Day 46: Cofioca and Box+

The night before finals, August 4th, my friend and I decided to yolo and head over to Apgujeong at 8:30PM to complete the failed mission of visiting the bubble tea store and clothing store that supposedly was a filming sight for an Infinite music video. Oddly enough, it only took us a few minutes to find once we got out of the station!

Our first mistake was getting off at Apgujeong Station instead of Apgujeong Rodeo Station. But from Apgujeong Station, the station attendant recommended taking a taxi to Cofioca. It'll probably be easier to work backwards from the way we went, instead of taking a taxi. And the first time we tried to go here, we got into three taxis, all of which kicked us out for using botched Korean or not knowing the address (and unwilling to use their GPS). Hopefully the taxi driver drops you off in some area with many side streets, and it should cost around 3,300₩. If you see The Face Shop and Nature Republic on the same side street but at two different intersections, then you're very close! Walk to the Nature Republic, then there should be a GS25 across the street, and walk down this perpendicular alley. Cofioca should be right next to GS!

Here is the storefront of Cofioca. The shop's open space is literally 6' x 6' and there are two small round tables and six chairs. From floor to ceiling, on the counter, on the menu, are so many idols' autographs and messages to the store! You can get lost just staring at all the autographs and searching for your idol's. I asked the shop owner, a kind and friendly older lady, if Infinite has been here, and she pointed upward and said they're here somewhere. I think she just said that so I'd have to come back. But if Infinite had been here, I feel like it would have been all over the Inspirit world.

It was impossible to take of the picture of the massive amount of autographs! So here's just a corner of the store. Fans also left little post-it note messages for idols, mostly for Exo.

We came at around 9:30PM, and the shop closes at 10. Both tables were occupied of fangirls but soon two left and we got a table. There was also a line behind us, and it seemed like everyone had ordered chocolate milk tea, as some Exo member seems to be obsessed with it. I ordered milk tea instead (black milk tea, on the menu), and I said it in English but the lady didn't understand me. When I said it in Korean, emphasizing every syllable, then she understood. It wasn't a memorable drink, but definitely it's nice to come for the experience.

Here's the menu. You can see how every item is pretty pricey, around 6,000 to 7,000₩, especially for the size. Also it is cash only; this lady knows how to make money off of fans!

The next stop was Box+, the mysterious clothing store. To get here from Cofioca, get back on the Nature Republic street and keep walking down that street (away from The Face Shop) until you hit a dead end, but with a perpendicular street (so it's like a "T" and you were walking from the bottom the the crossroad). You should see Coreanos Kitchen, a Mexican restaurant, then look left and continue down this street and you should also see a Dr. Martens and soon a Mini Stop. Box+ is directly across the street! You can't miss it with its funky exterior. This is how you should see Box+, walking from Cofioca.

If you're walking from Apgujeong Rodeo Station Exit 5, you should see Box+ like this. It is in a corner location, across from Mini Stop and Victoria's Secret.

The sign on the window says the hours are from 11AM to 10PM, and since we left Cofioca when it closed at 10, we just missed this store. It was odd how there were already no workers in sight though, as this is literally a two minute walk from Cofioca (though we did stop by a few shops on the way). The sign also said no photos... What sign?

Immediately after staring into the store, I realized that this actually was an Infinite music video filming location! It is no other than "Man in Love," where Hoya was awkwardly shopping in that store! I could not stop fangirling when the moment I realized this hit me; I found a filming location that isn't that well known...Hoya was here...the feels. Immediately I rewatched the music video and noted all of the places Hoya was in the video. He shyly enters the store by touching this door and walking in! So my friend and I had a photoshoot touching the same door Hoya touched.

Recognize the white staircase inside? Sorry the photos are so crappy; I'll be sure to head here before the store opens to get better photos!

Here is where Hoya was looking at jewelry, around that round table!

On the side of the store, there was also a display case of autographed Kpop CDs! The only Infinite album I see is Inspirit.

To head back to the subway station, continue down the same street (so don't go back to the Mexican restaurant; go the other way) until you hit the main street with lots of cars. Turn left and walk up the street until you hit Apgujeong Rodeo Station Exit 5 at the end of the block.

I will be sure to take the correct station next time and visit Box+ in daylight!