From the spot where Do Min Joon and Cheon Song Yi swore their love in “My Love from the Star” to the neighborhoods where the hallyu stars frequent- here is the top ten Hallyu hot spot list as revealed by 12,000 K-pop and K-drama fans from abroad. These are the top ten sites that hallyu fans won´t want to miss!
 

6. Filming location for<Infinite Challenge> 촬영지
The Korean Empire´s History at ‘Deoksugung Palace’

 

 

Throughout the year, the Jeongdong neighborhood´s art museum, theater, royal palace, and modern structures draws in various visitors. The walkway along the stone walls of Deoksugung Palace is also known as Jeongdong road and is particularly beautiful in autumn when the many gingko trees along the road turns yellow and begins dropping its leaves or in winter when the white snow stacks atop the stone walls.
In an <Infinite Challenge> episode, Deoksugung Palace was the setting of the story of Emperor Gojong and his love for coffee. That same episode was remembered in the 500th special episode, ‘Mudori Go’, that aired in October of 2016. In it, the members were scattered among various places in the city. Yoo Jae Suk andYang Se Hyeong came to Deoksugung Palace where Yang Se Hyeong discovered the coffee cup first and acquired the official Infinite Challenge mascot. The palace was featured yet again in the ‘Infinite Tour’ episode, when Yoo Jae Suk and Hwang Gwanghee included the royal palace´s night tour in their itinerary. Unlike the evening courses of the city´s other royal palaces that are offered on occasion, Deoksugung Palace´s evening tour course is available throughout the year (with the exception of Mondays when the palace is closed).
During the days of the Korean Empire, when Deoksugung Palace was the official royal palace, Seokjojeon, constructed with architectural elements of both traditional and western styles, was constructed. After having been restored, Seokjojeon is now a history museum offering a recreated look and rich details of the age of the Korean Empire. Its first and second floors are only viewable through a guided tour which you can reserve online.

Deoksugung Palace
Address : 99, Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Contact : 02-771-9951
Operating hours : 09:00 ~ 21:00 daily
Closed : Mondays
Homepage : www.deoksugung.go.kr
 

7. <Where you can meet the artists of SM Entertainment>
‘SMTOWN Coex Artium’ a Place as Glamorous as the Stars

 

 

Head out exit 5 or 6 of Samsung Station and walk just a bit and you´ll soon notice a building as flashy as the K-Pop stars. This is ‘SMTOWN Coex Artium’ where you can meet K-Pop´s top acts such as SHINee, Girls´ Generation, EXO, f(x), Red Velvet, and others. This venue is an all-comprehensive culture center where fans can participate in a number of activities and draw closer to their favorite SM Entertainment artists. The ‘Welcome Stage’ on the first floor has a media wall which airs various videos of the artists and gets visitors excited from the beginning of their visit. On the second floor is the celebrity shop ‘SUM’ where you can purchase memorabilia worn by artists, producted selected by them, and even limited edition items released in collaboration with global brand designers.

 

 

The SMTOWN studio on the third floor is where one can receive singing and dancing training, record in a record room, and even film on a music video set. The fourth floor has a library cafe with drinks and desserts themed after the stars while the theater, on the fifth floor, has a 40m long large screen that stretches around for 270 degrees and plays hologram musicals, concert footage, and more. The occasional fan meeting and showcase is also held here. Like the opening of a mystery gift box, SMTOWN Coex Artium is filled with wonders.

SMTOWN Coex artium
Address : 513, Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Contact : 1644-0180
Homepage : www.smtownland.com

8. <Meet the ‘art toys’ of hallyu stars>
K-Star Road Where Stars are Made

 

 

Super Junior, SHINee, Exo... where can you meet these stars all at once? It’s ‘K-Star Road’ where the art toys of these and many other idol groups are on display. Beginning at exit 2 of Abgujeong Rodeo Street station and stretching 1km all the way to Cheongdam 4-way Intersection, this street is also known as ‘Gangnam Dol’ with various art toys of artists installed along the road.
installed along the road. The word ‘Gangnam Dol’ is a combination of the surrounding Gangnam neighborhood name with the ‘dol’ referring to both hallyu idols and figure dolls. They are embodied through the various life-sized hallyu star dolls that can be found here. Various stars such as Super Junior’s Leeteuk, EXO´s Suho, Girls´ Generations´ Yuri and many others have shared their photos from here in the past. You can even purchase and take home a mini-sized figurine version of these dolls at the ‘Gangnam Dol’ house just by exit 7 of Apgujeong Rodeo Street station.
 

 

 

Behind the EXO Gangnam Dols is the SM Global Training Center of SM Entertainment while behind the Block B Gangnam Dol is JYP Entertainment, the agency home of 2PM, GOT7, Twice, and others. A five minute walk from JYP Entertainment will take you to the FNC Entertainment headquarter, home to FT Island, CN Blue, Yoo Jae Suk and others. Plenty of agencies of hallyu actors such as BH Entertainment- entertainment agency home to Lee Byeong Hun and Jingu-and Artist Company- home to Jeong Woo Sung and Lee Jung Jae- are also found in this area.
Gangnam Dols
① 4Minute ② Super Junior ③ 2PM ④ FT Island
⑤ SHINee ⑥ miss A ⑦ CNBLUE ⑧ TVXQ!
⑨ Girls´ Generation ⑩ EXO ⑪ AOA
⑫ BTS ⑬ B1A4 ⑭ VIXX
⑮ INFINITE ⑯ KARA ⑰ Block B

강남 한류스타거리
Address : 서울특별시 강남구 압구정동 KstarROAD
 

9. Filming location of <Infinite Challenge>, <We Got Married>
Seoul´ s Newest Landmark ‘Lotte World & Lotte World Tower’

 

 

In the <Chain Letter> special of <Infinite Challenge>, Park Myung Soo was seen hiding his mailbox from Jung Joon Ha by placing it on the 118th floor of the Lotte World Tower. Jung Joon Ha, who has a fear of heights, was able to obtain the mail box in the still in-construction Lotte World Tower while nearly on the verge of tears. The 123-story Lotte World Tower stands 555m tall and is in its final construction stage with an aim to finish by the end of November.
 

 

 

Additionally Lotte World Mall and Lotte World has risen in popularity in recent years as a drama and variety program filming location. The Lotte World Mall has options for shopping, movie watching, dining, and more. It was the setting of the date for the Gong Seung Yeon and Lee Jong Hyun couple from <We Got Married> who enjoyed bungeobbang pastry here and played in the ‘Fun It’ arcade center. Lotte World is also a must-visit place for romantic couples and has been featured on various television programs. The theme park is divided into an indoors and outdoors section to offer a wide variety of attractions throughout the year. You can also go skating at the ice rink located on the B3 level.

Lotte World
Address : 240, Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Contact : 1661-2000
Operating hours : Weekdays 09:30 ~ 22:00 / Weekends 09:30 ~ 23:00
Homepage : www.lotteworld.com

Lotte World Tower
Address : 300, Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Contact : 02-3213-5000
Homepage : www.lwt.co.kr
 

10. Filming location for <She Was Pretty>
Where the Nightscape is Even More Beautiful ‘Sevit Some & he Banpo Bridge Moonlight Rainbow Fountain

 

 

Sevit Some is comprised of three floating island structures that floats on the Han River. Named Gavit Seom, Chevit Seom, and Solvit Seom,the three floating structures contains a variety of cultural centers including restaurants, buffet, cafe, exhibition space, convention hall, and more. As a particularly beautiful setting in the evenings, Sevit Some has been featured as the drama filming location for a number of television programs. Rising hallyu star Park Seo Joon and Super Junior´s Choi Siwon filmed a scene here at Sevit Some for the popular drama <She Was Pretty>. In the scene, Hwang Jung Eum (Kim Hye Jin) came here after being humiliated by Park Seo Joon (Ji Seong Joon) where she was comforted by Sevit Some´s illuminating lights and the beautiful show from the Banpo Bridge Moonlight Rainbow Fountain.

 

 

The fountains of Banpo Bridge draws water from the Han River and sprays the water in coordination with the background music and fountain lights to create a dazzling show. It has even been featured in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world´s longest fountain bridge.

Sevit Some
Address : 683, Olympic-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Contact : 1566-3433
Operating hours : Daily 09:00 ~ 23:00
Homepage : www.somesevit.co.kr
Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain
Address : Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Contact : 02-3780-0578
Operating hours : 4.1 ~ 10.31
<April through June / September through October>
Weekdays：12:00, 20:00, 21:00 / Weekends：12:00, 17:00, 20:00, 20:30, 21:00, 21:30
<July through August>
Weekdays：12:00, 20:00, 21:00 / Weekends：12:00, 17:00, 19:30, 20:00, 20:30, 21:00, 21:30
 
* Each performance lasts approximately 20 minutes
* The fountain show may be cancelled due to weather or other large-scale events


*source : KTO(Korea Tourism Organization) www.visitkorea.or.kr

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