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Approached by a cult ?
I was visiting hongdae street just like I did last year to eat drink and shop around , while walking down the street I had a… So I am Seoul for for the last few days , flying back to India on Tuesday
I was visiting hongdae street just like I did last year to eat drink and shop around , while walking down the street I had a couple approach me and initiating friendly talk , they were like going on and on about Korean customs and started saying they study Korean customs and wanted to invite me to a tea ceremony , which I thought was very fishy as nobody usually approaches you on the street and suddenly take a interest in you, they were like it will only take 30 mins of my time
Being from Mumbai , India , I am aware of these sweet talking tactics so I made up an excuse of not being free and told them I had to be elsewhere .i had to share my kakao talk is so they could leave me to myself .
I looked it up and Reddit says this is a common tactic among cults , is this true , what happens if some innocent person actually follows them? Do they get robbed /scammed ?
ngl that whole thing is super sketchy. i've heard from friends that some of those cults even try to get your kakao to keep messaging you after, so good call on giving them a fake one. honestly just pretend you dont speak english if they try again, works like a charm
It's a cult, plain and simple. They've been doing this exact routine in Hongdae for years. The tea ceremony is just bait to get you into a private room where they pressure you for money, sometimes hundreds of dollars for "donations" or "classes."
If someone actually goes, they won't get physically robbed but they'll be guilt-tripped into giving up their card or cash. I've heard stories of people being kept for an hour or more in a small office near the Hongdae walking street. They target tourists because they know you're less likely to make a scene or go to the police.
Just keep ignoring them. If they push, a firm "aniyo" and walking away works every time. Don't even bother making eye contact.
You were right to trust your gut. That's the same cult recruitment pitch that's been going around Hongdae and Myeongdong for years. They usually bring people to a "cultural center" or a basement room where the tea ceremony turns into a high-pressure donation request, sometimes for thousands of dollars.
If someone actually follows them, they won't get robbed physically, but they'll be emotionally manipulated and pressured to give money. The cults are known to target tourists and foreigners specifically because you're less likely to report them or stick around to follow up.
If you see them again around Hongdae just keep walking and ignore them. They tend to hang out near the main street by Hapjeong station exit 3.
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best tea service at Camellia House in Seoul 2026
Reserve the 2pm seating, gets packed after 3.
the set, not a la carte
Coming from Haebangchon, take line 6 to Itaewon then walk up, taxi is only like 6,000 won though. Skip the scones honestly, they're dry. Order the first flush darjeeling a la carte and a slice of their matcha roll.