The trend these days among Korean youth is visiting self-studios to take fun photo booth pictures, called “four cut” photos. The bookmark-sized printed photos are a great way to enjoy K-entertainment while creating a record of your life. The small size makes these photo booth photos the perfect memento of your Korean trip.

📷 Korean self-studios

Self-studios can easily be found in cities throughout Korea, and are often visited by Millennials and Generation Z when meeting with friends, and even Korean idols go! Self-studios feature multiple unmanned photo booths where you can take photos using a timer or remote. Costing just 4,000 won and usually takes less than five minutes, they are a cheap and quick way to memorialize your time. Since most studios take 8-10 photos and you must pick four, they are also called “four cut” photos.

📷 How to take photos

After entering the photo booth and paying, you will pick the photo frame you want. After that, it’s as simple as posing for the timer. Some brands will have a QR code imbedded in the photo so you can scan to download the original to your phone, or save a video of you taking photos. It’s a great way to enjoy the analog sensibility of taking photos with the digital atmosphere of sharing on social media. After filming, your photos are printed right away. The four photos you picked get printed in two photo strips, perfect to share with a friend. These days, some self-studios are increasing the number of photos to 6 cut, 8 cut, and even 10 cut! There are also filter options to bring out your best image. In areas with a high number of foreign tourists like Hongdae, Gangnam, and Bukchon, the booths offer foreign language support in English, Japanese, and Chinese. Most locations accept both cash and card, with many locations also offering a bill exchange machine.

📷 Pick out the perfect frame

Another fun part of visiting a self-studio is picking out the frame that will go around your photos and accent them. The different self-studio brands offer unique frames featuring characters from popular animations, webtoons, illustrations, and games, as well as special, limited-edition frames. Some K-pop artists create collaboration frames, the perfect gift for fans. These frames, created for special events like birthdays and comebacks, are a great way for fans to feel connected with their favorite idols, feeling like they are taking pictures together. Examples include a memorial frame for the release of a new song by NCT DREAM and IVE, and a frame for the release of “SEVENTEEN In The Soop.”

📷 Self-studio brands

There are many self-studio brands in Korea, including the trend-setting brand Life 4 Cut. Each brand has their own unique style, so be sure to visit one that matches your vibe!

① Most well-known self-studio, Life 4 Cut ┃ The brand that started it all, Life 4 Cut is where the “four cut” trend began. They have the most number of locations, with over 460 branches throughout Korea. They also update their selection of frames monthly, in addition to their popular staples of character designs from Disney, Kakao Friends, Line Friends, and Miffy.
https://www.instagram.com/life4cut

② Cutesy sweet style, Haru Film ┃ With their expert photo editing and pastel-tone interior, this brand is a favorite among females in their teens and twenties. Their sky blue and navy backgrounds are popular for the cool vibe they give off. The bright lights and brightening filter make everyone’s skin tone look great!
https://www.instagram.com/haru.film_

③ For black & white photos, Photoism ┃ This brand is recommended for their black & white photos. The low saturation of the white background creates an emotive ambiance. They also have other color backgrounds to choose from.
https://www.instagram.com/photoism.kr

📷 Tips for great photos

Because there is a limited time to take pictures, it’s best to think of the poses you want to try out beforehand. This advanced planning will lead to better pictures! A quick search for the hashtag “#4cut” on Instagram will show how others have posed.

① Korean-style finger hearts

The Korean-style finger heart is a simple pose anyone can do, simply crossing one’s thumb and index finger to make a small heart. If you’re taking photos with someone else, it can also be fun to make a big heart over your heads by each putting one arm up in an arch over your head.

② Make use of the props

In the props zone, you can find all sorts of fun items such as headbands, sunglasses, and animal hats. Holding the remote in one hand while you pose will also come out naturally.

③ Pose the same as your friend

Posing the same as your friend will automatically make your photo look that much more composed. Some classic poses to try out together include making a peace sign, smiling, or cupping your face with your hands.

📷 Places with many self-studios

It’s easy to find self-studios in areas popular among the Korean youth, such as Hongdae, Seongsu-dong, Ikseon-dong, and Gangnam. It’s not uncommon to find three or four different studios in a small area of 30 ㎡.

Gyeongui Line Forest Park in Yeonnam-dong, Seoul ┃ There is a self-studio every 20-30 meters.
“Street I Want To Walk” in front of Hongdae, Seoul ┃ The path all the way to Hongdae Art Street is crowded with self-studios; many operate 24 hours a day.
Ikseon-dong Hanok Alley in Ikseon-dong, Seoul ┃ There are four self-studios within the alleys, located between restaurants and cafés.

* This column was last updated in July 2023, and therefore information may differ from what is presented here. We advise you to check for updates before visiting.