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Letter From Seoul

Korean drama or real life?: How a ‘heart convenience store’ soothes loneliness

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At the "Heart Convenience Store", visitors can enjoy massages, foot baths, a cup of tea, and instant food like ramyeon, while connecting with others in the neighbourhood.

At the Heart Convenience Store, visitors can enjoy massages, foot baths, a cup of tea and instant food like ramyeon while connecting with others in the neighbourhood.

ST PHOTOS: WENDY TEO

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As with many Koreans, Ms Kim Seo-jin (not her real name) finds instant ramyeon to be the ultimate comfort food.

It is something she eats daily as she lives alone and does not cook.

“I love noodles more than rice, just give me kimchi and ramyeon and I’m happy,” she told The Straits Times in a soft voice, her head bowed and eyes shyly avoiding contact.

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