If you're a long-time BTS fan, then you may already know "BTS In the Soop", which is a reality show starring the group which aired during the pandemic years. The title "In the Soop" is a play on words, as "Soop" means "forest" in Korean.
The show features the members spending time together in a natural environment, usually in a forested area, away from their usual busy schedules and the spotlight of their celebrity lives. It offers fans a glimpse into their lives, showing them engaging in various activities such as cooking, playing games, creating music, and simply enjoying each other's company. The show provides a more relaxed and intimate setting for fans to see the members' personalities and dynamics outside of their performances and interviews.
The show had two seasons. For season one, the group rented a guesthouse but for season two, there was a house in Pyeongchang that was renovated just for the show. Now, the house is a popular tourist attraction for ARMYs and I got to see it in person!
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| that iconic photo of the members' last night in the house |
What to Expect at the Tour
The In the Soop Tour takes participants on an official tour of the In the Soop filming location in Pyeongchang. Take note that there is only one tour company that offers an official tour, with multiple booking platforms, such as Klook The rate may be pricey but this tour lets you enter the house and explore the different rooms. Other companies may offer cheaper tours which include the house but they don't get to enter the house and can only take photos from the outside.
The tour package includes bus transportation from Seoul to the In the Soop House and back, with a stop at the BTS Bus Stop in Gangneung. It also includes a snack plus official BTS and In the Soop merchandise, which makes this tour super worth it. The merchandise may vary depending on the availability. For this tour, we all got a BTS Butter standing mini poster, In the Soop coaster set, pin badge, and sticker. We also got an RM birthday postcard.
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| the living room where the members played video games and hung out together |
From the meet-up point in Seoul, we boarded a tour bus that took us to the locations. The bus had BTS music videos playing during the entire trip. We were given about an hour at the BTS Bus Stop and another hour for lunch, and then it was time to go to the main destination.
Participants generally get about two hours to explore the In the Soop house. Since we were a big group, we were divided into two smaller groups and still got two hours each, with a one-hour overlap. So overall, each sub-group had an hour to explore the house without it being too crowded.
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| the kitchen |
I got a bit teary-eyed as I entered the house and saw the rooms where the members spent time. Almost everything in the house was kept to look like it did on the show, except that many photos were added showing the members in each area. My favorite areas in the main house were the kitchen and the living room.
Apart from the main house, we also got to enter the other houses and all of the members' rooms. This was in September so for Jungkook and RM, their rooms were decorated for their birthdays. Guests were allowed to take photos and videos everywhere, except for the viewing room that played episodes of In the Soop. We weren't allowed to sit on the beds but we could sit on the couches. In each of the members' rooms, you'll also find random quotes from them.
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| in Jin's room - spot my RJ bag charm and Jin photocard |
Everything on the grounds can be explored, which includes the basketball court and the camper van as shown in the big photo above. I even got to shoot some hoops on the court and failed miserably in most of my attempts.
There was also a photo booth where we could have our picture taken with one member of our choice, and have it printed on a PVC card as a souvenir. Many of the tour participants chose to do the photo booth first which meant that there was a long queue. If you're doing the tour, I would recommend exploring the house first and doing the photo booth last. When it was our turn, the queue was gone and we had more than enough time to spend in each of the members' rooms.
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| j-hope's room |
After touring the house, it was time to go back to Seoul. On the way back, the tour guide gave each of us a photocard of our favorite members. She also gave us a pack of Ottogi Ramen, the ramen brand endorsed by BTS Jin, as an additional freebie.
Where to Book the Tour
The In the Soop Tour is offered on different platforms, and the rates are more or less the same which is around PHP8,000. Again, this may seem a bit pricey but given everything we experienced during the tour, plus the freebies, and considering how organized everything was, it was worth every cent and I'd do it again.
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| the camper van where Suga spent his time working on music |
I booked my slot via Klook, which is my go-to website for booking tours and activities for my trips, especially in Asia. The booking process was straightforward and hassle-free. I got a confirmation just minutes after paying.
Take note that the tour needs at least 10 participants. If the minimum number isn't met, then it'll get cancelled and you'll get a refund, or you'll be asked to select a different tour date.
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| quote from Jungkook |
If you want a more private experience, you can book a room through Phoenix Resort in Pyeongchang, which is the resort that organizes this tour. By booking this accommodation package, you get a room at the In the Soop Stay and a private tour of the BTS In the Soop House.
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| imitating Jin's pose by the swimming pool |
Overall, this was such a fun and memorable experience that I'd highly recommend to all ARMYs planning to visit South Korea. It was really worth it!
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