Korea has given the world a lot of cool things—K-dramas, K-pop, instant noodles that could set your mouth on fire, and, well, the most ridiculously fun photo booths on the planet. Whether you’re a solo traveler, an expat, or just someone who loves aesthetic memorabilia, Korean photo booths are an absolute must-try. They’re everywhere, super affordable, and honestly? Way more fun than they have any right to be.
These aren’t the awkward, dimly-lit mall photo booths you might remember from your childhood. Korean photo booths are high-tech, fully customizable, and straight-up addictive. You step inside looking like an average person and walk out with a magazine-cover-level photoshoot in your hands. And the best part? They’re for everyone. Whether you’re traveling alone, hanging out with friends, or even on a date, these booths offer a fun mix of nostalgia, creativity, and K-culture magic.
So let’s dive into why you need to step into one of these booths and come out with the best (and possibly most chaotic) set of selfies you’ve ever taken.
1. Welcome to the Land of Ultimate Selfies
Forget touristy keychains and postcards—if you want a souvenir that actually matters, you need a strip of high-quality, edited, and borderline-too-perfect selfies from a Korean photo booth.
These booths aren’t just a trend; they’re a full-blown cultural phenomenon. Locals love them. K-pop idols love them. And if you spend even a few minutes in a trendy Seoul neighborhood like Hongdae or Gangnam, you’ll see lines of people waiting outside these booths like they’re about to get into an exclusive underground party.
Korean photo booths are the perfect mix of nostalgia and new tech, combining old-school fun with modern digital filters, sleek lighting, and ultra-HD quality. They cater to every kind of person—whether you want to look effortlessly cool, absolutely adorable, or completely ridiculous.
They also capture a moment in a way that no Instagram selfie can. A night out? A first-time meet-up with a(n online) friend? A cute solo adventure? Whatever the occasion, you’ll have the perfect keepsake to take home with you. (If you’re looking for more souvenir inspo, check out this blog post about the best souvenirs to bring from Korea.)
2. How It Works: The Photo Booth Process
Stepping into a Korean photo booth might feel intimidating at first, but don’t worry—I’ve got you covered. These booths may look fancy, but they’re super easy to use, even if you don’t speak a word of Korean.
Here’s how it works, step by step:
1️⃣ Find a booth. They’re literally everywhere—especially in trendy areas like Hongdae, Myeongdong, and Gangnam. Just look for bright lights, small crowds, and people laughing while holding fresh photo strips.
2️⃣ Pick your template. Before the session starts, you’ll get different layout options (classic four-cut, polaroid-style, digital stickers, etc.). Some booths even have seasonal themes or collaborations!
3️⃣ Adjust the filters. Korean booths let you smooth your skin, brighten your eyes, and make you look like you just walked out of a K-drama. The settings can be as natural or as edited as you want.
4️⃣ Strike a pose! The booth will give you a few seconds between each shot, so be ready—these machines don’t mess around. It’s fast-paced, so you might end up with some chaotic, hilarious, and unexpectedly great photos.
5️⃣ Edit your masterpiece. After the shots are taken, some booths let you add stickers, doodles, or cute little messages before printing. If you’ve ever wanted to slap a pair of bunny ears on yourself, now’s your chance.
6️⃣ Get your freebie! Once the photos print, you’ll always get a free photo sleeve—a clear plastic protective cover to keep your masterpiece safe. It’s a small but thoughtful detail that keeps your strip from getting crumpled in your bag. You usually find them outside the booths, next to the accessories.
Most photo booths also print a QR code on your photos. Scan it to access and download the digital versions of your photos as well as a sped-up video of you posing in the booth. I suggest doing that asap because the content is only available for a limited amount of time (24-48h depending on the provider) and it has happened to me before that I completely forgot about it when not doing it immediately. Thankfully, my friend didn’t though.^^
3. Struggling with Poses? Here’s Some Inspo!
Not everyone is born knowing how to pose like a K-pop idol. If you find yourself freezing up once the countdown starts, don’t worry—there’s plenty of inspiration available!
📍 Look around the booth! You’ll often find photo strips from other people taped on the walls, showcasing the best poses and creative ideas. These serve as a mini guide for anyone feeling stuck.
📱 Pinterest is your best friend. Just type “photo booth poses” into the search bar, and you’ll get an endless supply of posing ideas.
🤳 Stick to the classics. If in doubt, go for:
- K-hearts (the little finger heart everyone in Korea does)
- Cheek puffs (adorable, slightly embarrassing, but always a win)
- Dramatic winks (channel your inner K-drama lead)
- Surprised gasps & exaggerated expressions (great for group photos)
🔥 Get creative. Some people coordinate outfits, bring tiny props, or recreate iconic K-pop idol poses. The more effort you put in, the more legendary your photo strip will be.
4. Props, Accessories & the (Almost) Unstealable Headbands
Another reason these booths are next-level fun? The free props.
These aren’t just random cheap hats thrown in for fun. Many booths provide a full range of high-quality accessories, including:
🎩 Hats & headbands (bunny ears, cat ears, crowns—you name it).
🕶️ Glasses (from classy vintage frames to oversized joke sunglasses).
🧸 Stuffed toys (because why not).
And the best part? Nobody really steals them! (Well, almost nobody—I did witness a couple of foreigners casually walk off with some cat ears on Halloween. Don’t be those people.)
Props add an extra layer of fun and personality to your photos, so don’t be shy—throw on those oversized heart-shaped glasses and own it.
5. K-Pop Fans, This One’s for You!
If you’re a K-pop fan, you’re in for a treat. Some booths collaborate with K-pop groups, allowing you to take photos with virtual versions of your favorite idols.
Imagine posing next to Jungkook, Jennie, or Hoshi, and making it look like you casually took pictures together. Good luck explaining that one to your friends.
6. Seasonal & Pop-Up Photo Booths – Because Korea Loves a Theme
Korea loves seasonal aesthetics—and photo booths are no exception.
🌸 Spring? Expect cherry blossom-themed frames.
💖 Valentine’s Day? Think pink overload and heart doodles everywhere.
🎃 Halloween? Get ready for spooky filters and ghostly effects.
And then there are the pop-up booths. These are random, temporary, and absolutely wild.
Example: I once walked through a random red door in Seoul and found a horror-movie-themed booth promoting a film.
Creepy music? Check.
Saws and fake blood? Check.
Jump scare noises? BIG check.
Loved it!
You can also find special photo booths at pop-up stores (you can find more about pop-up stores in Seoul and how to find them here) and, from time to time, various photo booths are trending. In 2023, “Don’t lxxk up” was the hot shit. A photo booth taking photos from above. 2024, a photo booth looking like a public toilet was, well, the sh*t! So keep an eye on TikTok to see what might be a new thing while you’re in Korea.
This is what “Don’t lxxk up” looked like:
7. Solo Travelers, Don’t Be Shy!
Photo booths aren’t just for couples and friend groups—they’re also perfect for solo travelers!
In fact, taking solo photo booth pics is:
📷 Therapeutic – Try different expressions, channel your inner K-drama star, and just have fun.
😎 A confidence boost – Nothing says main character energy like an impromptu photo shoot.
🎁 The perfect self-souvenir – Way better than a postcard, let’s be real.
So if you’re alone in Seoul and worried about looking awkward—don’t be. You’ll probably see plenty of locals doing the exact same thing.
8. Korean Photo Booths in Berlin?! Yep! 🇩🇪
Can’t fly to Seoul just yet? Good news! Berlin now has 1-2 Korean-style photo booths bringing the fun to Germany.
💡 These booths look, feel, and function just like the ones in Korea.
📍 While still limited, they’re a great way for expats, K-culture lovers, and nostalgic travelers to get a taste of Seoul.
Berlin friends—this is your sign to go check them out:
- selcaplus 📍 Bleibtreustr. 50a, 10623 Berlin
- PHOTOBLINK 📍 Bergmannstraße 27, 10961 Berlin
Final Thoughts: Just Do It!
Whether you’re in Korea for a week or living there long-term, Korean photo booths are a must-try.
📸 It’s quick.
💰 It’s cheap (about 6,000 KRW per session).
🎁 It’s the best souvenir you can get.
So grab a friend (or don’t), get posing, and embrace the chaos. Just… don’t steal the props. 😆
And if you’re collecting tons of photo booth strips, I recommend getting an album like this* for them.
What do you think? Would you try a Korean photo booth? Or if you already have, what’s your funniest photo booth memory? Drop a comment!
Interested to learn more about Korean culture? Check out my blog posts about Dancheong, Seollal, Korean Love Days, Lotus Lantern Festival, and Traditional Children’s Games as seen on Squid Game.
Are you traveling to South Korea?
Get your eSIM via Saily* to have unlimited data while on vacation and check out NordVPN* to stay protected online or watch your Netflix shows available in your home country. 😉
*Affiliate link: I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. 🙂
