By Frédérique Morré

Junior Editor, GSIS Newsletter

As the semester came to a close and we were bombarded with final assignments and deadlines, there also suddenly was the final meeting of the first semester of the Yonsei Cafe Review Club. Our experimental little club was a much bigger success than we could have ever anticipated, and we were delighted that we have managed to bring together so many people to chat over dozens of cups of coffee.

For our last meeting, we decided to go the extra mile (literally), and we made our way to the Lotte Mall Christmas Market. In true Korean fashion, there was an inexplicably long queue, but after almost three hours of stomping our feet and rubbing our hands in the cold, our group shuffled inside the little European Market-style square. We were immediately taken with the carousel’s lights–students are, after all, creatures of simple pleasures–and the warm smells of the waffles and churros. We were ready to indulge in all of those, but we managed to stay on track for long enough to fulfill the goal of the Market Visit: The Cafe Club Review.

We found a small stall selling beverages and soon held steaming cups of hot chocolate topped with chunky marshmallows. Was it overpriced? Absolutely. Was it the most delicious hot chocolate? Not at all. Yet, with the warmth of celebrating a successful semester for our fledgling Café Club—a semester filled with new connections and memorable meetings—it remains one of my favorite hot chocolates to date.

In this final Coffee Corner of the year 2024, I want to thank our 34 Cafe Review Club members for their excitement, picture-taking skills, and patience as we figured out the details of how to run a club. Also, big thanks to my fellow High Council of Cafes members, our Supreme Leader (Liter) Jassa Chang-Weinberg, and Coffee Tsar Georgiy Aristov for their dedication and warm enthusiasm that made it possible to organize so many regular meetings despite our packed schedules. And a final big thanks to the caffeine that supported us all through.

The Lotte Department Store Christmas Market can be visited until the 5th of January at Jamsil World Mall Square. Be prepared to queue, and be prepared for not a single picture to come out the way you want because it will be crowded. But we do recommend the carousel—solid 10/10 experience.

Wishing you all a beautiful holiday season, happy holidays, and we will be back in the Spring!

Lots of love from your Caffeine Overlord, Frédérique

See you next year :)

If you’re interested in joining the Yonsei Café Review club, you are MORE than welcome. We are a low-effort, high-reward club, and we will welcome you with open arms and plenty of coffee. Feel free to follow us on our Instagram @cafeclub_yonsei