At 3 p.m. on Saturday, a foreign tourist is standing in front of a nail salon next to Olive Young. The chair looked empty through the glass window, so they opened the door, but the owner asks with an apologetic look. "Do you have an appointment?" Many places turn you away if you say you don't have one. The chair is empty, so why can't they take you? ## The chair may be empty, but the owner isn't free Many small shops are run by the owner alone. Nails or eyelash extensions can take one person two or three hours. The next customer's time is already set, so if the owner takes a walk-in, the customer with an appointment has to wait. So an empty chair doesn't mean "we can take you right now." ## A reservation is a promise that prevents no-shows A customer who doesn't show up without saying anything is called a "no-show." An owner who works alone can't do anything else during that time. So some shops have customers book through KakaoTalk or Naver Booking, choose a time and type of treatment, and even take a deposit. Since there's a record, both sides can trust each other. In many places, only people who made a reservation can write reviews, so Koreans choose a shop by looking at those reviews and photos. Reviews are, in effect, the advertising. ## Try It Right Now Find the shop's name on Naver Map and tap the 'Reservation' button. Weekend slots fill up quickly before the autumn foliage season and event season, so it's best to book a few days ahead. If you can't make it, be sure to send a message in advance. Cancellation policies differ from shop to shop, so you can check on the booking screen.