People dance in pairs at a "colatec" in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, Nov. 6. Korea Times photo by Moon Ji-soo
A small "colatec" on the second floor of a building near Yeongdeungpo Market in Seoul was alive with music and movement. Older men and women, dressed in vibrant attire, such as red wool coats, silk skirts and polished shoes, swayed to the rhythm of trot music.
Among them, Kim Seong-mo, 73, climbed the stairs, swapped his backpack for a tailored suit and joined the dancers.
"I come to the colatec every day now, just like going to work. I paid 1,000 won ($0.7) and danced for three hours. At my age, no one offers me work, and I had nothing to do — but now, this place is the joy of my life," Kim said. “Dancing makes me feel younger. Exercise should always be fun."
Named after cola being served at discos, colatecs — derived from "cola" and "discotheque" — originated in the 1990s as venues for young people where alcohol and smoking were prohibited.
As younger generations turned to online platforms and moved to nightclubs in areas like Itaewon and Gangnam, colatecs evolved into social spaces for middle-aged adults. Today, they serve as vibrant hubs for adults in their 60s and 70s.
The venues offer affordable admission, with fees of 1,000 won on weekdays and 2,000 won on weekends. Some charge rental fees for baskets or hangers instead.
A 62-year-old man in green pants and a black cardigan joked, “Learning to dance is part of my retirement plan.”
Colatecs don't sell alcohol or food, but many operate adjacent restaurants offering affordable dishes, such as kimchi stew for 8,000 won, and even specialty meals like duck stew. These dining spaces are often filled with laughter and conversation. Older adults share coffee brought from home and swap stories, creating a sense of community.
“I come here to get some fresh air, and if I meet someone I click with, we might have a meal together,” Hong Young-jin, a 70-year-old from Suwon, said.
Lee, 74, who traveled over an hour from Anyang, said, “I save money by skipping fruit to afford coming here, but I can't come as often as I'd like.”
People eat at a restaurant inside a colatec in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, Nov. 6. Korea Times photo by Moon Ji-soo
Colatecs in decline
The number of colatecs across Korea has dwindled in recent years, dropping from 502 in 2019 to just 418 in 2022, according to the National Fire Agency. The COVID-19 pandemic hit the industry hard, as colatecs — registered as entertainment venues — were forced to shut down under social distancing rules. Even after reopening, many struggled to regain patrons.
A colatec owner in Seoul, surnamed Lim, explained the dire financial situation: “Our fixed costs, including rent and utilities, are 3.2 million won a month, but our revenue is only 1.2 million won.” He added that many loyal customers turned to social dance academies during the pandemic.
The struggles came to a head on Nov. 5 when a colatec owner in his 50s was arrested for attempting to set his venue on fire after facing eviction due to unpaid bills.
A notice at the entrance of a colatec in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, says stew is also served for one person for breakfast. Korea Times photo by Moon Ji-soo
A vital lifeline
For many older individuals, colatecs provide a crucial outlet for socialization and recreation. They serve as a refreshing alternative to traditional older adult centers, which some find restrictive or monotonous.
“At older adult centers, I'm always running errands for others, and the programs are the same every day. Colatecs are different,” Kim, 81, said.
Experts say that public spaces should be developed to support older people's diverse leisure activities. Park Jong-gu, a professor at Dongguk University, said, “Public facilities like community centers and welfare halls need to offer high-quality group leisure programs as part of lifelong education.”
As colatecs continue to vanish, the challenge remains to ensure seniors have vibrant spaces to dance and connect in their later years.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.