The thing about Seoul is that visiting it once is never really enough. As the trendsetter, there are always new things to do and endless events and festivals. And the trendiest thing in South Korea – K-POP!
There are many ways to appreciate K-pop, aside from catching your idols live during the radio or music show broadcasts. This was what I did in August 2022 (but you can scroll down for non K-pop-related places to visit in Seoul too):
1. Self Photo Studios
Self-photo studios are really popular in Seoul for its accessibility and convenience. Celebrities often share their self-taken photos (like Photomatic and Life4cut) on their socials.
These days, it is normal to see K-pop idols use self-photo studios to celebrate significant events. For example, The BOYZ usually upload their shots on their birthdays, Highlight had even provided self-photo studio machines for fans at their concert venue, and Stray Kids released their selca shots for fans to celebrate the fandom’s birthday. Even music festival KCON had used these studios as part of their promotions, where fans can take photos with the artistes that performed for KCON during the promotional period.
Some studios would also run their own promotions. The best part about this is that you can have a photo with your favourite idol! It was also affordable, about SGD$7 on average.
As the promotion period is always changing, you can get updates on the studio’s X, or through other fans on TikTok.
I had a lot of fun looking for these, as not every studio had special frames. Just be careful not to pay if you don’t see any of the idols option, because it means that the particular machine does not have it (and it will not appear after payment).
2. Concerts and Festivals
Even if your idols may not be having a comeback on your trip, there are always concerts and festivals all year-long. It was super coincidental that Seoul Festa and Hana Bank Seoul E-Prix 2022 was held during my trip!
Some of the acts that I watched – Stray Kids, The Boyz, Highlight, PSY, Rain, Treasure, Zico, CL, Dynamic Duo. Their fireworks were also on an amazing large scale!
Tip: Depending on the location, you get to see them walking “backstage”. In this case, the stage was in the middle of the stadium, so the artistes had to walk over from the building. That is a chance to see your favorite artistes a bit closer!
(Photo: Screenshot of SKZ backstage)
We also stayed back a while to catch the artistes as they leave the stadium, and we managed to see Dynamic Duo and CL. The only regret I had was not asking them for an autograph, because there were only like two bodyguards and a few from her team walking back to the car. A Korean fan just shouted from a distance away to CL, and she actually stopped to listen to the fan for a quick while before moving off.
(Photo: Screenshot of CL, she was gorgeous in real life)
3. You Are What They Eat (or own)
Celebrities often have side hustles like restaurants and cafes. And you may even get a chance to meet them up close in person and get an autograph if you are lucky! Fellow stans will definitely know your own respective restaurants to visit. For example, the bbq restaurant owned by Running Man’s Jung Kook and HaHa, to Baek Jong-Won’s franchise, to I Live Alone member and actor Jang Won’s restaurant, to Boss In the Mirror’s famous chef restaurants, and more!
Mainly visited the cafes on this trip. The overall vibes of the cafe do match the idols’ colour and personality, even if the shop did not explicitly showcase them as the owners.
Haru & Oneday 하루앤원데이
Haru & Oneday is a cafe run by Super Junior’s Donghae and his brother. The space is a simple, clean, with a warm design that allows you to enjoy some coffee and tea. The snacks are also great for tea. The seats are quite spaced out, so there is some privacy and makes you feel like you are enjoying a picnic in a cafe. It is located near Seongsu train station.
Address: 04782 92, Achasan-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul (Gwangmyeong Tower)
Mouse Rabbit Coffee 마우스래빗
Mouse Rabbit cafe is run by Yesung and his younger brother. The store totally fits his vibes, and even the cashier kiosk had a unique display. The store comes with three floors of very different aesthetics, and they were all so instgrammable. We came early at lunch time, so we basically went to all three floors for a photoshoot without any audience!
My friend who is a huge fan of Yesung actually met him in the cafe and got an autograph when he visited the cafe recently.
Address: Seoul 5-14 Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu
There are also fan cafe events organised by the fanclubs, so fans can celebrate together. Some celebrities do pop by!
It was also fun to spot birthday cafe event billboards too. There were countless everywhere, on buildings, in front of cafes, on the train stations, you name it.
4. Visit Iconic Landmarks
I love exploring places that were on TV – be it on dramas, music videos or reality shows. So I usually make time for it on this trip too.
Dal.Komm Coffee Balsan Branch 달콤커피 발산역점
If you are a fan of the K-drama Goblin (or Guardian: The Lonely and Great God), one easy location is the cafe that they filmed in. The three-level store made it very obvious that it was used as a filming site, and you get to relax and enjoy the cafe as per usual too.
Address: 894 Nagamachi-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul (Hopefully this is the correct address)
KB Rockstar Youth Lounge
This was featured in the drama Record of Youth. I watched the drama belatedly, but it was a pretty good drama that showcased real-life issues and stories. Rockstar Youth Lounge was the place where the two leads went on a date in ep 4.
The place is located in Hongdae, which was easy to get to. Apparently, it was awarded Seoul Architecture Award for its unique stair-type exterior. Perhaps you could also make your own kdrama and have a meet-cute there since it is a venue for concerts, exhibitions, festivals and more.
Address: 18, Hongik-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Lotte World
Lotte World is an amusement park with an ice rink and the famous Carousel that countless idols post at! But if you head to the cafe that sells churros indoors, you can actually spot framed autographs of your favourite Kpop idols. I was pleasantly surprised to see 2nd Gen idol autographs still in great condition.
Lotte World consists of an outdoor (“Magic Island”) and indoor area (“Adventure”). The outdoor rides were super fun, and I personally think it’s not scary for adrenaline-junkies. Even the “scariest” ride like the famous Gyro Swing and Atlantis felt tame as compared to the rides in Everland.
The only downer was the very long queue for the rides. It was still bearable sometimes because there were jokers who airdropped running man memes randomly as we were queuing.
Address: 240, Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul 138-721 South Korea
Starfield Coex Mall
This shopping mall is huge and super fun to shop at. But there are also other activities to do, including the instagrammable Starfield Library and even an aquarium. There was also the popular Gangnam Style statue, located in front of the mall.
The best part is you can find the handprint wall of K-pop artists there! Spent about 20 minutes just high-fiving my favourites and realising how all these cutie patooties are actually huge in Asian size.
There’s also a 3D billboard to spot your idols around the corner.
Note: Handprints used to be a seasonal affair at the Star Avenue walkway outside Myeongdong Lotte Department Store, where some kpop groups were selected like Stray Kids. However, they have since removed it and are just filled with digital panels now. (But there was a Bellygom season at the store itself!) There are also handprints of BTS and Twice at Jamsil stadium.
Address: 513 Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Seoul Forest
Seoul Forest is huge and gorgeous on its own and doesn’t even need an idol-related attraction. Opened in 2005, Seoul Forest is place of leisure for all. We spotted so many locals hanging around this huge park, which has four themed-parks.
Each section had a different landscape, like a spacious lawn and flat benches/patio in between the trees, to intricate sheltered space in the midst of a lake, detailed bridges across small rivers, tall bamboo-looking forest, and more!
One of the reasons for visiting this gorgeous park is to get a glimpse of SM Entertainment’s headquarters’ office building at Seoul Forest Station. Within the office, there is an SM Store where related albums, merchandise, and goods are sold.
You can also find BTS’ RM Banch at the entrance to the Ginkgo Tree Forest section, which was adopted by fans during the 4th anniversary of RM’s mixtape.
There was also an alley with a small flea market and some cute shops along the way to the park if you are from Ttukseom station.
Address: 04769 83-21, Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul (SM HQ) or 273, Ttukseom-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul (RM Bench)
Seochon Hanok Village
Seochon Hanok Village is a popular area to experience a traditional Korean Hanok stay. This is because it is located in Seoul’s heritage area, which was called Hanyang during the Joseon Dynasty. Located just to the left of Gyeongbokgung Palace, the village was home to the less powerful court officials and scholars in those days. King Sejong was apparently a local there too.
Being big fans of the variety show ‘I Live Alone’, we were super excited when we spotted one of the accommodations that Jun Hyun Moo lived in some of the episodes on the show. He stayed at the Hanok temporarily while waiting for his house renovations to be completed.
It was a total coincidence as we were just exploring the alleys for photos, but somehow found that particular Hanok so familiar.
Address: 03037 45, Pilwoon-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul
K-Star Road
I personally wouldn’t recommend visiting the entertainment HQs because it would mean that you have to camp there to see anyone, especially when they don’t really have cafes in the buildings anymore. (Even though I did purposely walk by Around Us Entertainment since I was in the area..)
A more fun thing in the area would be the GangnamDols! They are basically human-scale bear dolls with K-pop groups printed on them. When I read about it before my trip, I thought it was lame, but it turned out to be quite fun (and nostalgic) to spot the groups.
The GangnamDols are placed along the road connecting the Apgujeong Rodeo Station and Cheongdam crossroads. There was no crowd when I went during the weekday, and only students in this richie rich area.
Address: Seoul 407, Apgujeong-ro, Gangnam-gu
5. The Idol Consumer
You’re in Seoul. Of course, you should go…sightseeing and shopping to soak in the K-culture!
Billboard ads
I absolutely adore their billboards. There were so many marketing ads featuring popular personalities, idol groups, actors, comedians and more. As a fan, it was also fun to look out for fan projects. If you are lucky, you might also bump into the actual celebrities that the project is for. Sometimes, they will also leave a message or some gifts for the fans as appreciation for the banners.
CD Shops
Some CD shops sell them at a cheaper rate than most. The most mentioned shops are the ones at Myeongdong street and underground pass. There are also cutout standees of your idol groups at the cd shops if you are lucky.
Product Endorsement
If your idol wears it, you gotta have it! These can be both official and unofficial goods. For example, jewelry shops will showcase photos of celebrities wearing their product. Official product endorsements are also plenty in Seoul. You will be surprised that you could also buy these at Lotte Mart. I bought their yoghurt drink just because Highlight/B2ST’s Yoseop was the ambassador for it, and Pengsoo stickers and postcards!
Dongdaemun
Ok, not gonna lie, Dongdaemun has a lot to offer, especially the shopping (multiple buildings no less), and the market. But Dongdaemun Design Plaza is where the SM Town shop is at! Official merch galore.
Pop-Ups Shops
Korea is super big on pop ups, and K-pop keeps it trendy. When there are music comebacks, or fan-meetings, the groups may open a popup cafe or exhibit or merchandise store. You usually have to register and book a slot, and it is very competitive so you have to be prepared.
6. Dance The Night Away
As it was a family trip, I did not manage to do this, but it is definitely an option!
There have been instances where the idols go for dance classes, so you get to catch a glimpse of them (but you can’t take photos of them). Nonetheless, it would be a cool experience seeing your idols dance up close.
With the rise of shows like Street Women Fighter, even the dancers themselves have their own following of fans. To learn under them is an amazing opportunity. Most of the time, after each class, there will be a queue for photo-taking, and they are super nice about it.
Other Things to do in Seoul
Insadong
Insadong is a neighbourhood that is artsy, modern, and traditional all at once. It has a bright and vibrant atmosphere, so it is great for both families and friends. Spot traditional hanok houses, bustling markets, antique shops, handmade items, art galleries, and tea houses.
Super Junior’s Eunhyuk had a vlog on Ssamzie-gil Market in Insadong, which is a unique building that houses cool and trendy items from local artists. They aren’t the cheapest, but definitely unique.
The viral Onion Cafe is also in this area.
Samcheongdong
Samcheongdong is known as an artistic area, and rightly so. You can find various art museums, museums, art galleries, restaurants, cafés, and shops. It is a pretty area, which has both branded items and unique shop concepts. Bukchon Hanok Village is also in this area.
Myeongdong
Myeongdong gets super packed at night with both locals and tourists. There are many department stores in the area as well, so you have unlimited options for shopping. There’s way too many shops and cafes here, even in the alleys, and there are always discounts and tax-free shops for tourists. Definitely the place to splurge!
Market in U
I wanted to check out this thrift store. The items were organised according to type, material, and color, so it was easy to look for themed items. However, the thrifting did not live up to my expectations, as a lot of the items are not that well-maintained even though the range of clothes type is a lot.
It was a bit of a walk to the place because it is a building on its own, but there are a few other shops that I stopped at along the way, including a huge Bellygom-themed photo studio-shop.
Common Ground
Common Ground was such a fancy-hip place, with a mix of graffiti walls, branded streetwear shops, a game and arcade area, and organic shops and aesthetic restaurants. It’s definitely an instagrammable place, but I prefer shopping at Myeongdong, which had better deals for the same items (unless you are looking specifically for limited ed shoes).
Itaewon
Itaewon looked very different before and after the pandemic. It used to be full of crowds, but when I went in 2022, many shops were out of business, and the vibrant atmosphere became dull. But this place is still nostalgic because of the Seoul Central Masjid, which is the first and the largest mosque in South Korea. There are also a couple of museums and studios to visit in Itaewon. Halal food is still easily found here.
Express Bus Terminal Underground Shopping Mall
This is the largest underground mall with over 600 stores in Seoul along an 880m alley, and is one of my personal favourite shopping places in Seoul. I bought many items here since they were affordable from jewelry, clothes, shoes to bags, and evidently had no time to take photos. The quality of the items had actually improved a lot and lasted a lot longer before.
Garosugil-Apgujeong Rodeo
We made a pit stop here because we were tired from shopping . Garosugil is filled with trendy shops and branded products. Think of Aland, Tamburins, House of Aromatica. If we weren’t so tired from the trip, would have definitely explored more of this place!
Cheonggyecheon-Gwangjang Market
We walked along the stream to get to Gwangjang Market, and visited some K-drama filming spots. You can spot people dipping their feet in the stream, enjoying the views, cycling, running and more. It is a good respite from the busy streets and you feel like you are in a different space from the city.
Hongdae
So happening, so many performances, so many restaurants, so many convenience stores, so many self photo studios, so much shopping. Best place to be! Night life here is good and still family-friendly. There’s also a restaurant that sells halal meat so it was a lifesaver.
Namdaemun Market
Markets are the best, nothing left to be said. Shop, drink and eat at a leisurely pace.
My visit to Seoul left me wanting more. It always feels like I didn’t explore enough, and that I somehow missed something. Then, it makes me want to go again. The cycle never stops!
Uminsummer 