1. Introduction to the text
This reading lesson explores a unique type of cafe that has become popular in Korea, where customers can rent private spaces with massage chairs for short periods of rest and relaxation.
2. Vocabulary
| Korean Word | Romanization | English Meaning | Contextual Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 안마의자 | an-ma-ui-ja | massage chair | There were about 10 massage chairs installed in separate cubicle spaces. |
| 있다 | it-da | to exist, to be | There was a small glass door that caught people’s attention among the cafes and restaurants lining the alley near the back gate of Korea University. |
| 작은 | ja-geun | small | There was a small glass door that caught people’s attention. |
| 공간에 | gong-gang-e | in/to a space | The massage chairs were installed in separate cubicle spaces. |
| 카페 | ka-pe | cafe | At first glance, it looked like a regular cafe. |
3. The main text in both Korean and English
서울 성북구 고려대 후문과 접한 대학가 골목에 늘어선 카페와 음식점 사이에 작은 유리문 하나가 시선을 끌었다. 겉보기엔 흔한 카페처럼 보이지만 문을 열고 들어서자 전혀 다른 공간이 펼쳐졌다.
A small glass door caught people’s attention among the cafes and restaurants lining the alley near the back gate of Korea University. At first glance, it looked like a regular cafe, but once you went through the door, an entirely different space unfolded.
10여 대의 안마의자가 각각 문이 달린 칸막이 공간에 설치돼 있고, 대부분 무인으로 운영돼 이용자들끼리 마주칠 일도 없다. 정해진 시간에 맞춰 방문하면 선택한 안마의자 방의 문이 열리고, 시간이 끝나면 그대로 나가면 된다.
About 10 massage chairs were installed in separate cubicle spaces with doors, and they were mostly operated without staff, so users wouldn’t encounter each other. If you visit at the scheduled time, the door to the massage chair room you selected will open, and when the time is up, you can simply leave.
‘웅’ 하는 진동음이 방 안을 울리면서 짧지만 확실한 휴식이 시작됐다. 이러한 인기는 한국 사회의 구조적 현실과도 맞닿아 있다.
The rumbling sound of the vibration filled the room, and a short but definite moment of rest began. This popularity is also related to the structural realities of Korean society.
이는 1999년 조사 이래 최초로 감소한 수치다. 이용자들은 이 공간에서 잠시나마 현실과 멀어질 수 있다고 말한다.
This is the first time the number has decreased since the 1999 survey. Users say they can temporarily escape from reality in this space.
이 공간은 특별한 휴식처로 자리 잡아가고 있다. 바쁜 일상 속에서 잠깐의 시간을 내어 자신을 돌볼 수 있는 기회를 제공한다.
This space is becoming a special place of rest. It provides an opportunity to take a moment to care for oneself amidst a busy daily life.
4. Reading comprehension questions
- What is unique about the space described in the text?
- How are the massage chair rooms operated?
- What does the text suggest about the popularity of these spaces in relation to Korean society?
- What do users say they can experience in these spaces?
- How does the text describe the role these spaces are playing in people’s lives?
5. Cultural and historical notes
The text highlights a new type of cafe or rest space that has become popular in Korea, where people can rent private cubicles with massage chairs for short periods of time. This reflects the busy, stressful nature of life in Korea and the need for people to find ways to take brief moments of rest and relaxation amidst their hectic schedules.