9 essential stops in Seoul for K-Wave fans

When Rolling Stone put BTS, the music and dance phenomenon founded in Seoul, on their June 2021 cover, the headline that ran with it simply but resolutely read: “The Future of Music”. But music is just one corner of the global contemporary culture that South Koreans have dominated in the last several years. If you’ve been riding the Korean Wave that began swelling in the 1990s, it’s time for a total immersion and a pilgrimage to the South Korean capital. Here, we share the lay of the land, marking top places you should visit across Seoul, and that you might recognize as settings in Korean shows and music videos.

1. Cheonggyecheon Stream

Whatever time of the year you find yourself in Seoul, Cheonggyecheon Stream needs to be on top of your list. It’s one of the finest and most inspiring examples of urban regeneration in the city. The 11km Joseon Dynasty-era stream had been covered by a highway overpass for decades as South Korea rapidly industrialized post-war. In 2003, the city of Seoul embarked on a massive, multi-million dollar restoration project to revitalize a declining downtown area, and to essentially return it to human scale. As part of the project, the highway over Cheonggyecheon Stream was removed, green spaces were reclaimed and cultivated, and bridges were constructed. Today the stream is home to 22 bridges and numerous art installations, and is a favorite setting for live cultural events as well as film shows.

2. Seoul City Wall

Alternatively called Seoul Fortress, the wall was built in 1395 as protection from invaders. Built of earth and stone along the ridges of four inner mountains, it follows the area’s topography, rising and falling according to the contours of land. The wall has been renovated, refurbished and rebuilt at various times throughout its long history, and at present, a 12km stretch is protected as a historical site. One of the eight gates that line this wall, Namdaemun Gate, once served as the primary entrance to the city.

3. Eungbongsan Mountain

Despite being only 94m, Eungbongsan Mountain offers a breathtaking view of the Han River and the Seoul Capital area. It’s a quick, 30-minute hike to the top, where you’ll find the Octagonal Pavilion, a traditional eight-sided pagoda, where cultural performances are held, usually during the first sunrise of the new year.

4. Namsan Tower 

This Seoul landmark, the Namsan Tower — also called N Seoul Tower — is known as Korea’s first transmission tower. This is a popular hiking destination that can be done at a leisurely pace, with view decks along the way. If you want to scale a mountain minus the trek, there’s a cable car and a lift that you can use. 

5. Digital Media City

The offices and studios of major broadcasting companies like MBC, SBS, DDMC and YTN are in this complex. At Digital Media City, you’ll find the handprints of Korea’s A-list stars as you walk through the open plaza of MBC Star Park. If you want to get the full-on Korean Wave experience, book a ticket to MBC World, Korea’s first Hallyu theme park. Several K-Dramas were filmed here, including the global phenomenon “Crash Landing on You”.

6. Yongma Land

A partially abandoned amusement park, Yongma Land that figures in music videos and photo shoots of K-Pop artists. The attraction was popular when it opened in 1980, but visitors dwindled with the opening of Lotte World next door, and eventually Yongma Land stopped operations in 2011. Owned by a former photographer, the park’s castle has a photo studio inside that can be used for professional shoots. 

7. Sinchon Graffiti Tunnel

Graffiti was regarded as vandalism in Seoul in the 1990s. A few years later, however, the Korean government has changed its mind and now recognizes the value street art brings to a city’s personality. Today, there are entire areas in Seoul, including the Sinchon Graffiti Tunnel — a favorite backdrop for K-Pop videos — given over to graffiti. 

8. Myeongdong Street

This is shopping and street food central. Myeongdong Shopping Street, a 1.5km pedestrianized stretch, was designated as a special tourist zone by the Korean government in March 2000. Though not as busy as it was pre-pandemic, this is where you can still find an intense concentration of fashion stores, cafes, shopping malls and boutiques dedicated to Korean skincare. At Myeongdong 8-gil, you’ll find standalone shops of globally exported brands like Skin Food, Laneige, Etude House, and the luxury cosmetic chain Chicor. Check out the Myeongdong Underground Shopping Center for all kinds of K-Pop memorabilia. 

9. Garosu-gil Road

If you haven’t noticed by now, the shopping never ends in Seoul. The bohemian-chic alternative to Gangnam Daero — the Gangnam district’s ultra-chic, designer-packed shopping street — is Garosu-gil. The road is lined on either side with contemporary art galleries, fancy skincare ateliers, more flagship stores of upscale, designer labels and, more importantly, rows of ginkgo trees that turn a vibrant golden color, beginning in November.

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