A musician plays keyboards as people dance at a 'colatec' in Seoul. [Photo/Agencies]

From teens to pensioners

Colatecs first emerged in the late 1990s as dance halls for teenagers, where alcohol was banned and the only drinks on offer were sodas like Coca Cola.

But they soon fell out of fashion with their young clientele which migrated to gatherings at Internet cafes and karaoke clubs.

And so the Colatecs rebranded themselves for an entirely different demographic.

"They became a playground for the over 60s ... and they turned out to be far more loyal customers," says Lee Kwan-Woo, the owner of the Kukilgwan Palace which was established in the early 2000s.

"Here, they can exercise to stay healthy, make new friends and have a little bit of excitement," says the 70-year-old former nightclub singer.

South Koreans aged 65 plus make up 13 percent of the population, that figure is expected to rise to as much as 40 percent by 2060.

Currently, half of that demographic live on or below the poverty line. A meager pension and lack of social welfare make retirement a daunting prospect.