Saju and tarot readings in Seoul: what to know

사주·타로: 방문객이 알아 둘 것

Saju and tarot cafés are easy to find in busy parts of Seoul, such as around Hongdae and Jongno. Treat a reading as a cultural experience and entertainment: nobody can check what a reading tells you, and we don't rate or recommend readers.

Reviewed 2026-10-02 · Written from the public sources listed below

What saju is

Saju (사주) means "four pillars": the year, month, day and hour of your birth. Each pillar is written with two characters, so the reading is also called palja, "eight characters". The reader works from those to talk about character and fortune.

Bring your date of birth and, if you know it, the hour you were born (saengsi, 생시), since the hour is one of the four pillars. If you don't know it, tell the reader before you start.

Tarot

A tarot reading uses cards and doesn't need your birth details. Some places offer both saju and tarot.

Before the reading starts

Many readers work only in Korean. A few places say they read in English or Japanese, or bring an interpreter; ask the place directly before you go. Agree on the price, how long the reading lasts and what language it will be in before it starts. Tour sites also sell readings as packages, so compare with what the place charges.

If something goes wrong

If you are pushed to pay for extras such as talismans or rituals, you can say no and leave. For help in English, call the 1330 Korea Travel Helpline, run by the Korea Tourism Organization, which also takes tourist complaints. For a dispute about money, 1372 is Korea's consumer counseling line (weekdays, in Korean). If you feel threatened or think it's fraud, call the police on 112.

Why they are not on our map yet

We only put a place on the map when its own page or listing confirms what a visitor needs. Too few saju and tarot places confirmed, in their own words, that they read in a language other than Korean, so for now we give this guide instead of a list.