Jang Won-young Is Obsessed With It: CHAGEE Milk Tea Finally Lands in Korea — Taste, Prices & Stores Explained

If you follow milk tea culture even a little, you've probably already heard the name "CHAGEE" floating around your feed. The buzz exploded after IVE's Jang Won-young — one of K-pop's biggest trendsetters — reportedly called a certain milk tea "so good." That single comment sent fans scrambling, and "Where can I buy the milk tea Jang Won-young loves?" became one of the most-searched questions of the season. The brand behind the hype? CHAGEE. And the arrival of Chagee Korea has quickly become one of the hottest topics among bubble tea and milk tea lovers.

Here's the problem: because official stores are still rare on the ground, the practical stuff — where to actually drink it, which menu items are worth ordering, and how much a cup costs — is scattered all over the place. So in this guide, I've pulled everything together: what CHAGEE actually is, the brand story behind its rise, the latest news on its Korean launch, the must-try menu, realistic pricing, and a few opening-day survival tips.

By the time you finish reading, you'll know exactly what to order the moment a CHAGEE store opens near you. Let's dive in.

The Milk Tea Jang Won-young Couldn't Stop Raving About — Meet CHAGEE

The milk tea that started all the noise is CHAGEE (霸王茶姬 / Bawang Chaji). The story goes that Jang Won-young — a member of the globally popular girl group IVE — casually praised a drink she'd had, and that honest little endorsement spread like wildfire among fans. Almost overnight, CHAGEE shot up the search rankings.

If you're not familiar with the K-pop scene, here's the context that matters: in Korea, idols like Jang Won-young carry enormous influence over what people buy. There's a running joke that "if Won-young uses it, it sells out" — whether it's fashion, beauty, or food. So when she connected herself to a milk tea brand, search volume for related keywords reportedly spiked, and comments like "Is Jang Won-young's CHAGEE milk tea coming to Korea too?" flooded social media.

But here's the interesting part: this isn't just a case of "an idol drank it, so it trended." CHAGEE had already built a serious international following long before the celebrity moment. So the reaction wasn't only "she likes it" — it was "I've heard of this brand, and it's finally coming here?" That combination of celebrity momentum and genuine brand credibility is exactly why the Chagee Korea conversation went supernova.

Hands holding bubble tea in plastic cups with decorative holders. Tasty drinks for a cozy moment. (Photo: Viktorya Sergeeva 🫂 / Pexels)

What Exactly Is CHAGEE? — The Tea Brand That Became a Global Phenomenon

CHAGEE was founded in 2017 in Yunnan, China, as a tea-focused beverage brand. It started small, but it scaled fast — expanding across Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and more) before pushing into the United States. In just a handful of years it grew its store count dramatically, earning a reputation as something of a "milk tea unicorn" with a textbook rapid-growth story.

So what sets CHAGEE apart from the bubble tea you already know? The biggest difference is its fresh-brewed loose-leaf tea base. Instead of the thick, ultra-sweet syrup-forward milk teas most of us picture, CHAGEE aims to highlight the actual aroma and flavor of brewed tea leaves. That's why it earns especially high marks from people who genuinely want to taste the tea — not just sugar and creamer.

Its positioning is unusual, too. CHAGEE doesn't present itself as a cheap-and-cheerful bubble tea shop. Instead, it positions itself as a premium tea brand gunning for Starbucks — clean, modern store interiors, consistent brand design, and marketing that leans hard on tea quality. Think of it as building a new café culture around "tea instead of coffee." Thanks to that differentiation, CHAGEE has become a daily-drink staple for young consumers across Southeast Asia and the U.S. — and it's that same premium identity that Chagee Korea is expected to bring with it.

CHAGEE Lands in Korea — First Store Location & Opening Timeline

Now for the part everyone's asking about: the Korean launch. As of this writing, interest in Chagee Korea is sky-high, but the exact first-store location and precise opening date are likely to be revealed in stages through official channels. So rather than promise "it opens on this date at this address," I'll lay out what we can reasonably expect.

If you look at how international brands typically enter the Korean market, they almost always plant their flagship in high-traffic, trend-sensitive districts. That means CHAGEE's first store will most likely open in one of Seoul's core commercial hubs — think Gangnam, Seongsu, Hongdae, or Myeongdong. If the strategy targets social-media buzz and foreign tourist foot traffic (which it almost certainly will), Seongsu and Gangnam stand out as the strongest candidates. Expect the store concept to carry over the company's premium playbook: a sleek, design-forward, photogenic space.

The single most reliable move is to check official sources directly. Before any opening, follow the brand's official Instagram account, its app, and any announcements from the Korean entity or official partner. If you're planning to join the opening-day rush, the pre-order and promotion details that surface through these official channels will be the key. Trust verified announcements over random "confirmed to open on the 5th!" posts from unknown sources — that's the safest way to track Chagee Korea news without getting burned by misinformation.

5 CHAGEE Signature Menu Items You Have to Try

Walking into a CHAGEE store for the first time can be overwhelming, so here's a category-by-category cheat sheet built around the brand's headline drinks. (Menu names and recipes are based on what's known from overseas stores, and some details may change once the Korean menu is finalized.)

1. Boya Jasmine (伯牙绝弦) — This is CHAGEE's signature and best-seller, and the drink that comes up most often. It's a jasmine loose-leaf tea base blended with milk, with the tea aroma kept gently intact, which is why it's loved by everyone from first-timers to die-hard fans. If you've never had CHAGEE before, this is the one to start with.

2. Original Loose-Leaf Tea — For anyone who wants to enjoy pure, unadulterated tea flavor without milk. It's not sweet and goes down clean, making it a great after-meal drink.

3. Fruit Tea Series — A refreshing blend of bright fruit and tea, ideal served iced on a hot day. This is your go-to when you want something light and thirst-quenching.

4 & 5. Seasonal Specials & Milk-Forward Teas — If you love a richer cup, go for the milk-heavy line; if you prefer something lighter, choose a tea-forward option. CHAGEE's range lets you dial the experience up or down.

Customization tip: If you're new, start with 50% sweetness and regular ice so you can taste the tea aroma first. If you lean toward bolder flavors, go 70–100% sweetness with less ice to push the milk-and-tea concentration higher. CHAGEE drinks change character dramatically depending on sweetness level, so for your first visit, err on the less-sweet side and adjust from there.

CHAGEE Pricing & Value — How It Stacks Up Against Other Milk Tea Brands

Price is what most people care about most. Because CHAGEE leans into premium positioning, expect it to sit a notch above ultra-budget bubble tea — but not in luxury territory. Based on overseas stores, a single cup runs roughly the equivalent of 4,000–7,000 KRW, and the final Korean pricing may shift depending on rent, logistics, and exchange rates after launch.

Compared with popular domestic chains, CHAGEE will likely overlap with — or sit slightly above — mainstream bubble tea brands like Gong Cha. That said, because CHAGEE is selling a "premium loose-leaf tea" experience, it's smarter to weigh tea quality and store ambiance rather than judging on price alone. Cup size should land around the standard 500ml, give or take. Calories vary widely with sweetness and milk content, but as a rule of thumb most milk teas fall in the 200–400 kcal range. And since it's a real tea base, there's a meaningful amount of caffeine in every cup — so if you're drinking late, consider a decaf option or dialing back the sweetness.

My honest take: if you want a drink that genuinely showcases tea aroma, the premium price won't feel wasted. But if your attitude is "I just want something sweet and bubbly," the price point might feel a little steep. Ultimately, Chagee Korea is the kind of brand whose value depends entirely on one question: are you willing to pay for tea quality? Answer that, and you'll know whether it's worth it for you.

Before the Opening-Day Rush — Ordering & Visiting Tips

With the Jang Won-young effect layered on top of an already-hyped launch, long lines and crowds at the first Chagee Korea store are all but guaranteed. Weekends right after opening, plus lunch and dinner peaks, will mean serious queues — so if you want a relaxed experience, aim for a weekday morning, an early slot right after opening, or a quieter late afternoon.

Stock up on ordering know-how, too. Many global beverage brands run official-app ordering and membership rewards systems, and CHAGEE may well offer app-based pre-ordering and point accumulation. Before you go, check the official channels to see whether the app has launched — it could shave serious time off your wait. And since the menu can feel confusing on a first visit, pre-picking one of the signature drinks above will make ordering far smoother.

Finally, the social-media angle. CHAGEE is known for clean, design-forward branding and stylish cups, so a straight-on shot of the logo-facing cup or a photogenic drink like the colorful Boya Jasmine photographs beautifully. If the interior is as modern as expected, grab a seat near natural light and capture the moment. The CHAGEE milk tea that won over Jang Won-young deserves a nice photo — so frame it well and make it count.

Serene view of a fishing boat at sunset over Incheon's waters, reflecting calmness. (Photo: joon young, Park / Pexels)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: When and where will the first CHAGEE store in Korea open? A: As of now, interest in the Korean launch is extremely high, but the exact opening date and first-store location will be confirmed through official announcements. Based on how international brands typically enter the market, core districts like Gangnam, Seongsu, and Hongdae are strong candidates — but for confirmed details, check CHAGEE's official Instagram and app directly.

Q: Which CHAGEE menu item did Jang Won-young drink? A: The exact drink she praised as "so good" has been reported a few different ways depending on the source and context. That said, since CHAGEE's flagship signature is Boya Jasmine (jasmine loose-leaf milk tea), trying a Boya Jasmine–style drink is the best way to get close to that experience.

Q: How is CHAGEE different from Gong Cha and other bubble tea? A: The biggest difference is the fresh-brewed loose-leaf tea base. Unlike syrup-heavy, super-sweet bubble tea, CHAGEE emphasizes the aroma and flavor of actually brewed tea. Free sweetness adjustment and a premium, Starbucks-style positioning are other key differentiators.

Q: What's the price range and calorie count for CHAGEE drinks? A: Based on overseas stores, expect roughly the equivalent of 4,000–7,000 KRW per cup, with final Korean pricing subject to change. Calories vary with sweetness and milk content, but most milk teas land in the 200–400 kcal range. Lowering the sweetness also reduces the calorie load.

Final Thoughts

So there it is — everything from what the CHAGEE milk tea Jang Won-young loves actually is, to the brand story, the Korean launch news, recommended menu, pricing, and opening-day tips. The short version: CHAGEE is a premium loose-leaf tea brand, and a single comment from Jang Won-young has supercharged expectations for its arrival. The first-store location and opening schedule will be confirmed through official announcements, so always verify the specifics through official channels.

If CHAGEE has caught your eye, follow the official Instagram now so you're first in line for opening news about Chagee Korea. And when you do make that first visit, start with a Boya Jasmine at 50% sweetness and let the tea aroma unfold slowly. The very cup that made Jang Won-young say "so good" is coming our way — let's count down to it together.