If You're A K-Pop Fan Visiting Korea, Check Out These Places
South Korea recently announced that they're lifting the previously mandatory quarantine period for vaccinated guests. What does this mean? A trip to South Korea ASAP.
giphy / Via media.giphy.com
For all my K-pop fans, this is the perfect time to check out cafes and hot spots affiliated with your favorite K-pop stars!
Here are 12 places in South Korea to add to your travel itinerary:
Sony Music / Via media.giphy.com
1.Aweol Monsant
2.The SamE
Address: 6-3, Huiujeong-ro 1-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul
The SamE is the perfect stop to get all your favorite YG artist merch. The company created it as a space for YG artist fans to chill and get to know their favorite idols. There are two floors in this cafe, and the basement houses artist and cafe merchandise. The whole cafe has a somewhat futuristic aspect to it and you'll often see the slogan, "Alter Ego," sprinkled within the space. The menu has refreshing drinks, cake-like donuts, and more delicious sweets.
3.Cafe Dudart
Address: 642-15 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Located in the bustling city of Apugeong, this cafe is the definition of hip. The black exterior of the building and neon interior lights can only point to one thing: AOMG. Although this cafe is a chain franchise, this particular location has a partnership with AOMG, formerly Jay Park's company. Not only do they sell desserts, but they also have an actual restaurant menu of hot dogs, sandwiches, and more.
4.Kamong
5.Yogorino
6.HopeWorld
Address: K-Pop Star Street, Chungjang-ro, Gwangju
Calling all BTS fans! This HopeWorld sculpture is the epitome of all things J-Hope. From a "Chicken Noodle Soup" painting to a colorful mural to a sculpture with engraved messages from fans, it's the perfect spot to celebrate J-Hope. In fact, the sculpture has over 21,800 messages from ARMYs all over the world. This iconic photo spot is located in the heart of Gwangju, J-Hope's hometown.
7.RM Forest
Address: 65 Hangaram-ro, Jamsil 2(i)-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul (RM Forest 1) & 389 Ichon 2(i)-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul (RM Forest 2)
To celebrate RM's 26th birthday, fans created RM Forest 2 near the Han River Park, where fans could rest and enjoy the scenery. However, this forest holds a special meaning in that it's also to preserve the environment, which RM has been a big proponent of. There are actually two locations of this forest; RM Forest 1 is located in Jamsi Hangang Park and was built to celebrate RM's 25th birthday.
8.Magnate
Address: 1786-19, Daeyeon-dong, Nam-gu, Busan
Owned by BTS's Jimin's father, Magate is a great cafe for those wantiong to just grab a cup of coffee and rest up. The interior is a combination of elegant, modern, and minimalist, with a grand chandelier at the center of the cafe. They're known for their coffee drinks and delicious pastries.
9.Ossu Seiromushi
Welcome to BTS's Jin and his brother's Japanese cuisine restaurant! This restaurant serves Japanese cuisine at a slightly higher price point, but tourists say their ingredients are always high class. It's the perfect place to enjoy a nice meal out with your family or friends.
10.Mouse Rabbit
Address: 1 Neungdong-ro 11-gil, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul
This cafe is actually more of the well-known ones in the K-pop industry, considering that it's been featured in many of the idols' personal YouTube channels. It's owned by Super Junior's Yesung and his brother. It's a fairly large cafe with three floors, each with different vibes. To give a quick run-down of each floor: the basement is called the "rabbit hole" and gives off a homey feel with a fireplace and cozy tables; the first floor is the place for views with an open terrace and balcony; the second floor is decorated beautifully and shares the space with other stores. Overall, it's the perfect Instagram-photo location.
11.Caffe Soo
Address: 14-25 Usan-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju, South Korea
Cafe Soo's exterior and interior is covered with pictures of the "nation's first love" — Bae Suzy! Suzy gifted this cafe to her mother back in 2013. It's a cozy place with great coffee and loads of Suzy-related content. Although Gwangju is a bit of a drive from Korea, this cafe is a great place to visit if you're a fan of Suzy.
12.M Countdown
Address: Sangam Sanro 66, Mapo-gu, Seoul
You can actually go to a M Countdown pre-recording or actual show to see your favorite artists perform live! Every Wednesday, M Countdown will post a line-up on Facebook for the following Thursday, where you can check if your favorite groups are performing/making a comeback. On the day of, it's recommended that you go earlier to stand in the queue line. There are three tiers that determine when the staff will let you in. Tier 1 is for official fan club members; Tier 2 is for non-fan club members who have an album and proof of a purchase of a digital single on listening apps; Tier 3 is for non-fan club members who have their passports. If you do plan on attending, be sure to bring your passport.
13.Music Bank
Music Bank runs on a slightly different method than M Countdown in terms of fans watching the pre-recording sessions. To be eligible to get in, you'll need to create a KBS account. From there, you can sign up from Thursday at 9 a.m. KST to Saturday 12 a.m. KST to be entered in a ticket lottery.
Support AAPI-centered content by exploring how BuzzFeed is celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month! Of course, the content doesn't end after May. Go follow @buzzfeedapop to keep up with our latest AAPI content year-round! P.S. Love this art? Learn more about these amazing AAPI activists here.
