder room inside.

What makes the Sinchon branch so special are the LED board backgrounds in the photo booth, where you can choose your preferred digital background when you take pictures. Another option offered at this branch is to apply makeup filters based on your skin tone.

Sinchon is one of Seoul’s most buzzing university towns, as three of the city’s major universities are located in the area — Yonsei University, Ewha Womans University and Sogang University — all of which are within a 20-minute walk from each other.

A four-cut photo of a model taken at Photoism [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Photoism

Photoism has multiple different kinds of branches, such as Photoism Box, Photoism Colored, and Photoism Studio. This makes Photoism stand out as it offers both casual and formal photo-taking experiences.

Photoism is also unique in that it offers "Artist Frames," which allows customers to take photos with their favorite Korean celebrities and athletes as if they are standing right next to them. They create a fun and more interactive experience of taking photos.

A Photoism booth in Sinchon offers “Artist Frames,″ which allow users to take a photo with BTS members as if they are right next to them using specially designed photo frames. [CHLOE PUI YING SAVANNAH YU]

The artists and organizations featured so far include K-pop boy bands BTS and Ateez, girl groups Twice and Kep1er, sports teams such as the Korean national football team and T1, actors Jung Hae-in and Kim Seon-ho and YouTubers LeoJ and Korean Englishman.

When taking photos using an Artist Frame, a picture of the selected artist will appear on the monitor so users can adjust and pose accordingly. Customers have to pay more to use the frames, and they start at 7,000 won for two copies.

Besides the Artist Frames, Photoism also offers other themed-frames based on the time of the year, trends in Korea and more. It also collaborates with brands for special frames.

As for the establishment itself, the company could use more props at their booths, but their other features make up for it.

Sullyoon of girl group Nmixx's photo taken at Haru Film [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Haru Film

Haru Film is best known for its signature blue backdrop at its booths and the cloud-shaped store signs at its many studios. Their name is a combination of the Korean word for day, haru, and film, representing the company's goal of helping its customers "reminisce the memories of the day they took the photo," the company says on its website.

Haru Film tends to use cooler colors in editing photos and tone them up as well. But the franchise may not be for everyone because of these characteristics, as one might find themselves looking paler than they actually are.

Haru Film also offers seasonal and special frames, such as ones with 3D bubble hearts or rabbits, and the blue and white interior of their branches creates a peaceful and calm atmosphere. This photo booth is most popular among young women in Korea, as Haru Film's simple aesthetics and pretty photo frames cater to their tastes.

Visitors line up in front of a branch of Photo Signature in Sinchon [CHLOE PUI YING SAVANNAH YU]

Photo Signature

Photo booths in Korea often have props for their customers, and Photo Signature has the best selection, offering a wide variety of headbands, sunglasses, plushies, hats and other props for your photos.

Its branch in the Sinchon area even has merchandise and props from nearby universities, Yonsei, Ehwa and Sogang.

A branch of Photo Signature in Sinchon offers various props for customers. [CHLOE PUI YING SAVANNAH YU]

Another notable feature of Photo Signature is that it has a multitude of photo frames to choose from. Photo Signature does collaborations with various cartoonists, brands and other famous characters such as those from Sanrio, Crayon Shin-chan and Doraemon.

Follow the company's social media pages to keep up with the updates on currently offered photo frames. There's a new one almost every week.

A model poses for a photo strip at Don't Lxxk Up [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Don’t Lxxk Up

Don't Lxxk Up is a part of the new wave of Korean photo booths, which specializes in "hang gong shots," aerial shots when taking your pictures.

The interior may seem a little daunting as you don't immediately see the camera, but it is actually located on the door next to the kiosk. Contrary to its name, you will need to look up in order for the camera to capture you.

A branch of Don't Lxxk Up in Sinchon offers various sunglasses as props. [CHLOE PUI YING SAVANNAH YU]

Don't Lxxk Up also offers a selection of sunglasses as props, creating a cool look that makes the photos look like they were taken with a security camera.

Don't Lxxk Up is considered a game changer in the industry as its approach to taking photos is new, but the results are pleasing to the eye. It creates a different aesthetic and brings a new perspective on what photos taken in a booth can look like.

BY STUDENT REPORTER CHLOE PUI YING SAVANNAH YU [kjd.kcampus@joongang.co.kr]