KPOP tours for foreigners in Seongsu-dong, a popular tourist destination

ETA portal | Updated on 2024-03-22

  • Seongsu-dong is a creative and trendy cultural neighborhood in Seoul, with many interesting attractions for KPOP fans.
    Seongsu-dong has recently gained popularity among foreign Gen Zers, and for them, it's a neighborhood with many unique and diverse pop-up shops.
    In particular, many young foreigners are stepping onto the streets of Seongsu-dong for the first time to visit the pop-up stores of their KPOP idols, and their awareness of the neighborhood's charm is beginning to grow.

Here are four KPOP tours and popular tourist spots in Seongsu-dong that your foreign friends should experience when visiting Korea.

 

1. KWANGYA in Seoul


KPOP tours

A store operated by SM Entertainment, it opened on November 17, 2022, in the basement of Acro Seoul Forest D-Tower in Seongsu-dong, Seoul.
The space offers a variety of attractions utilizing content from SM artists, as well as records, MDs, merchandise, and more.
"KWANGYA" is a meta-virtual realization with no boundaries between reality and virtuality, a space created by celebrities, fandom, and prosumers.
To bring SM artists closer to their fans overseas,
After opening 'Kwangya Seoul,' plans were announced to launch offline spaces in major cities around the world.

 

2. Seongsu Art Hall


KPOP tours

Seongsu Art Hall is a 350-seat cultural space located in Seongsu-dong.
It is equipped with the latest sound, lighting, and mechanical facilities and hosts performances of various genres, including concerts, musicals, plays, and dances. The performance hall is located on the third floor, and the lobby on the second floor has a Seongsu Book Floor and a cafe where you can relax with a book, which can be used by theatergoers and local residents.

 

3. Ader Seongsu Space


KPOP tours

This is a store that offers a unique and experimental space.
There are specially designed interiors and decorations throughout the space, making it feel like a short contemporary art exhibition.
Particularly impressive is the decorated fitting room with astronaut decorations hanging from the ceiling and miniature spaceships inside, including grains of sand, rocks, and antennas.
This is such a popular spot that there is a wait, even on weekday evenings, and wait times can vary depending on availability.
While waiting, visitors can stay at the Tongplanet Cafe located directly above  Ader Seongsu Space, which also offers a variety of attractions. Unique clothing and accessories can be explored, and the store's design, akin to an exhibition space, may inspire shoppers with new ideas.

 

4. Dior Seongsu


KPOP tours

Dior Seongsu showcases a wide range of Dior products, most notably the Dior Spring-Summer 2024 women's collection by Maria Grazia Chiuri.
Visitors were able to enter after a wait of about 40 minutes on weekdays, and the store is open from 12:00 to 20:00 on weekdays and from 11:00 to 20:00 on weekends.
It is located a short distance from Exit 4 of the Holy Water Station.
The building itself is colorful and grand, making it a beautiful place to visit during the day or night.
The Dior Seongsu Café requires a reservation via the DIOR SEONGSU app, but you can also visit without a reservation via the walk-in queue.
Reservations often fill up quickly, so it is recommended that you check the opening date and time in advance through the app and set an alarm if you want to visit.

 

According to the Korea Tourism Organization's Data Lab, the number of visitors from outside Seongdong-gu (outsiders + foreigners) has been steadily increasing since 2018.
Compared to 2018, the number of tourists to Seongdong-gu in 2023 increased by 116%.



As such, Seongsu-dong is an ever-changing and growing neighborhood, emerging as a new destination for foreign Gen Zers who dream of visiting Korea.
Foreigners from certain countries can visit Seongsu-dong with K-ETA approval before visiting South Korea without a visa.
Travelers with K-ETA approval will be able to visit Korea without the need for a visa. 
Thanks to K-ETA, KPOP fans around the world will be able to visit Seongsu-dong, one of Korea's KPOP Center, more easily.
For KPOP fans planning to visit Korea, K-ETA is a great way to experience KPOP culture firsthand!

If you have any questions about K-ETA, please visit our homepage or our announcement.

If you need to register for K-ETA quickly, we're here to help, so please apply for KETAKOREA by clicking the application button below.

Check ETA requirements