If You're A K-Pop Fan Visiting Korea, Check Out These Places

From BTS murals to idol-owned cafes, there's something for every K-pop fan.

South Korea recently announced that they're lifting the previously mandatory quarantine period for vaccinated guests. What does this mean? A trip to South Korea ASAP.

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For all my K-pop fans, this is the perfect time to check out cafes and hot spots affiliated with your favorite K-pop stars!

Here are 12 places in South Korea to add to your travel itinerary:

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1. Aweol Monsant

Aewol Monsant / Via instagram.com

Address: 2546 Aewol-ri, Aewol-eup, Cheju, Jeju-do

Planning a trip to Jeju Island after exploring Seoul? If so, you have to stop by this beautiful cafe. It's owned by G-Dragon himself, with the interior reflecting a lot of his stylish personality. The glass windows inside the cafe make the space look very big and spacious, but the outside terrace is the more breathtaking part. If you go right at sunset, you'll enjoy beautiful Jeju Island views. 

2. The SamE

YG Entertainment / Via instagram.com

Address: 6-3, Huiujeong-ro 1-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul

The SamE is the perfect stop to get all your favorite YG artist merch. The company created it as a space for YG artist fans to chill and get to know their favorite idols. There are two floors in this cafe, and the basement houses artist and cafe merchandise. The whole cafe has a somewhat futuristic aspect to it and you'll often see the slogan, "Alter Ego," sprinkled within the space. The menu has refreshing drinks, cake-like donuts, and more delicious sweets. 

3. Cafe Dudart

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Address: 642-15 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul

Located in the bustling city of Apugeong, this cafe is the definition of hip. The black exterior of the building and neon interior lights can only point to one thing: AOMG. Although this cafe is a chain franchise, this particular location has a partnership with AOMG, formerly Jay Park's company. Not only do they sell desserts, but they also have an actual restaurant menu of hot dogs, sandwiches, and more. 

4. Kamong

Kamong Cafe / Via instagram.com

Address: 1678-4 Seocho 1(il)-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul

This super cute cafe is owned by Exo Kai's sister. There are tons of seating options and it has an artistic feel with much of the space filled with artwork. Most of their menu contains refreshing drinks, baked goods, and sweet treats. If you're lucky, you might even run into Kai, who's a regular there. Fun fact: the cafe name, Kamong, is a combination of Kai and Monggu, his dog. 

5. Yogorino

Instagram: @yogorinokorea

Address: 339-1, Seo-gyo dong, Ma-po gu

Looking for a place to cool down from the hot weather? This is the perfect spot. Owned by Zico's father, this frozen yogurt and coffee shop. The brand itself is actually an Italian ice cream franchise, but Zico opened up a store for his father back in 2016. Because it's located at the heart of Hongdae, it's the perfect place to grab a bite of froyo before you continue shopping. 

6. HopeWorld

AllKPop / Via allkpop.com

Address: K-Pop Star Street, Chungjang-ro, Gwangju

Calling all BTS fans! This HopeWorld sculpture is the epitome of all things J-Hope. From a "Chicken Noodle Soup" painting to a colorful mural to a sculpture with engraved messages from fans, it's the perfect spot to celebrate J-Hope. In fact, the sculpture has over 21,800 messages from ARMYs all over the world. This iconic photo spot is located in the heart of Gwangju, J-Hope's hometown. 

7. RM Forest

lnvictus / Twitter: @Invictus1013 / Via Twitter: @rmforest0912

Address: 65 Hangaram-ro, Jamsil 2(i)-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul (RM Forest 1) & 389 Ichon 2(i)-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul (RM Forest 2)

To celebrate RM's 26th birthday, fans created RM Forest 2 near the Han River Park, where fans could rest and enjoy the scenery. However, this forest holds a special meaning in that it's also to preserve the environment, which RM has been a big proponent of. There are actually two locations of this forest; RM Forest 1 is located in Jamsi Hangang Park and was built to celebrate RM's 25th birthday.

8. Magnate

Koreabyme / Via koreabyme.com

Address: 1786-19, Daeyeon-dong, Nam-gu, Busan

Owned by BTS's Jimin's father, Magate is a great cafe for those wantiong to just grab a cup of coffee and rest up. The interior is a combination of elegant, modern, and minimalist, with a grand chandelier at the center of the cafe. They're known for their coffee drinks and delicious pastries. 

9. Ossu Seiromushi

BTSdiary / Via btsdiary.com

Welcome to BTS's Jin and his brother's Japanese cuisine restaurant! This restaurant serves Japanese cuisine at a slightly higher price point, but tourists say their ingredients are always high class. It's the perfect place to enjoy a nice meal out with your family or friends. 

10. Mouse Rabbit

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Address: 1 Neungdong-ro 11-gil, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul

This cafe is actually more of the well-known ones in the K-pop industry, considering that it's been featured in many of the idols' personal YouTube channels. It's owned by Super Junior's Yesung and his brother. It's a fairly large cafe with three floors, each with different vibes. To give a quick run-down of each floor: the basement is called the "rabbit hole" and gives off a homey feel with a fireplace and cozy tables; the first floor is the place for views with an open terrace and balcony; the second floor is decorated beautifully and shares the space with other stores. Overall, it's the perfect Instagram-photo location. 

11. Caffe Soo

Soompi / Via soompi.com

Address: 14-25 Usan-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju, South Korea

Cafe Soo's exterior and interior is covered with pictures of the "nation's first love" — Bae Suzy! Suzy gifted this cafe to her mother back in 2013. It's a cozy place with great coffee and loads of Suzy-related content. Although Gwangju is a bit of a drive from Korea, this cafe is a great place to visit if you're a fan of Suzy. 

12. M Countdown

Mnet K-Pop / Via youtube.com

Address: Sangam Sanro 66, Mapo-gu, Seoul

You can actually go to a M Countdown pre-recording or actual show to see your favorite artists perform live! Every Wednesday, M Countdown will post a line-up on Facebook for the following Thursday, where you can check if your favorite groups are performing/making a comeback. On the day of, it's recommended that you go earlier to stand in the queue line. There are three tiers that determine when the staff will let you in. Tier 1 is for official fan club members; Tier 2 is for non-fan club members who have an album and proof of a purchase of a digital single on listening apps; Tier 3 is for non-fan club members who have their passports. If you do plan on attending, be sure to bring your passport. 

13. Music Bank

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Music Bank runs on a slightly different method than M Countdown in terms of fans watching the pre-recording sessions. To be eligible to get in, you'll need to create a KBS account. From there, you can sign up from Thursday at 9 a.m. KST to Saturday 12 a.m. KST to be entered in a ticket lottery. 

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