GABI, First coffee in Korea?
Then, How about the first Coffee shop in Korea?
Did you happen to think over when Korea have faced the coffee?
It is heard that Coffee borrowed Korean sound, GABI. 19th Century was most dynamic era of the Chosun Dynasty since many strong countries look over the peninsula seeking way to infiltrate in. The first coffee seemed to come in together with the people who were around in Incheon city in 1986.
At that time, Incheon was so busy with a lot of people since the first station of the first laid railway in Korea.(between Noryangjin and Jemulpo) together with fact that this port was the very first open port to the foreigners. Before the railway, It is said it took half a day to go to Hanseong(old name of Seoul city) by a ride on a small horse. It is natural for the foreigners who arrived in the port to stay in Incheon. Automatically, the first hotel was built in Incheon called “Daebul Hotel”. This Japanese capital based hotel is allegedly built in Western style, 3 story-building with 11 Bed equipped rooms and 240 Japanese styled straw-thatched DADMI room. They recept visitors with English.
There are no firm evidence the hotel sold Coffee, but people believe firmly the hotel has. Now we found the very first coffee-shop in Korea, Daebul Hotel.
It is heard that Coffee borrowed Korean sound, GABI. 19th Century was most dynamic era of the Chosun Dynasty since many strong countries look over the peninsula seeking way to infiltrate in. The first coffee seemed to come in together with the people who were around in Incheon city in 1986.
At that time, Incheon was so busy with a lot of people since the first station of the first laid railway in Korea.(between Noryangjin and Jemulpo) together with fact that this port was the very first open port to the foreigners. Before the railway, It is said it took half a day to go to Hanseong(old name of Seoul city) by a ride on a small horse. It is natural for the foreigners who arrived in the port to stay in Incheon. Automatically, the first hotel was built in Incheon called “Daebul Hotel”. This Japanese capital based hotel is allegedly built in Western style, 3 story-building with 11 Bed equipped rooms and 240 Japanese styled straw-thatched DADMI room. They recept visitors with English.
There are no firm evidence the hotel sold Coffee, but people believe firmly the hotel has. Now we found the very first coffee-shop in Korea, Daebul Hotel.
Some clues on the memorandum of Mr. Apenzeller who stayed in 1985 for a week says.
“There are No American, European Hotel but I heard there are Japanese operating Hotel. I called a Errand man to have him bring my luggage. My room was quite wide and comfort. … As soon as I take a seat in the restaurant, well-cooked western food was immediately served.
Well-cooked western style food does not directly mean that coffee was served. But we can guess that the food includes coffee. Very high possibility of coffee-selling.
Mrs. Sontag who was born in France operated a hotel named Sontag Hotel, where many historic incidents were happened. She was allegedly speaking Germany, English and quite fluent Korean. Mrs. Sontag later met Myungseonghwanhoo, the last queen of Chosun Dynasty to chat on history, music, painting and foods.
Sontag Hotel was located in Jungdong. Until some years ago, this Sontag Hotel was believed the first coffee selling place before the Daebul Hotel. Still the importance of Sontag Hotel is quite big when it comes to History of coffee. Thanks to her close relation with the Royal Family, Mrs. Sontag grew to be a big power in diplomatic field. Many foreign envoys, ambassadors gathered to this hotel to discuss, gather information. The Sontag Hotel became a market place of diplomatic market.
Kojong, the husband of Myungseonghwanhoo is famous as coffee mania, too.
Pictures from Naver
Contents by Daum
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