I had a meal at a vegan restaurant located on Gaehang-ro near Sinpo Market in Incheon. At that time, I noticed a cafe in an antique-style building next to the restaurant. To keep a promise I made to my wife to definitely come back, I visited again recently. The place, which operates in a fully restored old hospital building, was already famous as an Instagram hotspot. Visiting in person felt like stepping back in time to a bustling spot from the modern era.

Gaehang-ro was apparently famous in the past as a tailor street, as several bespoke tailors lined the road. While walking, I spotted a cute puppy in one shop window and stopped, striking up a conversation with the owner. It turned out he was a skilled artisan who had won awards in bespoke tailoring competitions, and recently, he had even been filmed for a documentary about disappearing craftsmen. The owner, in his 60s, reminisced about his days poring over German books to hone his craft. He deeply lamented the reality that the next generation to inherit this intricate skill is disappearing. While a custom suit costing a million won per piece undoubtedly holds unique value and style, the harsh reality of competing against mass-produced ready-to-wear garments from cheap overseas factories weighed heavily on my heart.

On one side of the street stood a café that had ceased operations and was now up for sale. It seemed to have closed down, unable to weather the storm of the COVID-19 pandemic, which was heartbreaking. However, its prime location on the first floor next to a public parking lot suggested it could regain its vitality once pandemic restrictions eased, becoming a key spot on the bustling street. Sipping coffee, I brainstormed an interesting startup concept that would suit the space. What if it were reborn as a “Future Meets the Past in Present” space? A retro-styled ‘Startup Meet-up’ venue where aspiring entrepreneurs could share information and exchange ideas. Shall we?