Seoul is K-Pop’s capital and full of ‘Hally-u’ highlights – it has the highest concentration of K-pop shops in South Korea and you can even do a full day K-Pop Hallyu tour.
Featuring Psy’s Golden hands to Gangam K-dols, via K-Pop dances and stores, we’ve put together the ultimate DIY 1 day Seoul K-Pop itinerary.
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Covering Gangnam, Cheonggyecheon near Euljiro, Myeongdong and Hongdae, this is the very best Seoul K-Pop tour you can do by yourself.
From following in the footsteps of BTS at Yoojung Sikdang to HiKr Ground, of the best free Korean Wave attractions, here is our 1 day Seoul K-Pop itinerary with photos.
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1 day Seoul K-Pop Itinerary
Our self guided K-Pop tour can be done on public transport. Alternatively, if you want to do a group tour with others and an expert local guide, try this Hallyu 1 day tour in Seoul with Trazy or Viator.
10am – K Star Road (AKA GangnamDol bears)
Naver Map link | Google Maps link
Start your Seoul K-Pop itinerary in Gangnam. If you want a quick breakfast, we recommend finding a branch of Isaac Toast near your hotel or in Gangnam – but be sure to save room for our lunch recommendation.
One of the most famous K-Pop activities in Seoul is a visit to the brightly coloured K-pop bears of K Star Road in Gangnam (which are free to visit 24 hours a day).
These ‘GangnamDols’ (brightly coloured bear dolls) line a 1 km stretch of road with around 20 big bears representing the cream of K-pop talent and famous K-pop dolls.
As you’d expect, the ‘star’ of K Star Road is a huge Psy bear / GangnamDol (near Apgujeong Rodeo Station exit 2), but other bears include Girl’s Generation, Miss A and 4Minute – and yes, the BTS Gangnam-su bear is incredibly popular.
From here, take 15 minute taxi or a bus (143 or 345) – use Naver Map to your next location, the iconic Psy Gangnam Style hands statue.
You might like – 100+ best things to do in Seoul including a Korean baseball game
11am – Statue of Gangnam Style (Psy)
Naver Map link | Google Maps link
This is ‘Psy’ kind of Seoul K-pop attraction! see the surreal statue of ‘Gangnam Style’, a weird and wonderful Seoul attraction, located just outside the East Gate of COEX Mall and COEX exhibition centre.
And yes, we and several other bystanders during our visit felt it only appropriate to recreate Psy’s iconic dance in front of the giant pair of hands.
Unveiled in 2015, the Statue of Gangnam style is the ultimate tribute to Psy and his global ‘Gangnam Style’ hit (part of Psy’s Gangnam Style video was filmed in Gangnam). The song also plays from a speaker next to the statue.
Bonus Seoul K-Pop activity – Psy’s legendary dance moves were partly filmed outside exit 5 of Gangnam Station.
Check out this discover the Korean Wave in Gangnam private tour >
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11.30am – Ktown4u Coex and K-Pop Square
Naver Map link | Google Maps link
Handily, the Psy statue of Gangnam style is next to COEX Mall and K-Pop Square. To be honest, K-Pop Square is only good when there is an event or festival on (although it does have some big video screens).
One of Seoul’s best K-Pop shops Ktown4u’s K-POP complex is located in the nearby mall – as well as light sticks, band merchandise and pop-up stores, there is a themed cafe and a K-Pop Academy, which attractions on every floor.
The Ktown4u K-Pop Academy has several classes and dance workshops of which can be booked in advance via Klook >
Take part in a paid Ktown4u’s programme, where you can experience dance, vocal training and recording, and video shooting – or just explore the shops and cafe. Note some visitors have said the K-Pop merch prices here are more expensive than the Myeongdong K-Pop shops.
From here, time to follow in the footsteps of BTS and have some lunch. It is time for lunch at Yoojung Sikdang – bus numbers 강남08 , 343 or 401 from COEX takes around 30 minutes to get there, or alternatively, the subway will take around 40 minutes.
There is also a smaller branch of K Town 4U in Insadong located on the third floor of the Annyeong Insadong Shopping Centre.
You might like – 30+ best things to do in Gangnam >
1pm – BTS Cafe: Yoojung Sikdang
Naver Map link | Google Maps link
The beloved BTS cafe in Gangnam where the K-Pop band used to dine before they were superstars, Yoojung Sikdang has now become the ultimate K-Pop pilgrimage in Seoul (and tasty too).
Yoojung Sikdang a cosy cafe located in Gangnam’s sidestreets which is literally covered in posters and BTS merchandise – like there isn’t a single surface spared.
We visited Yoojung Sikdang one weekday lunch-time, and even managed to sit at BTS’s favourite table!
Busy with locals and international tourists of all ages, the food here was good and still very reasonably priced (the bibimbap was particularly good).
The BTS boys have been back here several times since to film videos or segments – it is also a good place to bump into fellow Seoul K-Pop fans.
Yoojung Sikdang is open 7 days a week from 10am until 8.30pm weekdays and until 8pm on Saturday and Sunday.
You might like – Top 20+ K-Pop activities in South Korea >
3pm – HiKR Ground 하이커 그라운드
Naver Map link | Google Maps link
Once you’ve eaten, jump on the MRT and head to HiKr Ground (it takes around 40 minutes and involves one change of train). There are a couple of different routes so use a Korean travel app like Naver Map and enter the location as “하이커 그라운드”.
One of the best free K-pop activities in Seoul, HiKR Ground is found on the upper floor of the Korea Tourism Organization Seoul Center overlooking the Cheonggyecheon Stream near Euljiro and Myeongdong.
The space has various K-Pop exhibitions and video screens showing famous videos as well as a mini “K-Pop museum” on the second floor (nothing on the scale of the one in Gyeongju).
Better still, you can recreate your own K-pop video in themed sets like the coin laundry from ‘Permission to Dance’ from BTS (don’t worry, you don’t need any coins)!
The K-pop section at HiKr Ground is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 7pm.
Read more in our guide to HiKR Ground. This is also one of our recommended Seoul with kids activities.
4pm – Myeongdong K-Pop stores
Naver Map link | Google Maps link
It is around a 15 minute walk from HiKR Ground to the main Myeongdong shopping area.
If you are visiting Seoul soon and want to buy K-Pop music or merchandise, the highest concentration of Seoul K Pop stores is in Myeongdong.
And the Seoul K-Pop stores in South Korea don’t just sell K-Pop music or books – you’ll find all manner of K-Pop merchandise from K-Pop Lego through to cute BT21 merch.
Some of the most famous K-Pop shops in Seoul include Buruttrak, Music Korea and Lotte Young Plaza K-Pop Zone. The underground malls are also packed full of K-Pop merchandise.
From Seoul K-Pop stores in malls to market stalls and shops, here is our guide to the 10+ best K-Pop stores in Myeongdong >
7pm onwards – K-Pop itinerary choices
For the evening section of your Seoul K-pop itinerary, you have a few choices:
K-Pop concert
There are dozens of K-Pop groups and K-Pop concerts to enjoy whilst in Seoul, from epic annual festivals like Psy’s Summer Swag (mainly for local university students) to more under-the-radar locally loved bands.
Use websites like Interpark Global, Trazy, Klook, Yes24 or Melon Tickets to see if there are any K-Pop concerts in Seoul. We also mention big Seoul K-Pop concerts in our monthly events guides.
Book some K-Pop concert tickets and experiences with Trazy >
Head to Hongdae
The K-Pop stars of tomorrow all have to start somewhere and Seoul’s Hongdae neighborhood is a breeding ground for up and coming street performers and K-Pop talent.
On all of our daytime visits to Hongdae (particularly at the weekends in summer), we’ve seen dozens of street performers from K-Pop boy bands to accordionists, street-rappers to beatboxers.
Wannabe K-Pop girl groups in Hongdae seem particularly popular especially with young and old men who bring out their large cameras and telescopic lenses – eek!
Huge crowds gather to watch impromptu performances or join in singalong sessions; we’ve even seen fans bring along K-pop light sticks to support their favourite street performers.
The best places to catch street performers are along Festival Street or Hongdae Street.
For K-Pop shopping in Hongdae, head to WithMuu, located on the second floor of the AK Plaza mall.
From The Boyzs to Zero Base One, WithMuu has a big range of K-Pop souvenirs including dozens of band glow sticks / torches, stickers and vinyl selections.
This is one of the smaller WithMuu K-Pop shops in Seoul, but boy, do they pack a lot in this store!
Hongdae is also home to the YG Entertainment 엔터테인먼트 who manages K-Pop groups like Blackpink, Treasure and Babymonster – there is a YG cafe located across the street too which is open until 9pm.
You might like – our 35+ things to do in Hongdae guide >
Meet K-Pop stars at the SBS MTV The Show or ‘Inkigayo’ TV recording (Tuesday or Saturday only)
Catch a live recording of the hit South Korea K Pop music programme ‘The Show’ on Tuesdays, which appears regularly on the SBS network.
Get up close to K-Pop stars, watch them record songs for the show and enjoy the fun and behind the scenes of a TV recording.
Check availability and book ‘The Show’ tickets here >
Alternatively, if you are in Seoul on a Saturday, you can also attend the recording of another K-Pop love music show – Inkigayo, broadcast on SBS Korea too.
Seoul K-Pop beauty treatments
K-Beauty is big business and now one of Korea’s biggest exports, up there with K-Pop, K-Drama and amazing Korean food!
Latest reports indicate that for the first time, exports of Korean beauty products were in excess of $10 Billion USD last year – many salons and spas in Seoul now offer K-Pop star beauty packages and styling tips.
- Lulu Korean Premium K-Pop Idol Hair Salon in Gangnam >
- Seoul: K-Beauty Tour / K-pop Hair & Makeup Tour / No.1 shop >
- K-pop Celebrity Hotspot Beauty Salon: Hair & Makeup Experience >
- K-Pop Idol Hair & Makeup & Personal Color Diagnosis in Gangnam >
- Top 10 K beauty treatments in Seoul with Klook >
Check out our Seoul K-Beauty Treatments guide >
Seoul K-Pop tour
Hopefully we’ve given you all you need to do a DIY Seoul K-Pop tour. If you’d prefer to go with a local expert, there is a one day group tour of Hally-U themed K-Pop activities in Seoul – the ultimate K-Pop tour for any super-fan.
The K Pop Seoul tour departs from Myeongdong or Hongik early in the morning, before whisking you away to visit KBS (a Korean TV station) and KBS Open Radio Studio with a guide.
Afterwards, take some selfies in a K-pop themed playground followed by the K-Pop music video zone with 5 different themes including a K-pop Stage, Color Room and Subway themed room.
You also get to visit KPOPTown 4u to stock up K-pop Idol goods, plus the Statue of Gangnam Style and Kwangya where the famous SM Entertainment office is located.
Book your Seoul K-Pop Hallyu tour on Viator or Trazy.
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