Jeju Sea, Now Also Inland... 'Aewol The Sunset' First Franchise Opening in September

Jeju Western Sunset Spot Handam Beach Right in Front
Nationwide Franchise Business Launch...Focus on Office Districts
Priority Plan for 10 Bases Including Seoul, Busan, Yeosu
Goal of 100 Franchise Stores in 3 Years...Overseas Expansion Also Planned

"We will create a space where you can enjoy a cup of coffee while experiencing the emerald-blue beautiful sea of Aewol with all your senses, not only in Jeju but also in Seoul and New York."

The coastal scenery of Handam Beach viewed from the terrace of Jeju Aewol The Sunset on the 4th. Photo by Moon Hyewon

The coastal scenery of Handam Beach viewed from the terrace of Jeju Aewol The Sunset on the 4th. Photo by Moon Hyewon

On the 4th, at Aewol The Sunset in Jeju, Lee Ji-eun, the CEO of Aewol The Sunset, was sweating as she attended to customers inside the cafe, which was still fully packed even at 3 p.m., the weekday break time. CEO Lee explained, "The business started in 2015 in a restaurant space of about 25 pyeong inside an unfinished empty resort left alone among the bushes, and now it has grown into a large cafe business of nearly 100 pyeong. Thanks to the customers lining up to see the coastal scenery of Handam Beach that can only be seen here, we gradually expanded the business and acquired the entire resort within a year and a half."

CEO Lee, who is a native of Jeju and a housewife raising children, was a power blogger who enjoyed posting homemade food and recording daily life on her blog due to her good handcraft and cooking skills. Aewol The Sunset became a must-visit spot for tourists traveling in western Jeju as word of mouth spread, thanks to CEO Lee's diligent posting of food photos and store news on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.

CEO Lee said, "Since I like traveling, I benchmarked a lot from foreign hotels and resorts for the interior, and initially decorated it with a feel like a cafe in Cheongdam-dong. During the COVID-19 period, reflecting consumers' longing for overseas travel, we made various changes such as planting palm trees and placing parasols to create an exotic atmosphere. We also change the food menu according to trends from time to time, so returning customers come back curious about new dishes, and our regular customers are gradually increasing."

Lee Ji-eun, CEO of Aewol The Sunset. [Photo by Lee Ji-eun]

Entrance of Jeju Aewol The Sunset.
[Photo by Aewol The Sunset]

Now, Aewol The Sunset can be experienced even in inland areas. Since the end of June, Aewol The Sunset has started a nationwide franchise business and plans to open its first franchise store next month. CEO Lee set a goal to first open about 10 direct and franchise base stores nationwide in areas such as Gwanghwamun in Seoul, Haeundae in Busan, and Yeosu, and then open about 100 franchise stores over the next three years.

CEO Lee mainly focuses on office districts. She said, "Drawing on nearly 10 years of experience running cafes, I am continuously thinking about menus that can leave high margins for franchisees. By lowering prices to strengthen competitiveness and selling brunch menus like drinks and sandwiches together, we believe we can compete by offering busy office workers a meal." An Americano will be priced at 2,500 won, and set menus are expected to be priced around 6,000 won.

The store interior will be designed with a clean white tone, accented with palm trees and rattan accessories. In particular, they plan to add visual and auditory effects by playing the sound of waves and gentle music, so customers can feel as if they are at a seaside cafe even in the city.

CEO Lee also has plans for overseas business. She is already collaborating with a local cafe in Nha Trang, Vietnam, where sales have increased several tens of times four months after the business started, which is an encouraging situation. She aspires to expand not only to Vietnam but also to the United States, China, Taiwan, Singapore, and other countries.

Jeju = Reporter Moon Hye-won