Category: Travel

5 K-Pop Travel Destinations in South Korea Fans will Love

K-pop is one of the leading industries in South Korea, So it makes sense that they’d have a lot of attractions dedicated to that specific matter. From K-pop themed cafés/restaurants to sculptures and art pieces decorating the streets, there’s no shortage of finding things for or relating to K-pop. Though many things are business/government created, there are plenty of things that fans of K-pop groups have put together for their favorite idols. If you’re a fan of K-pop and you’re planning on heading to South Korea soon, here’s a list of five K-pop travel destinations you’ll definitely want to stop by!

Kpop Travel Destinations: Gwangju

Gwangju K-Pop Star Street

As one of the bigger cities in South Korea, it should be no surprise that Gwangju is the first location on this list. Besides, there’s been numerous idols from Gwangju—including BTS’ j-hope, Monsta X’ I.M and Hyungwon, Ateez’ Yunho, and fromis_9’s Nagyung and Hayoung. Because of the numerous idols from this city, there’s a road dedicated specifically to K-pop. And even more specifically to those idols from the area.

This road is known as the Gwangju K-Pop Star Street (also known as the Chungjang-ro K-Pop Star Street).

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Located in the downtown area of Gwangju, this street was built to represent all of the idols from Gwangju who’ve achieved their dreams of debuting. There’s a few different things you can see on this street—including handprint art (with the actual handprints of idols!), a star memorial hall, and a shutter mural that shows various albums from K-pop artists.

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There’s even a “Fan Zone” on this street where many idols have gone and donated various things for fans to look at. Back in March, boy group Ateez took a trip to the Gwangju K-Pop Star Street and donated their own things. You can watch this video here:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6DHHte-Bg8[/embedyt]

If you’re a fan of BTS, then you’ve definitely heard of this K-pop travel destination. This destination in particular contains the HOPE WORLD sculpture for BTS member j-hope. And what a sight it is.

Gwangju’s HOPE WORLD Sculpture

At the opening of Gwangju’s K-pop Star Street, there stands an enormous sculpture of the word “HOPE.” On this sculpture, there’s 21,800 messages full of love and support for j-hope from ARMY around the world.

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Named HOPE WORLD after the artist’s first mixtape, the sculpture is aimed at giving j-hope what he gives to fans with his music: hope, happiness, and love. It stands in front of the Hope World mural, being one of the first things on the street to see.

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Overall, if you’re a fan of BTS—and of other groups that have members from Gwangju—then you’ll definitely want to add the Gwangju K-Pop Star Street to your list of K-pop travel destinations not to miss!

Kpop Travel Destinations: Gangnam

After growing in popularity around the world thanks to Psy’s song “Gangnam Style,” it should be no surprise that Gangnam is also on our list. Jam packed with K-Pop memorabilia, Gangnam has quite a few things worth stopping by and checking out.

Much like Gwangju, there’s also a K-Pop street in Gangnam. However, this one was actually made first! This street is known as the Gangnam K-Star Road.

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Another popular location in Gangnam is the Statue of Gangnam Style.

Statue of Gangnam Style

Like I mentioned earlier, the worldwide popularity of Gangnam had a lot to do with Psy’s worldwide hit “Gangnam Style.” This song came out back in 2012. And it quickly swept across the world in a mixture of parodies and truly loved mixes. Everywhere you went, you would find people making the famous Gangnam-Style dance moves. (You know which one I’m talking about… the jumping, the crossed hands… mostly known as a “horse-riding” dance move.)

Well, after the worldwide, record-breaking song continued to grow in popularity, Gangnam decided to put up a statue in its honor. At the end of 2015/early 2016, the Statue of Gangnam Style was unveiled. Of course, this is now one of the most visit K-Pop travel destinations on this list.

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You can find this statue you in fron of the COEX Mall’s East Gate.

Gangnam K-Star Road

Located on the main road of Gangnam—connecting the Apgujeong Rodeo Station and the Cheongdam crossroad—this road has quickly become one of the most popular K-pop travel destinations.

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Like the Gwangju K-Pop Star Street, the Gangnam K-Star Road has a few things you can see. The biggest attraction is the GangnamDols. These large character dolls represent various K-pop groups.

There’s dolls for SHINee, Miss A, Block B, BTS, EXO, and many others. They’re quite large, so it’s a perfect picture location!

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And, if you like the look of the GangnamDols, there’s actually a gift shop. You can buy magnets or miniature versions of the dolls here! So you take a little piece of the Gangnam K-Star Road with you when you leave. There’s nothing like visiting K-Pop travel destinations and getting to take some of it back home with you!

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If you want more things to look at while you’re visiting Gangam, after hitting the most important K-Pop travel destinations, there’s plenty for you to see! This street is actually pretty close to some of the bigger entertainment companies… a quick internet search and you could find yourself standing in front of your favorite artist’s company building. And if shopping is more your route, then you’re in luck.

The Gangnam K-Star Road is in a shopping-fanatic’s dreamland. There’s a ton of shopping stores nearby—including the Hyundai Department Store—and the Cheongdam Fashion Street is actually one of the more luxurious shopping areas in Seoul. There’s also another street—the Sinsadong Garosu Street—that includes even more designer stores and plenty of other shops to fill your shopping needs.

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The Gangnam K-Star Road has everything K-pop related and more that you’d ever want for a day trip. So be sure to add this location to your K-pop travel destinations list—and perhaps your regular travel destination list, too!

K-Pop Travel Destinations: Seoul

Though Gangnam is a district within Seoul, there’s a few K-Pop travel destinations you’ll want to visit from Seoul in general. The Seoul Forest. Firstly, this park is a great place to visit regardless of your feelings for K-pop; there’s different sections to this park that can include anything from educational parks to art parks. There’s enough stuff for you to enjoy the park all on its own!

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However, since you’re here to add to your K-pop travel destinations list, then you’ll want to mark this one down, too!

In particular, Seoul Forest has become the place that K-pop fans buy/plant plots of trees (with benches or plaques usually) to dedicate to their favorite idols. If you look up K-Pop Forests in Seoul, Seoul Forest will be one of the first locations to come up. In fact, if you look up K-Pop travel destinations in general, Seoul Forest will be the top results.

If you’re a fan of BTS, then you’ll want to take a walk through this park as well. Because this park has not one, but two forests dedicated to member RM. Making three (four if you count the GangnamDol) K-Pop travel destinations in South Korea for BTS!

RM Forests

RM Forest #1

Set up back in 2019 to celebrate RM’s birthday, fans banded together to donate and plant nearly 1,250 trees for the—officially named—RM Forest No. 1.

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This forest was a long time coming. Years and months were put into raising money and finding people to plant the trees. But after it all, fans love it.

You can find this first RM Forest at the Han River Park in Jamsil.

RM Forest #2

The second RM Forest was created by fans once again to celebrate the leader’s birthday in 2020. They planted three hackberry trees and two-hundred stocks of spirea.

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Both forests were put together by the account @HoneyJoonie94 on Twitter. Because of their dedication to completing the task, there’s two lovely K-Pop travel destinations for BTS fans to visit in Seoul.

You can find this second RM Forest at the Han River Park in Ichon.

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And since this is one of the quieter places on our K-pop travel destinations list, why don’t you take a load off and listen to RM’s “Bicycle” while visiting? I guarantee it’ll be a nice time!

K-Pop Travel Destinations for General K-Pop Related Things

Though it’s great to have specific places to visit and see only K-pop related things, there’s plenty of locations in South Korea (and particularly in Seoul) that just include a lot of K-pop things even if they’re not only for K-pop.

This includes places like shopping malls or amusement parks. There’s also plenty of restaurants and cafés that you can find around South Korea that include K-pop memorabilia. And, if you’re lucky, you might find yourself wandering into restaurants either owned by an idol or one owned by their family!

Myeongdong Underground Shopping Center

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If you didn’t know, underground shopping centers are actually rather popular in South Korea. Many of these shopping centers can include anything from clothing to food to K-pop merchandise. That’s what makes them so great.

But what adds the Myeongdong Underground Shopping Center to our K-pop travel destinations list specifically has to do with the huge amount of K-pop merchandise you can find here.

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Including albums, you can find posters and clothing and just about anything related to your idol. There’s quite a few different K-pop related stores in this shopping center, so it’s definitely worth a visit!

There’s a couple ways to get to this shopping center. However, you can actually get there without coming up to ground-level from the subway station. If you’re at the Myeongdong subway station (Line 4), you’ll be able to find it rather easily!

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Which of these K-pop travel destinations will you be visiting?

With so many K-pop travel destinations in South Korea, we’ve barely scratched the surface with this list of five places. But there’s at least a few places for you to start with this list! If you are a JYP fan, then definitely check out their Soul Cup cafe with the video below!

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_XthOdXaVQ[/embedyt]

If you want to read more about all things K-pop, then you can scroll through our K-Pop Category. We’ve written about plenty of the top K-pop artists and maybe some that you should check out. If you’d like to find more locations to add to your South Korea Visit List that aren’t K-Pop travel destinations, then you can scroll through our Travel Category. We’ve written about places you can visit in Jeju, things you can do to live like a local Korean, and various attractions you’d enjoy checking out. So be sure to scroll through our blogs!

August 6, 2022
5 Distinctive Korean Cafe Themes Worth Checking Out

When visiting South Korea, one major thing tourists will look for are the unique places they can pop into and get an unforgettable experience. Besides the K-pop locations to see around South Korea, the various local sites around Seoul to see, and many more, there are a few smaller locations where you might find the most unique experiences. We’re talking about the different Korean cafes you can find.

For how similar cafes can be throughout the world, a Korean cafe is unique in its presentation and themes. They’ve taken the initiative to get creative with their themes—exploring cafes that include various animals, specific flavors/colors, and more.

Various Korean Cafe Themes You Can Find

Between the thousands of various themes possible, there are quite a few themes that end up being repeated from cafe to cafe. Of course, there are always K-pop and idol-themed cafes but there are tons that stray from those, too.

Animal Cafes

One of the most well-known themes for Korean cafes is the animal cafe. Quite literally, you can visit these cafes and have a meal with an animal. The most popular animals to come across are cats and dogs and some dog/cat cafes even allow you to bring your own pet along with you!

But there are plenty of unique animals that you might not expect to see in a Korean cafe. Including, but not limited to, raccoons, sheep, meerkat and so many more.

Thanks Nature Cafe

Around the corner from Hongik University’s Seoul Campus, Thanks Nature Cafe is a go-to stop for any nature and coffee-loving person.

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With an aesthetically beautiful nature vibe throughout the cafe, delicious food, sweet drinks, and even sweeter animals, Thanks Nature Cafe is one of the best places to stop by. And what animal will you get to see while visiting? Sheep!

That’s right—this Korean cafe branches out from the usual house pets to offer customers a chance to meet with sheep. Though they have the sheep in a separate area from where you dine, you can always visit the adorable furballs in their playpen. Many have said that the sheep are friendly and positively lovely!

Image from Thanks Nature Cafe’s Instagram

You can find this Korean cafe at 10 Hongik-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea.

Meerkat Friends

If you’ve looked into animal cafes at all in South Korea, then you’ve no doubt stumbled upon Meerkat Friends. It’s one of the most popular animal cafes in Seoul—especially with adorable meerkats running around!

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Just like Thanks Nature Cafe, Meerkat Friends is located near Hongik University, making it quite the hotspot for people. As their name mentions, this Korean cafe has meerkats! What the name doesn’t mention is that they also have a raccoon, arctic foxes, a wallaby, and a few other animals.

After paying an entry fee of 10,000 – 15,000 KRW, you can find yourself being a personal jungle gym for the adorable meerkats. Of course, there are some rules. The meerkats are held in a special pen that you have to enter—most valuables removed by this point so the curious animals don’t end up stealing them from your pockets. You also only get a ten-minute limit in the pen with them, meaning that you don’t have too much time to spend with them in one sitting.

Some have mentioned that the “cafe” part of this animal cafe isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. It seems that Meerkat Friends focuses most on letting you see and meet with the meerkats, so don’t go there expecting to have a light meal. Anything you buy is at an additional cost to the entry fee.

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This Korean cafe is located at 364-3 서교동, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea. Be sure to wear clothes you don’t mind getting a little dirty from the meerkats!

Book / Comic Book Cafes

Alongside animal cafes, another popular theme you’ll find in a Korean cafe is the book or comic book theme. These cafes can be noticed through their seemingly endless shelves of books and/or comic books, comfortable seating areas, and warm lighting that’ll set the right mood for reading.

Book Park

Probably one of the most popular book cafes in Seoul is Book Park. With its ravishingly large bookshelves, its endless choice of books, and its comfortable nooks to settle into, it’s no surprise that Book Park is a favorite for readers in Seoul.

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Located in Itaewon, this three-story book cafe is nothing short of a homely place. Though the books and cafe mostly take space on the second and third floors, this is an incredibly large building filled to the brim with books, books, and more books.

If you’re looking for a quiet place to spend an hour or so just reading through things, then this Korean cafe is just what you need. Their wide selection of books, coupled with their cafe with quite a good selection of drinks, leads to the perfect place to recharge.

And if you’re exploring spots Korean dramas might have been filmed, then Book Park is definitely on that list. A couple of K-dramas have been filmed in this beautiful Korean cafe throughout the years, so you can plan a visit to see the actual place where scenes have been filmed.

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Book Park is located at 294 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea.

Dunguri Manhwa Cafe (뒹구리만화카페)

If you enjoy comic books more than novels, then you might feel a little more at home visiting a comic book cafe instead. Though many great comic book cafes have come and gone in South Korea, you can still get your comic book fix at Dunguri Mnahwa Cafe.

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Though this cafe is more like a comic book store, there are still areas for you to sit down and enjoy flipping through the pages of your favorite comic book while relaxing. You can purchase beverages and enjoy the smaller space.

Though this cafe isn’t filled with adorable animals or thousands of books, it has its own charm to it. It’s a bit calmer, more relaxed, and small enough to attract a smaller crowd. This means that you can enjoy more time with your comic books without interruptions.

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This Korean cafe can be found at 111 Seogang-ro, Changjeon, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea—not too far from a few of the other Korean cafes already mentioned.

Hanok Cafes

If you’re more of a historical person, finding comfort in the history of places, then you should consider looking into Hanok cafes. Surrounded by history, these cafes aim to exemplify what makes the traditional Korean Hanok houses/buildings beautiful.

Seoul Coffee

With a few branches throughout South Korea, Seoul Coffee is one of the hot spots for Hanok cafes.

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With its open space, wooden furniture, and connection to nature, Seoul Coffee is the perfect definition of a Hanok cafe. It’s gorgeous, too, toeing the line between modern and history seamlessly. Not only will it provide picture-worthy places, but it also offers various beverages and foods to try.

Most noticeably, this Korean cafe is known for its butter bread—which are these larger rolls of bread split open and filled with butter. But there are a few different things for you to try if you’re not into butter or bread (or both!).

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As mentioned, there are a few different locations you can find for Seoul Coffee. However, the most popular branch to visit is the one located in Ikseon. You can find this Korean cafe at 166-31 Ikseon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea.

Cha Masineun Tteul

Taking a slight twist to the traditional cafe, this Hanok cafe is more of a tea house—meaning it specializes in tea and serves it more often than coffee.

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With a great overview of the mountain nearby, the Cha Masineun Tteul tea house is the perfect place to escape from the busy city life of Seoul. Not only have people mentioned that this place is gorgeous and has friendly staff, the beverages and snacks there are delicious.

The Hanok theme gives this Korean cafe a simpler approach to foods and beverages, making it quite cute and calming for any visitors. For tourists, if they’re looking to find a local cafe to enjoy, then this would be the perfect place!

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You can find Cha Masineun Ttuel at 26 Bukchon-ro 11na-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea.

Singular-Themed Cafes

Though this sounds a bit like everything we’ve already mentioned, we wanted to bring light to a couple of cafes that stick heavier to one theme more than the rest. Above animal cafes, book cafes, and even Hanok cafes, there are some Korean cafes that you can find where they incorporated a single theme throughout both their food/beverages and their physical appearance.

Banana Tree Cafe

Known for their Banana themed decorations and foods as well as their potted pudding desserts, the Banana Tree Cafe is probably one of the more unique cafes you can find in Seoul.

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Taking the banana theme seriously, this Korean cafe incorporates the color yellow heavily into their décor and the banana flavor in most of their foods and beverages (of course, there are alternatives if banana isn’t your favorite flavor). With a quaint setting, quirky foods, and a distinct theme, there’s not much that can come to its level of uniqueness.

Most well-known about this Korean cafe is their potted pudding desserts. Taking their banana theme seriously, they serve their pudding in a “pot” with flowers—almost as if it were a banana tree just starting to grow. They incorporate edible decorations (minus the flowers themselves) to give the illusion that the pudding is dirt and have special spoons shaped like shovels.

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If you want to visit this banana-themed Korean cafe, you can find it at three different locations: Sinsa (Garosu-gil), Hannam (Itaewon), and the Lotte Department Store Star City branch.

Greem Cafe

If you’re willing to step into a completely different world when visiting a Korean cafe, then you’ll absolutely love the cartoon-themed Greem Cafe.

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Greem Cafe will transfer you to an entirely new world, placing you in what almost feels like a fairytale cartoon. The solid white and singular line drawn onto each piece of furniture gives the illusion of being part of something two-dimensional. The theme of the cafe was actually inspired by the Korean drama W.

We have all wished at one point to be able to visit cartoon-like, or fairytale-like, locations. When Greem Cafe first opened up, it gained tons of attention for the decorations and the perfect photoshoot aesthetic. It filled the want many of us have had for being part of our very own fairytale.

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You can find this Korean cafe at 161-10 카페 1.5층Seongmisan-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea.

Entertainment / Nap Cafes

The last Korean cafe themes for our list seem quite opposite of one another, but they can actually go hand-in-hand!

Entertainment cafes—typically game cafes that range from VR games to board games—are prime spots to hang out with friends, enjoy some downtime, and keep relatively involved. On the other hand, nap cafes are the exact opposite. As the theme suggests, nap cafes are places where you can visit and take some time to rest—many offer thirty-minute to hour-long slots, comfortable spaces, and light snacks.

Gangnam Bad VR Cafe

The popularity of VR has increased in recent years, causing a rising of VR-themed cafes to pop up around South Korea. One of the most popular VR cafe brands you’ll find in Seoul is the Gangnam Bad VR Cafe.

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Right when you walk through the door, Bad VR transports you to an LED-lit and expansive area full of various games. The walls are lined with large, curved screens and the environment is pretty fun. There are single-player games, but many games go up to four players.

To enter, there is an entrance fee. It’s about 15,000 KRW for one hour, but you can always pay for more. There’s also a cafe area for you to buy snacks and beverages and take a break from the games if needed.

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This Korean cafe is located in Gangnam, the address is 182-227 Nonhyeon 1(il)-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea.

Shim Story (쉼스토리)

In the hustle and bustle of a busy day, sometimes all you want is to take a break (and a nap). In recent years, Korea has pushed for cafes that allow busy workers to take a short break throughout their day and recharge with naps. Shim Story is one of the popular nap cafes in Seoul.

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With various selections, this Korean cafe offers anything from a pleasant place to sit and rest to a full bed to enjoy a nice nap. Between the various options offered at Shim Story, you can choose from massage chairs, individual rooms with bean bag chairs or beds, or more open cubbies with comfortable chairs and a table to relax with others. The rooms each seem to include a television, too.

The price range for Shim Story varies depending on the option you choose. You can also purchase various drinks and snacks for an additional price. However, it seems like there are some free options that you can choose from—there are most likely some stipulations as to when they’re free, but having a free menu is still pretty good.

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This Korean cafe can be found at Yeoksam-ro, 3-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea.

Which Korean cafe themes have you heard about?

With an unlimited number of cafes continuously opening and closing throughout South Korea, there are more themes than just these five. Some focus more on broader themes—like the Hanok cafes—but there are plenty more that carry a very specific theme—much like the Banana Tree Cafe.

If you’d like to find more places to visit in South Korea—and more specifically Seoul—you can check out our Travel Category. We’ve written about tons of different locations throughout Korea that are definitely worth checking out!

April 5, 2022
Top 10 Amazing Attractions in Jeju Island One Shouldn’t Miss
Jeju Island is the largest island in South Korea, located in the Jeju Province. This island has amazing views of nature, heritage sites, museums and other entertaining sites. If you are a solo traveler or want to have a family trip, then Jeju Island should not be missed.

Quickest way to get to Jeju Island is via Airplane to Jeju International Airport. It will take an hour if you take a flight from Seoul. On the other hand it will take less than an hour from southern coastal city of Busan. You can also check out amazing hotels to live in Jeju Island Jeju Island hotels. Want to know where to travel in Jeju Island, so here are the top 10 amazing attractions in Jeju Island:

Top 10 amazing attractions in Jeju: Waterfalls

1. Jeongbang Waterfall in Jeju Island

Image Source: thesoulofseoul.net

Jeongbang waterfall is the only waterfall in Asia that directly falls into the ocean. It is one of the most magnificent spots and above all one of the best places to visit especially with your family and friends. Jeongbang waterfall is not only famous for its sight-seeing but also for sunbathing. Undoubtedly, becoming most famous waterfall in South Korea. As a result it is one of the top 10 amazing attractions in Jeju Island.

How to travel to Jeongbang waterfall? :

By Bus: 521, 600, 651, 652 are the nearest stops to the waterfall. Then you have to walk for 5 minutes to reach the waterfall. You can also take line 181 bus from Jeju City to Jeongbang waterfall and will take approx. 29 minutes to reach.

By rented car: Travelling by rented cars are much easier and faster, unlike public transport that can be a bit slow.

On the other hand, there are tours that makes it easier for you to travel around. Klook has a great tour for this area.

Timings:

Summer: 7:30 am to 19:00 pm and Winter: 7:30 am to 17:30 pm

Price: For Adults: 2,000 won and for Children: W1,000 won

You can also check here thesoulofseoul.net, if you want to know where to stay on Jeju Island.

2. Cheonjiyeon Waterfall

Image Source: corejeju.com

Cheonjiyeon means sky connected with land and it is one of the major tourist attractions on Jeju island. There is also a fairytale regarding this waterfall. According to this tale there were seven fairies who served the King of Heaven who descended to Earth and took bath in this waterfall. Therefore, it is also known as ‘God’s Pond’. Swimming and soaking are not allowed because recently this waterfall is being considered as ‘Natural Monument’. Cheonjiyeon waterfall is also one of the top three famous waterfalls in Jeju Island along with Jeongbang.

How to travel to Cheonjiyeon Waterfall? :

By Taxi: Take taxi from Jeju city and you will reach in 38 minutes.

By Bus: Another best way to travel to Cheonjiyeon waterfalls is to take a bus from line 181 which takes 43 minutes. There are bus services operated by Jeju Island buses that departs from Jeju City Hall.

By car: You can also travel via car, it will take approximately 38 minutes to reach from Jeju city to Cheonjiyeon falls.

Timings: From 07:00 am to 23:00 pm (last entry: 22:10 pm)

Price: For Adults: 2,000 won and for Children: W1,000 won

Top 10 amazing attractions in Jeju: Parks

3. Hallasan National Park in Jeju Island

Image Source: koreaetour.com

Image Source: tripadvisor.in

Hallasan National Park is located on the southernmost part of Korean peninsula. It is part of the South Korea’s highest mountain Hallasan Mountain. In 1970, it was selected as the 9^th National Park. It is also designated by UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site. Surprisingly there are over 1800 kinds of plants and 4000 animal species, this is the reason this place is a treasure for nature lovers. Therefore, it is considered as one of the top 10 amazing attractions in Jeju Island.

How to travel to Hallasan National Park? :

By Bus: From Jeju City you can take line 181 bus for Hallasan National Park which will approx. 23 minutes to reach.

By train: You can also travel by train from Seoul and takes 3 hours 48 minutes.

Most importantly don’t forget that pandemic has not ended yet, during your travel take necessarily precautions.

Travel Tips during Covid Pandemic:
1. Wear masks.
2. Social distancing to be maintained of about 2 meters.
3. Observe Covid 19 rules.
Timings: 12:00 pm to 16:00 pm

Preferred timings: 12:00 pm to 13:00 pm

Price or entrance fees:

Groups of 3: 3,000 won

Grouping of 9: 4,500 won

Groups of more than 10: 6,000 won

4. Jeju Stone Park

Image Source: corejeju.com

Jeju stone park is an ecological park with rock displays and some brilliant Jeju’s myth and spirit’s inspiration. Outdoor stone sculptures and culture village are also one of the main attractions of this park.

How to travel to Jeju stone park:

By Bus: Take Bus No. 100 from Jeju International Airport to Jeju Intercity Bus Terminal. Then from bus terminal take a bus bound for Namjo-ro and get down at Jeju stone park bus stop.

Timings: 09:00 am to 18:00 pm

First Monday of every month are closed.

Length of tour: Approx. 2 hours 30 minutes (50 minutes per course)

Prices/Fees: Individual adults: 5,000 won

Individual teenagers (13-18): 3,500 won

Group Adults: 4,000 won

Group Teenagers: 2,800 won

5. Hallim Park in Jeju Island

Image Source: english.visitkorea

Hallim Park is one of the best tourist spots on Jeju Island. It was established in early 1970’s on barren land with importing and planting assorted subtropical plants. It has variety of gardens that can be enjoyed in all the seasons. In addition, people can also explore amusement park and folk village that is enjoyable for both adults and children. That is why it is one of the top 10 amazing attractions in Jeju Island.

How to travel to Hallim Park:

By Bus: Take 102 express bus from Jeju International Airport to Hallim transfer station. Then take 202 blue bus to Hallim Park Stop. Total time in this journey is 90 minutes.

By rented car: Through rented car take the road Ilju-Doro and continue toward Hallim. Then still continue toward Hyeopjae at Hyeopjae-sa-geo-ri and will arrive at the park. The journey time will take about 50 minutes.

Price/Entrance fees: Adults: 12,000 won

Teenagers: 8,000 won

Children: 7,000 won

Senior citizens: 10,000 won

Timings:

March to August: 08:00 am to 17:30 pm

September to October: 08:00 am to 17:00 pm

November to February: 09:00 am to 16:30 pm

Top 10 amazing attractions in Jeju: Museums

6. Jeju Teddy Bear Museum

Image Source: tripadvisor.in

Teddy Bear Museum was opened in 2001. Teddy bears are something which children adores. This museum is one of the best place for children and even adults to visit. It also contains two galleries and a museum cafe.

How to travel to Teddy Bear Museum:

By Bus: Take Airport Limousine Bus from Jeju-do International Airport. Then get off at Yeomiji Botanical Garden Bus stop in Jungmun Resort. Walk for approx. 5 minutes and you will reach.

By Taxi: Quickest way you can travel to museum by taking taxi from Jeju City. It will take 36 minutes to reach.

Timings: Weekdays/Weekends: 09:00 am to 19:00 pm (ticketing 18:00 pm)

Summer: 09:00 am to 22:00 pm (ticketing 21:00 pm)

Price/Charges: Adult: 10,000 won

Teenagers: 9,000 won

Children: 8,000 won

Senior citizens: 8,000 won

Disabled: 8,000 won

7. Osulloc Tea Museum in Jeju Island

Image Source: koreaetour.com

Osulloc Tea museum is the first tea museum in Korea. It aims to familiarize with Korean tea history and its tradition. It was also chosen as one of the top 10 museums in the world by designboom (online magazine). They especially praised the museum for its architecture, art and design. Therefore, it is one of the top 10 amazing attractions in Jeju Island.

How to travel?

By Bus: Take bus no. 150-1/255 from Jeju International Airport and will reach Provincial government building. After that you will reach Halla Hospital, then Donggwang Transfer center and then get off at Osulloc Museum.

By Taxi: If you don’t want to have a long journey, instead of bus take a taxi from Jeju International Airport to Osulloc Museum. It will take approximately 40-50 minutes.

Timings: From 09:00 am to 18:00 pm (open all year around)

Another important detail is that Museum can be closed due to harsh weather conditions such as heavy rainfall.

Price/Fees: Free/No charges

8. Jeju National Museum

Image Source: korea.net

Image Source: jeju.museum

Jeju National Museum is a museum that is located in Jeju, South Korea. This museum focuses on the history, archeology, culture and art of Jeju. Undeniably becoming one of the most popular museums in Korea. It is also a great place for people to gain more knowledge. For instance, students who are pursuing graduation or higher studies in history and archeology should visit this place.

How to travel to museum?

Take 101 line Bus from Jeju Bus terminal and will reach Donggwangyang. Then take a taxi to Jeju National Museum.

Timings: Mondays are closed

Tuesday to Friday: 09:00 am to 18:00 pm

Weekends and Public holidays: 10:00 am to 19:00 pm

Saturdays (March to October): 10:00 am to 21:00 pm

Last Wednesday of every month: 10:00 am to 21:00 pm

Price/Charges: Free

Top 10 amazing attractions in Jeju: Beaches

9. Hyeopjae Beach in Jeju Island

Image Source: visitjeju.net

Hyeopjae Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches you will watch. Clear water and white sands mingled with broken shells are undoubtedly beautiful to look at. It offers a mesmerizing view of low tides with Biyangdo Island in front. Traveling together with family and friends will make it even more fun. As a result, this beach is one of the top 10 amazing attractions in Jeju Island.

How to travel?

By bus: Take Bus line no.102 from Jeju city to Hyeopjae Beach and will take 46 minutes to reach.

By taxi: Quickest way to travel is via taxi from Jeju city to the beach. It will take 31 minutes to reach.

Timings: Anytime. Tourists can also visit the beach during the night-time.

You can also check hotels near Hamdeok Beach booking.com.

10. Hamdeok Beach

Image Source: koreabyme

Last but not the least- Hamdeok Beach. It is also known as Hamdeok Seoubong Beach due to the volcanic cone nearby. It is also famous for its mesmerizing sceneries- tall palm trees, emerald blue water and white sand. The sandbar is a fascinating feature of this beach. At night it vanishes and in the next morning it reappears magically. Consequently becoming one of the top three beaches of Jeju Island. In addition you can also enjoy water sports such as waterskiing, rent motorboats and go sea-fishing. Together with family and friends will make it more memorable. As a result, it is considered as one of the top attractions in Jeju Island.

How to travel?

By Bus: Take Bus 101, 325 or 326 from Jeju International Airport to Hamdeok Beach stop and it will take approximately 50 minutes to reach.

By Taxi: Traveling via taxi will take approximately 45 minutes and cost around 20,000 won.

Timings: The beach opens at 10:00 am and closes between 19:00 pm to 21:00 pm.

You can visit any season, but the swimming season is usually from July to August.

In addition, you can also check out some hotels near Hamdeok Beach, click here- hamdeok-beach.

Conclusion- Top 10 amazing attractions in Jeju Island

So, these are the top 10 attractions in Jeju Island one shouldn’t miss. Jeju Island is the top island destination in South Korea. People have overall experienced good time by visiting these places. Most importantly make sure to check the timings of these places before you travel. During this pandemic, make sure to take proper precautions while traveling.

If you want to know how to visit to South Korea, check here travel-to-south-korea.

You can also check out more places in South Korea, like the purple island in the video below, or check here summer-in-korea.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2v3HWCOeyo[/embedyt]
February 5, 2022
Chuseok 2021: What Is The Festival Looking Like This Year?
It’s this time of the year again, while some of you might be busy pulling out your cute boots and scarves to go pumpkin carving, the Koreans are now preparing for Chuseok 2021 (“choo-suhk”). It is otherwise known as the Korean thanksgiving – a celebration of bountiful harvest with their beloved family and food.

If you have no idea what Chuseok is, feel free to check out this article before you proceed! You will find out everything you need to know about Chuseok, the most significant traditional holiday in Korea.

Chuseok 2021: What do we know?

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Celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, Chuseok 2021 will be happening on the 21st of September this year. It is a week earlier than usual. Being a national holiday, the Koreans would get a three-day off to travel back to their hometown and pay respect to their ancestors during this festival. And together, they thank the Gods for the plentiful harvest, and pray for a successful harvest in the coming year. The holiday begins on the 20th of September and ends on the 22nd for Chuseok 2021. The weather during these few days is almost always really great, too! Fingers crossed for a nice weather this year as well!

Looking back at chuseok 2020

As most of us already know, our lives were pretty much cancelled last year due to COVID-19. This of course included Chuseok 2020. In light of the safety concerns during this dreadful situation, the South Korean government strongly encouraged South Koreans to stay put and not to travel for Chuseok 2020. Most Koreans – very begrudgingly – surrendered to the coronavirus, and stayed at home for the holiday in order to avoid aggravating the outbreak.

What should we expect for chuseok 2021?

Because of last year, it begs the question, what is Chuseok going to be like this year? What are the restrictions, what is new, and what will change?

Coronavirus in South Korea now

The Covid-19 pandemic situation in South Korea was unsteady, it was affecting the government’s decision on what precautions to take in advanced to Chuseok 2021. However, the cases have been dropping recently. This is mainly due to the fact that more and more South Koreans have been getting the vaccination. According to a news article on The Korea Times, the daily cases of coronavirus have stayed under 1,500 for two consecutive days.

While still (reasonably so) fretting over the potential flare-up of corona cases during the Chuseok 2021 holiday, the Korean government has eased the restrictions, including the social distancing, curfews, and in-person visits. On top of that, transportation will still be available across Korea. So that more Koreans could go back to their homes to be with and celebrate Chuseok 2021 with their family. Nonetheless, the government still advises the South Koreans not to travel if not necessary, so as not to cause the bounce-back of cases. They also urge the Koreans to take the vaccine shot before celebrating the festival. They should wear a mask at all times as well. Thermal screening and sanitization equipment will be found everywhere.

Despite the loosening of restrictions, many Koreans, especailly the ones in the cities, still choose not to travel back home for Chuseok 2021. While this is disappointing and frustrating, the national safety should always come first.

What Is Already Happening?

As many people’s traveling plans got cancelled, they have to make the best of this holiday with what’s possible. Thus, street markets are already packed with mountains of people. They are preparing for Chuseok 2021 by buying traditional food and other necessities for the holiday:

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So as to help the underprivileged and the needy to also feel the joy of the festival, volunteers (with masks, of course) have been preparing songpyeon – a crescent-shaped rice cake – to give to these people:

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How Can We Participate In Chuseok 2021 Too?

Even though Chuseok seems to just be a holiday for local Koreans to celebrate with their own family. We, as foreigners, can feel the joy too by visiting the cultural and historical sites during Chuseok 2021.

Places That Are Closed Due To The Pandemic

All the major tourist attractions are still open. However, their opening time might be restricted and some areas, closed. Therefore, I strongly suggest everyone to check out thier official webpages before heading over there.

Places You Can Go To:

Joseon-era Royal Residences

The five palaces – Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Deoksugung, Changgyeonggung, and Gyeonghuigung – are for sure the must-see destinations for the Chuseok holiday. The government would usually waive the entry fee or offer discounts on the tickets during this time of the year. They are amazing places to visit over the holiday as they have an array of traditional activities you can join or watch and interesting places you can go to inside. For example, in the Gyeongbokgung Palace, you can visit the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul. You can also try on and rent hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) in the palaces. It is a perfect place to take beautiful pictures!

But please be reminded that because of the pandemic, the guided tours in these palaces have been suspended. Deoksugung Palace only allows a certain amount of people to enter. Moreover, they all require their visitors to have proper sanitization and thermal screening. Just follow all the rules set to ensure your health, and you can enjoy every amenities and activities in the palaces.

You can find out more about their opening time, the latest updates and other details on their websites:
- Gyeongbokgung: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264337
- Changdeokgung: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264348
- Deoksugung: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264316
- Changgyeonggung: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264350
- Gyeonghuigung: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264308
Namsangol Hanok Village

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Namsangol Hanok Village is another popular place to go to during the Chuseok holiday. It is basically a home for five beautiful hanoks (Korean traditional housings) from the Joseon Dynasty. Apart from tourists, local Koreans also love going there with their families to spend the day. Traditional Korean performances, like folk dances (ganggangsullae) and instruments playing (janggu: hourglass drums).

You may also participate in workshops and traditional games like yut, which is a kind of board game, and neolttwigi, which is a traditional outdoor game.

Image Source: yut in the village

Image Source: neolttwigi in the village

They also have on-site archery experience and rice cake making classes during Chuseok 2021 in which you can join and enjoy with your loved ones.

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Like in the palace, traditional Korean clothings are available for people to rent. Throw on these pretty hanboks and take pictures in front of the traditional houses!

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If you want to know more about the Namsangol Hanok Village, and what activities they will be having, feel free to check out their official webpage!

Performaces and Shows

Apart from visiting historical places for the amazing scenery and cultural events, you can enjoy some traditional shows as well!

p.s don’t worry about the language barrier, because these performances are non-verbal. You will understand them completely even if you don’t know any Korean. Plus, the very few words that would be spoken are mostly English.

Jump Show

The award-winning martial arts performance is a combination of talents and comedy. It is packed with martial arts like ‘taekwondo’ and I promise it will have you laughing the entire time! Unfortunately, they have cancelled their daily show at Myeongbo Art Hall (Seoul) because of COVID-19. You can still check out their website for the latest updates for future references!

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Cookin’ Nanta Show

Sounds like a cooking show but it is actually a musical about a group of kitchen staff. The performace includes entertaining elements like acrobatics, magic tricks and comedy that guaranteed to draw you in. Performers would also play traditional Korean samul nori music – thus, a musical. Like the Jump Show, they also ceased having their daily show in Nanta Myeongdong Theater and Nanta Hongdae Theater. Keep an eye on their website, for more information and updates!

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FANTA-STICK

Nope. Not it has nothing to do with the soda fanta. It is actually a live musical with a fusion of “gukak” (Korean folk music) and modern pop & rock. The show also features visual performances like breakdancing and percussion playing. Performances are stopped for the last two years due to the coronavirus, but there is always hope for next year, right?

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Any Other Places I Can Go?

I know, I know. It sucks that you can’t go to many places during Chuseok 2021 because of the pandemic. But you can still go to openspaces like the palaces I have mentioned, or even just take a walk in one of the parks! Stunning orange and red foliage with the autumn breeze, Chuseok is a beautiful time in Korea. So even just wandering around the city you’re in is an awesome activitiy to do in Chuseok. Seoraksan Mountain is known for it’s jaw-dropping autumn views, take a stroll there and see for yourself!

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Wait… What If You Can’t Travel??

There’s no need to panic. I got you! Even if you can’t travel anywhere during Chuseok 2021, you can try making the traditional Korean food featured in this festival instead. So, even when we’re stuck at home, we can still have a taste of this joyous holiday (literally)! Check out Kimchimari to see how to make the traditional food! Also, there are many recipes exclusive for Chuseok here! Her recipes are easy-to-follow and very thorough, perfect for even amateur cooks/baker like myself!

If you want to know more about Korean culture and festival, feel free to check out our blog page!
September 20, 2021
The Top 8 Places BTS Performed

With the world shutting down in-person concerts, because of Covid-19, many artists got a little creative with their performances. Since award shows and other music shows continued—albeit, virtually—most performances were filmed at home. And rather than doing what many other artists had (i.e. filming in their living room or single studio room), BTS took it a step further. They used this chance to film special performances in unique places around South Korea. By having different filming locations, BTS broke the mold on what to expect from at-home recordings. Let’s take a look at the top eight places BTS performed!

Image from BTS’ Weverse

Places BTS Performed: Stadiums

Jamsil Olympic Stadium

The Jamsil Olympic Stadium, also known as the Seoul Olympic Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium in Seoul, South Korea that was built for the 1988 Summer Olympics and the 1986 Asian Games. Today, the stadium itself does not have an individual occupancy, but it is used for a lot of different events—including sports events and concert events.

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Originally, it was built to seat around 100,000 people. However, today it seats closer to 70,000 people. Even so, the Jamsil Olympic Stadium is the largest stadium in South Korea, making it one of the most sought-after places in South Korea to perform in.

BTS first performed at this location in 2018 for their Love Yourself World Tour.

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But, for the 2020 American Music Awards (AMAs), BTS rented out the stadium to give an unforgettable performance. They performed two songs. “Life Goes On:”

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iK86ae14jV4[/embedyt]

… and “Dynamite:”

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vr_0ipbiALc[/embedyt]

Sangam Stadium

Built for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Sangam Stadium—also known as the Seoul World Cup Stadium—is the second-largest stadium in South Korea. Similarly to the first stadium, it seats just shy of 67,000 people.

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It’s home to the Korea Republic national football (soccer) team and their club team FC Seoul. So this stadium is mostly dedicated to football games. However, many large concerts have been held here. Including the yearly Dream Concert event every May/June.

BTS never performed at this stadium until their pre-recorded performance for the 2020 Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMAs).

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpv8PRcesfI[/embedyt]

For their MAMAs performance, they pre-recorded their song “ON” in the stadium. However, they also had performances for “Life Goes On” and “Dynamite.” These performances did not take place at Sangam Stadium.

Out of the places BTS performed on this list, Sangam Stadium is one of the biggest. This performance was rather enormous in comparison to others—complete with their own marching band and individual dance breaks.

Places BTS Performed: Airport Related Locations

Incheon Airport Terminal 2

The Incheon International airport opened its doors in 2001. It is currently the largest airport in all of South Korea. Overall, it is the primary airport for the Seoul area.

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It’s located on an artificially created piece of land between two islands—Yeongjong and Yongyu. Because of the shallow water between the islands, they were able to dump more dirt (land) there and create the artificial piece of land. Pretty interesting if you ask me!

For their performance at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs), BTS rented out Terminal 2 at the airport.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F43Rj9c1TQs[/embedyt]

Though you can’t see it in the video above, BTS included a special animated airplane in this performance. It looked really cool in the final result! It was an amazing performance the group put on. And since it was such a surprising location, it became one of the most iconic places BTS performed.

Korean Air Airplane

Not only did BTS perform at an airport, but they took it a step further by performing in an airplane. As sort of a homage to the Korean airline, Korean Air, BTS performed in a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

For this performance, on the Late Late Show with James Corden, BTS performed “Life Goes On” and “Dynamite.” We only see the airplane during the second song, but it’s definitely left a lasting impression. It’s one of the most unique places BTS has performed.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8fQMq4T8Yg[/embedyt]

Places BTS Performed: Tourist Attractions

The National Museum of Korea

If we want to talk about one of the more iconic places BTS has performed in, then we need to talk about the National Museum of Korea. This museum, built around 1945 and relocated to the Yongsan District in 2005, is the place you want to go to see all things Korean history and art. It is the most visited museum in South Korea.

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When Covid-19 hit, the graduating class of 2020 lost a lot of their celebrations for the occasion. Because of this, Barack and Michelle Obama helped put together an online event streamed live on YouTube. This event, Dear Class of 2020, had a lot of different performers and content creators speaking for those graduating. Further, BTS was one of the performers.

They performed three songs in total. “Boy With Luv,” “Spring Day,” and “Mikrokosmos.”

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErTgtL1Tjns[/embedyt]

They also gave a nice speech for those graduating. One of the popular lines that still floats around the fandom came from this speech. During his part, Jimin says, “Remember there is a person here in Korea, in the city of Seoul, who understands you.” This one line has brought unimaginable comfort to ARMY throughout our toughest times. You can watch this speech here:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AU6uF5sFtwA[/embedyt]

Everland

Firstly, Everland is the largest theme park in South Korea. Annually, Everland gets millions of visitors. Basically, it’s a hotspot for tourists and Koreans alike.

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It first opened in 1976 and has steadily built up since then. Though Everland is such a widely popular attraction, it’s not because of thrilling roller coasters. It’s because of the environment with it. People go to Everland to have fun and enter some kind of “magical” land. Above all, Everland is a fun place to step into.

For their performance on America’s Got Talent 2020, BTS recorded their song “Dynamite” here. The group dressed in their classic “Dynamite” outfits and danced their way around the theme park. It was a lot of fun to see the boys perform in such a location. You can watch this performance here:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e81ad5MpfQ0[/embedyt]

Places BTS Performed: Beautiful Seoul Locations

Gyeongbokgung Palace

Built in 1395, the Gyeongbokgung Palace is the main royal palace from the Joseon dynasty. Throughout the years, the palace had been destroyed, rebuilt, and home to various Kings. Now the palace is a cultural spot that many can go to visit. In addition, it’s a beautiful location for filming music performances.

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Wearing their modern-day hanboks, BTS performed their song “Idol” at the Gyeongbokgung Palace. During their week-long takeover on the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, BTS performed a plethora of songs each night. But their performance for “Idol” takes the prize for best cultural location. Their performance is gorgeous to watch and the scenery of this place is really beautiful.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXFkjMNXfpY[/embedyt]

Parc1 Tower

Now, you might be wondering why we’ve included a business building in the list of “beautiful Seoul locations.” I don’t have much of an answer to give you besides how beautiful the city view of Seoul is.

The Parc1 Tower is the second tallest building in Seoul, standing with just under seventy floors. It’s the location of various businesses and purposes.

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BTS surprised everyone when they took to the sky for their 2021 Grammys performance. Almost literally, too. For this performance, BTS started inside. However, as “Dynamite” reaches its bridge, the members are taking to the stairs and heading outside. The performance ends with them on the roof. You can watch this performance here:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWRMXiHhDjc[/embedyt]

Certainly, out of all of these places BTS has performed, their performance at the top of the Parc1 Tower has the prettiest scenery you will ever see.

Places BTS Performed: Honorable Mention

Grand Central Station

Lastly, we have their performance at Grand Central Station. Before Covid-19 fully had the world in its grasp, BTS was still in the USA for their Map of the Soul: 7 promotions. They guest-starred on the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon for a special all-BTS episode. They traveled around New York City, played games in a subway car, and had a great time. Lastly, at the end of the episode, BTS made history as they perform their title track “ON” at Grand Central Terminal in New York City.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZh-w2nysuI[/embedyt]

Overall, this performance was unique and unexpected. One of the best kinds we could get. After the show, BTS released a BTS Episode with the behind-the-scenes, showing us how hard they worked on the performance. They even talked about the fact that they only had a short window to record the performance, at nearly four-in-the-morning as Grand Central Station couldn’t be closed off for too long.

You can watch this video here:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKy12jb_7EU[/embedyt]

What are some of your favorite places BTS performed?

Out of the eight places—nine if you include our honorable mention!—which place was your favorite? Did you know about all of these amazing places BTS performed?

If you’re enjoying our daily blogs about BTS for our BTS Week here at KWorld Now, then make sure you’re coming back every day to our Blog Page. We still have a few days to go, so you don’t want to miss them! And if you’re curious about the content we still have coming up, check out this schedule we made last week! It tells you about our plans for each day and even links you to those posts once they’re published. Check it out if you’d like to read more about BTS.

And I hope you’re enjoying Festa with BTS, ARMY. It’s getting closer and closer to their anniversary, so get ready to celebrate! Happy Festa ARMY!

June 10, 2021