There was already a line exterior ZM-Illennial cafe once I arrived at 10:30 a.m., a queue snaking across the constructing regardless of the drizzle. The cafe is within the Nam District of Busan, South Korea, some quarter-hour away from a sun-bathed shoreline that pulls vacationers from everywhere in the nation. ZM-Illennial has turn into a serious attraction in its personal proper, not for its espresso drinks or pastries, however for its proximity to Okay-Pop royalty: The cafe is owned and operated by Park Hyun-soo, the daddy of BTS member Jimin, who’s affectionately recognized within the fandom as “Papa Park.”
Fortunately, Angela, a good friend and fellow member of the ARMY (the BTS fan affiliation), had gotten there earlier and saved a spot in line. Our group is generally 40-something skilled ladies from Southern California, and we had each been in Seoul for the week-long BTS celebration known as Festa, which brings ARMY members from everywhere in the globe to the Korean capital. After the primary occasion, we hopped a prepare to Busan to pay tribute to Jimin and fellow member Jungkook, who’re each from the town (a mural is devoted to the 2 at Gamcheon Tradition Village).
ZM-Illennial is certainly one of many stops on an unofficial BTS tour of Korea. In Seoul, devotees journey to band members’ former first dorm (now a restaurant), the positioning of their firm’s first headquarters (the constructing is roofed in fan graffiti), their Gangnamdol character on Okay-star Street in Gagnam, the Seoul forest backyard named after member j-hope, and the Hybe skyscraper within the Yongsan district, which is the present headquarters for the each the band and the corporate constructed round it. There are websites round the remainder of the nation too, together with member hometowns, Japanese restaurant Ossu Seiromushi co-owned by member Jin and his brother, Café Far Ben owned by the sister of BTS’s chief RM, and the filming location of journey documentary Within the Soop in Gangwon Province.
ZM-illennial is a very nice cease alongside this route: It appears like a museum, a pop star’s closet, and a pilgrimage web site all rolled into one. The very first thing we observed once we lastly acquired by means of the road was an extended desk coated with flowers, banners, trinkets, and notes devoted to BTS or Jimin. Although there are different decorations, many of the decor is devoted to Jimin, like a shelf holding a row of hats he’s worn, sandwiched between fan-made drawings, or artist Lee.Okay’s portrait of Jimin that was displayed on the 2022 Focus Artwork Honest in Paris on the Louvre Carrousel. The house was crowded, with teams of ARMY clustered round tables and sofas all through the cafe, like delegates from a mini United Nations.
The lengthy menu consists of elaborate French-style patisseries, desserts, espresso, chilly brew, iced teas, yogurt, and even lemonade dyed BTS purple. A bin of salt butter bread throughout from the primary counter was nearly empty, however I snapped one up at Angela’s request. When my order was prepared, I used to be shocked to see that the one who positioned the iced tea on my tray was Papa Park himself. He’s turn into well-known for hugging guests and even signing gadgets. We watched from our desk as he graciously accepted presents thrust at him by a bunch of enthusiastic Brazilian followers, earlier than making it clear that he didn’t need to be in any pictures.
Regardless of the merch wall, Park doesn’t appear too invested in exploiting his son’s cult standing. The cafe’s web site appears defunct, its Instagram is sparsely up to date, and an e-mail deal with isn’t available. After I known as, Park politely declined a request for a press release, and he was all the time too busy serving clients and operating the store to speak throughout my go to.
Nina, a BTS fan from Lyon, France, did have time to speak. She had come to the cafe with a fellow ARMY member from Serbia. The 2 had turn into mates on-line and have been assembly at ZM-Illennial for the primary time.
“I loved the desserts,” Nina, a pâtisseur herself, informed me. “I like discovering new issues about Korea. However with all of the BTS associated stuff, it’s particularly cool. Taehyung is my favourite, however I assist all of them.” She admitted she doesn’t take heed to every other Okay-pop.
Over the course of my keep, I additionally talked to Tonia (a software program engineer), her bestie Tammey (a police officer from New York), and Philip and Hilary (an older Australian couple), all there due to BTS. I watched as a Filipino ARMY member photographed a pair of Jimin bobbleheads.
To locals, ZM-illennial is a spot to loosen up, to take a drawing class, or have interaction with their neighbors. However as I left, watching a bunch of mates pile out of their rideshare as I acquired into mine, the cafe appeared like the middle of a much wider neighborhood. Followers come to really feel nearer to our favourite artists, certain, and to rejoice our shared ardour. However extra importantly, visiting ZM-Illennial brings us nearer to one another.
Extra photograph illustration credit: Christine Terrisse
