Gen Z Seoul, Gen Z Soul… all about capturing the vibe. So, what do locals and travelers—especially the Gen Z crowd—do when they’re in the city?
They document everything, of course. Sometimes it’s through the lens of a quirky 0.5 camera, other times it’s all about locking eyes with a complete stranger.
Naturally, I dove headfirst into both. Armed with a free weekday to dodge the crowds, I went all in for the ultimate Gen Z-in-Seoul experience.
1. Lens from Camera: The 0.5 Selfie Saga in Gen Z Seoul
A photo booth called “Don’t Lxxk Up,” designed for those of us obsessed with the 0.5 selfie trend—that wide-angle, slightly warped shot that screams quirky authenticity. It’s the “I woke up like this” of selfies, only cooler.
The booth had everything: a 0.5 wide-screen setup, funky props (I snagged a pair of Y2K black sunglasses), and the chance to choose your photo layout and colors backdrop.
Classic red, blue, grey—and ooh, the new pink option? Total vibe check.
The walls were lined with sample shots—aka cheat sheets for your creativity.
Tip one: Be bold.
Tip two: Don’t overthink it.
Tip three: Have fun because this isn’t about perfection;
It’s about capturing your moment in true Gen Z fashion—quick, unfiltered, and extra.
Once inside the tiny, slightly claustrophobic booth, I let loose.
Posed like nobody was watching (because literally, nobody was), and bam—moments captured in seconds.
The result? A series of perfectly imperfect snaps that screamed me.
2. Eyes of a Human: Look Eye2Eye – Caricature in Gen Z Seoul
Later that day, I stumbled upon a small setup where artists captured moments through caricatures.
Sit across from a stranger, lock eyes, and… just be seen.
No talking, no phones, no distractions. Easy, right? Ha—not so much.
At first, I wanted to look anywhere but their eyes. Awkward? Check. Vulnerable? Double check. But as the seconds ticked by, something shifted. I noticed the tiny creases near their eyes, the way their lips twitched into a half-smile, the raw humanness of it all.
It felt like she was silently asking, Look at me. The more I avoided eye contact, the harder it was for her to capture my likeness. She was probably studying me through her own gaze, trying to process the image in her mind, so every glance guided her pencil more precisely.
And somehow, it was weirdly beautiful. For those few minutes, the noise of the world seemed to fade, leaving just one thing: connection. Genuine and unfiltered. A picture drawn through presence—an eye-to-eye connection like no other.
So, What Did I Learn?
From the Lens of a Camera:
- How do you define your vibe? Is it bold colors, funky props, or unfiltered moments?
- Do you feel like the 0.5 lens captures the “real” you, or just a version of you?
- How often do you let loose and embrace imperfection in your everyday life?
From the Eyes of a Human:
- When was the last time you really looked someone in the eye? What did you notice?
- Did this experience make you rethink how you connect with people IRL?
- What does vulnerability feel like for you—and how often do you allow yourself to feel it?
Whether it’s through a camera or a connection, Seoul’s got a way of making you pause and reflect. Or at least, it made me… and that’s a win in my book.
