South Korea has always been a favorite travel destination for K-pop fans and K-drama lovers. As a BTS ARMY and avid traveler, I decided to go to South Korea for two reasons: to see all the BTS-related destinations and simply to travel because I've never been there.
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| the BTS Gangnamdol along K-Star Road |
After booking my flight and accommodations, I started planning my itinerary, which included visiting the places the members had been to. If you're a BTS ARMY, then one district you have to visit in Seoul is Gangnam. This is where BTS members spent most of their trainee days up until 2020 before their agency moved its office to Yongsan.
By following this itinerary, you get to walk in the footsteps of the BTS members.
BTS Places to Visit in Gangnam
For this itinerary, it's best to start at Nonhyeon-dong, which is a neighborhood in Gangnam where you can find many of the BTS-related places in Seoul. You can visit most of the places below in any order as they're all within a 10 to 20-minute walk from each other.
To get to this area, you can take the subway Line 7 and get off at either Hak-dong Station or Nonhyeon-dong Station, depending on where you want to start.
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| Old Big Hit Entertainment Building |
Old Big Hit Entertainment Building
This is the place where it all started for the BTS members. This building was the very first office and headquarters of Big Hit Entertainment, now known as Big Hit Music, which is the record company that represents BTS. This is where the members spent most of their trainee days as they were preparing to debut in 2013. Big Hit Entertainment had their office here up until 2017.
This is a must-visit place for ARMYs and it's easily recognizable as it's covered in messages from fans all over the world. Now it's being used as an ordinary office building.
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| taken on the side of the building |
Yoojung Sikdang Restaurant
This was the members' favorite restaurant during their trainee days as it was really close to the old Big Hit building. Now, the inside of the restaurant is covered in photos of the members and the outside is decorated with posters of them as well. Visitors can leave photocards with messages for the members. There's even a pork dish created just for the boys, which I tried and will write about in a future post.
I got to meet the owner and it was such a surreal experience. This was the woman who had gotten to know the members personally during their trainee days and made delicious meals for them. According to interviews, she said that she saw the BTS members as her own sons and believed that they would be successful because of their good manners and work ethics.
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| selca with Kang Sun-Ja, the owner of Yoojung Sikdang |
Old BTS Dormitory Along Nonhyeon
While it's not as popular as the other dormitory, this was actually the first building where the BTS member lived. Their unit was on the third floor where they all shared one room. Now, it's being occupied by other tenants so visitors can only take photos from the outside.
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| first-ever dormitory of the members |
Hakdong Park
This public park is where the BTS members used to spend their free time during their trainee days. According to the members, they have lots of memories there, as it was only a few blocks away from their first dormitory. If you Google this place, you'll even see a photo of RM and Jimin on the swings.
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| Hakdong Park swings |
Hyuga Café and Bakery
This café used to be another dormitory of the member and, as per my knowledge, this was their third dormitory. Just like the restaurant, this café pays homage to the members as it's decorated with their photos. Visitors can also write a note for the members and stick it on the message wall or on the wall of their favorite member's old bedroom. And it's easy to figure out which member lived on which floor or room as each area is decorated specifically for each member.
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| Hyuga Café and Bakery |
Of course, I left a message for Jin and made a drawing of RJ, then placed both sticky notes on the wall of his old bedroom. It's very unlikely that the members will see these messages but it's a fun little activity to do in this café while sipping drinks or eating pastries.
K-Star Road
From Nonhyeon-dong, make your way to a neighborhood called Apgujeong-dong, which is known as one of the wealthiest areas in Seoul. You can take the subway or bus, whichever is more convenient from your starting point in Nonhyeon-dong. If you're taking the subway, you can get off at Apgujeong Rodeo Station.
Here you'll find the popular K-Star Road lined with colorful street art and decorated with giant Gangnamdol statues, which are bear-shaped sculptures representing different K-pop idols and groups. Look for the BTS Gangnamdol, as seen in the first photo, which is right next to a bus station.
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| the biggest Gangnamdol marking the start of K-Star Road |
Line Friends Gangnam Flagship Store
If you collect BTS and BT21 merchandise, then you already know what's in this store. It's one of the biggest Line Friends stores and here you can find lots of official BT21 items. Don't forget to bring your passport because foreigners can shop tax-free for a minimum purchase of KRW30,000.
One thing to note when traveling in South Korea is that Google Maps doesn't work here. Instead, download Naver Map or KakaoMap, which are both useful apps for navigating in any part of the country. Just make sure to set the language to English. These maps can show you which public transportation route to take when getting from one place to another. When taking the subway, Naver Map will even show you which car train to get on so you'll be closer to the exit.
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| message wall in Jin's old room |
If you want a more convenient way to visit most of these places, then I'd highly recommend booking the BTS ARMY Fan Tour from Seoul. This is a great option for those who'd rather have someone guide them to these places instead of navigating on their own. What's great about this tour is that it also takes you to other BTS-related locations outside of Seoul, such as the filming site of Daechwita - a must-visit if you're Suga-biased.
If you're a BTS fan and you're planning to visit South Korea, then don't forget to include these places in your itinerary. If you have any questions about these locations and Seoul in general, then feel free to drop a comment below.
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