What Is Korea’s NEWTRO Trend?
Fashion, Cafes & Instagram Spots in 2025
The retro revival that’s making vintage cool again for Gen Z Korea
NEWTRO = NEW + RETRO
Forget everything you think you know about “retro.” Korea’s Newtro trend isn’t about living in the past – it’s about reimagining vintage through a Gen Z lens and making it absolutely Instagram-worthy.
Since 2018, Korean youth have been creating a cultural phenomenon that’s part nostalgia, part innovation, and 100% photogenic. It’s giving grandmother’s wardrobe meets TikTok aesthetic, and honestly? It’s genius.
Table of Contents
Toggle👗 NEWTRO FASHION: OLD SCHOOL, NEW RULES
From Dongmyo Market to luxury brand collabs – here’s how Korea is making vintage fashion cool again
Y2K REVIVAL
Low-Rise Everything
- Bell-bottom pants making a major comeback
- Crop tops with kitsch accessories
- Baggy jeans styled with modern sneakers
- Bold prints that scream “main character energy”
LUXURY MEETS VINTAGE
High-End Retro
- Gucci and Louis Vuitton launching retro games
- Kodak becoming a fashion icon in Korea
- Vintage sports jerseys as streetwear
- Designer reinterpretations of 80s silhouettes
THRIFT SHOPPING
Dongmyo Market Vibes
- Vintage bomber jackets from the 90s
- Retro band t-shirts styled oversized
- Classic sneakers getting modern colorways
- Grandpa glasses becoming trendy accessories
🔥 HOT TIP
The secret sauce? It’s not about wearing vintage exactly as it was – it’s about making it feel fresh and personal. Mix a 90s band tee with modern wide-leg jeans, add some chunky gold jewelry, and boom – you’re doing Newtro right!
☕ NEWTRO CAFE CULTURE: AESTHETICS ON POINT
These aren’t just coffee shops – they’re time machines with WiFi and the perfect lighting for your feed
HANOK CAFES
Traditional Meets Trendy
Traditional Korean architecture housing the most aesthetic coffee experiences. Think wooden beams, paper doors, and modern minimalist interiors – it’s giving ancient meets Apple Store vibes.
📍 Must-Visit Spots:
- Ikseon-dong: Seoul’s retro mecca
- Bukchon Hanok Village: Traditional with a twist
- Gyeongju Dagwawa Cafe: Ancient capital vibes
RETRO GAMING CAFES
Arcade Nostalgia
Chanel’s “Coco Game Center” and YSL’s “Beauty Hotel” prove that even luxury brands are embracing Korea’s gaming cafe culture. Retro arcade games meet high-end aesthetics!
🎯 What to Expect:
- Vintage arcade machines with modern twists
- Neon lighting that’s perfect for selfies
- Retro snacks served in trendy glassware
📸 TOP INSTAGRAM SPOTS FOR NEWTRO CONTENT
Ikseon-dong
Seoul’s Retro Mecca
Narrow alleys lined with 1920s hanoks turned into the coolest cafes and shops. Every corner is basically a photoshoot waiting to happen!
Hip-jiro (Euljiro)
Underground Vintage Scene
Former industrial area transformed into Seoul’s coolest secret. Hole-in-the-wall bars, vintage print shops, and hidden speakeasies!
Dongmyo Market
Vintage Shopping Paradise
Once an elderly hangout, now overrun by stylish 20-somethings hunting for authentic vintage pieces. The thrift shopping capital of Seoul!
🧠 WHY NEWTRO IS MORE THAN A TREND
This isn’t just about looking cute for Instagram (though that’s definitely a perk). Korean culture expert Kim Nan-do explains that Newtro represents something deeper – digital fatigue meeting cultural identity.
Anti-Digital Movement
Gen Z craving analog experiences in our hyperconnected world
Generation Bridge
Creating connections between millennials and their parents’ era
Cultural Identity
Rediscovering Korean aesthetics before globalization
💡 The Real Tea
It’s not about copying the past exactly – it’s about reinterpreting it through a modern Korean perspective. That’s what makes it so authentic and Instagram-worthy at the same time!
🎯 HOW TO DO NEWTRO RIGHT IN 2025
📋 Your Newtro Checklist
Get a Film Camera
Polaroids and disposable cameras are having a major moment
Collect Vinyl Records
LP stores in Yongsan see 1,500 visitors daily!
Decorate Your Phone
Samsung Z Flip revived phone sticker culture – even for adults!
Hunt for Bunsik
Traditional Korean snacks in original 1980s packaging
🔥 Trending Hashtags to Use
#뉴트로 #힙지로 #익선동 #빈티지 #레트로 #오래된맛집
🤝 BRANDS JUMPING ON THE NEWTRO WAVE
💄 Beauty Brands
- Clio, Romand packaging like VHS tapes
- 80s makeup trends reimagined
- Cassette-inspired limited editions
🍿 Food & Snacks
- Lotte Pepero in 1983 packaging
- Samyang Popeye noodles comeback
- Traditional drinks with modern twists
👔 Fashion Collabs
- Kodak apparel becoming streetwear
- Luxury brands creating retro games
- Vintage soccer jerseys as high fashion
READY TO GO NEWTRO? 📸
The Newtro trend isn’t slowing down – if anything, it’s evolving and getting more creative. From AI-powered retro filters to sustainable vintage fashion, 2025 is bringing fresh twists to this beloved cultural movement.
Whether you’re hunting for that perfect vintage piece in Dongmyo Market or sipping coffee in a hanok cafe in Ikseon-dong, remember: Newtro is about making the past feel present. Now get out there and create some content!
📸 The beauty of Newtro? There are no rules – just authentic self-expression through a vintage lens
Now go forth and make some beautifully nostalgic content! 🎞️