At 3 p.m. on Jan. 7, Seoul’s Chungmuro street, known for its blend of print shops and trendy restaurants, was calm, with eateries and bars still closed. In this quiet corner, an unexpected gem for film photography enthusiasts awaited. Tucked away in a modest building with a Jeju restaurant on the first floor and a karaoke bar on the second, a simple white sign read “Gorae Photo Studio.”
Climbing the narrow staircase that connects the first to the third floor unveils an unexpected scene. Shelves lined with film cameras, disposable cameras, toy cameras, and various types of film lead to a room bustling with over 20 people, some immersed in scanning film into digital files, others adjusting colors on computers with focused expressions or playful laughter. Known for its “self-scan” service, where customers digitize their film themselves, this studio is a rarity not just in South Korea but globally.
“Wow! It looks so big!” exclaimed a child peering through a loupe at a strip of film. Sim Ji-yeon, 44, visiting with her 10- and 7-year-old sons, shared her enthusiasm. “I loved film cameras during my university years and decided to take them out again after more than a decade,” she said. She introduced her sons to the experience by letting them shoot with disposable and toy cameras. “Unlike smartphones, where you see the photo instantly, I told them they’d have to wait, which made them even more excited. Their friends even asked for prints to keep.”
The studio also attracts international visitors. Auni, 21, from Malaysia, said, “I discovered this place on Instagram and came to try the self-scan service. It’s my first time using a film camera and scanning. Though I’m struggling a bit, it’s so much fun!” Social media has expanded the studio’s reach, with travelers from various countries, including an American who brought a year’s worth of film and a Canadian who scanned 50 rolls at once.
Opened nine years ago, Gorae Studio gained popularity through word of mouth among “slow photography” enthusiasts, without influencer marketing or advertising. The recent retro trend has attracted a surge in customers, particularly among millennials and Gen Z, with weekends so busy that customers queue up to the building’s rooftop. For many, shooting a roll with a disposable camera and self-scanning at the studio has become a popular date activity.
Film photography’s appeal lies in its “art of waiting.” Today’s young generation, accustomed to quick reactions and instant gratification through Shorts and Reels, finds themselves drawn to this analog opposite. Mime artist Yun Pubit, who runs the studio, explained, “Only you know the colors of that moment captured in your camera. Film cameras are perfect for expressing individual tastes and preferences.”
Custom disposable camera production is also thriving. Brands like Nike, Puma, and Olive Young offer disposable film cameras as merchandise for product launches, organizing photo contests. For singer Jung Seung-hwan’s fan meeting, they even customized cameras wrapped with his photos as merchandise.
“Film photos never fail,” say young film camera enthusiasts. Whether blurry or light-leaked, imperfections only add to their charm. The “thud” of the film winding, the “click” of the shutter, and the “pop” of the flash—these nostalgic sounds of the film era are fascinating in an age where analog is fading.
