K-Pop in Gangnam
The GangnamDols on K-Star Road, the real places behind KPop Demon Hunters, the restaurants and salons idols are known to visit, and classes where you learn the choreography yourself — all on one page.
K-Screen · On screen
First, the real places behind KPop Demon Hunters and the filming locations of the K-dramas. All of them are everyday Gangnam places you can reach by subway.
Seen in KPop Demon Hunters
Two of the film's backdrops are real places in Gangnam. The giant curved LED washing over COEX Square, and the Han River night view opening up at Cheongdam Bridge — the scenery straight from the screen.
The whole city stops to watch HUNTR/X "Golden" light up the huge curved screen.
The place now
A huge curved LED billboard, famous for its crashing-wave illusion. Idol birthday ads and comeback announcements run through the day, so there is usually something to see. The plaza is free and open 24 hours; the screen looks its best from sunset onward.
The three huntresses fight demons on top of a moving subway train crossing the river.
The place now
Korea's first double-decker bridge, with the subway on the lower deck and cars above. Samseong Sunrise Park at the Gangnam end is the easiest place to see the bridge and the Han River together.
K-Drama
Several K-dramas have filmed in Gangnam. All three of these are working restaurants and shops, open to anyone.
Crash Landing on You · Itaewon Class
A long-loved Gangnam brunch restaurant with a British-naturalism interior, serving pasta, steak and course menus alongside brunch.
When Life Gives You Tangerines
The 500-year-old hanok that appears in the family introduction scene of IU's character. Royal court cuisine is served in the house itself.
My Lovely Liar · Celebrity · Good Partner
A flagship store whose distinctive exterior has appeared in several dramas. Inside there is a handbag museum alongside the shop.
K-Star · The road to K-Star
From the GangnamDols of K-Star Road in Apgujeong to the K-Pop agencies still based in Gangnam.
Apgujeong Rodeo
Along the 1 km from Apgujeong Rodeo Station to Cheongdam Crossroads stand 17 GangnamDols — bear-shaped art toys about the height of a person, each representing a K-Pop group. Find your favourite group's GangnamDol and stand next to it for a photo.
In order along the street, from Apgujeong Rodeo Station:
K-Pop Agencies
Cheongdam and Apgujeong are home to a number of K-Pop agencies, where you can spot the buildings and pick up artist merch at their stores.
K-Pop Lifestyle
One-day classes for visitors, the restaurants and salons idols are known to visit, the birthday cafés their fans organise, and the shops for albums and merch — the everyday side of K-Pop in Gangnam.
K-Play
One-day classes and recording sessions are set up for visitors, so you can try K-Pop training for yourself. The dance classes include beginner-level sessions, so no experience is needed.
A full K-Pop academy whose alumni include Stray Kids' Changbin. It runs a one-week short camp for visitors from abroad, plus one-day classes and daily tours.
Record like an idol. Professional producers guide you from booth to mix, with interpretation available in English, Chinese and Japanese.
A K-Pop dance academy founded in 2005, with classes split by level and beginner sessions that start from zero.
K-Taste
Not "idol-themed" restaurants, but real Gangnam restaurants that particular artists are known to visit. Look for the autographs on the walls.
Known as a restaurant frequented by BTS
Korean beef graded 1++ and dry-aged 40 to 60 days with active aging. A lunch-only limited menu is also served.
NCT's Jaehyun · Cha Eun-woo · Stray Kids' Bang Chan
A Cheongdam-dong Korean beef restaurant that many stars frequent. Beef tartare, tartare bibimbap and prime sirloin are the signature orders, and it is open 24 hours.
Beloved by SEVENTEEN
Known for cubed sirloin and gukbap in Korean beef broth. The stir-fried brisket fried rice with radish kimchi is another regular order.
K-Beauty
From the salon where Rosé gets her makeup to the glasses Karina wore and the perfume workshop idols visit. All are named in the district's Hallyu guidebook. Check the shop's social media or call ahead for hours and reservations.
Famous as the salon both use, known for sparkling, glamorous makeup. The interior is worth a look in itself.
A salon covering hair and makeup through to wedding preparation. Three of its makeup artists recently appeared on a popular variety show.
You can try on the glasses Karina wore. Gentle Monster, Tamburins and Nudake share one building, one of the busiest spots near Dosan Park.
A perfume workshop frequented by idols. You build a custom scent with a perfumer in a private setting, and take it home with you.
A piercing shop beloved by idols and stylists, rated among the country's best for design and skill.
K-Chills
Some Gangnam cafés are run by a star or named as an idol's favourite. Gangnam also hosts many "birthday cafés", rented and decorated by fandoms around an idol's birthday — and anyone can walk in.
Run by "Asia Prince" Jang Keun-suk, so fans travel here from Japan and beyond. On special occasions he leaves messages for them.
Named by OH MY GIRL's Mimi as a favourite. Korean desserts like yakgwa and salt bread get a fresh twist here, and the packaging makes them easy to take home as gifts.
K-Place
Trending now
K-Pop spots picked by the Visit Gangnam editors.
IVE · MONSTA X
OH MY GIRL's Mimi's pick
When Life Gives You Tangerines
Frequented by BTS
PSY · Hwasa · Crush
Albums, merch and pop-ups
Known as a spot Stray Kids frequented as trainees
Try on the very glasses aespa's Karina wore
2026 Gangnam Hallyu Tourist Guidebook
The district's full Hallyu guidebook, covering everything on this page plus K-Beauty, K-Lookbook and K-Taste. Free to download in English, Japanese and Chinese.
Customer Support
No. HYBE, the agency behind BTS, is in Yongsan-gu, not Gangnam. What Gangnam does have is the BTS GangnamDol, one of 17 idol statues along K-Star Road in Apgujeong.
The statues along K-Star Road are moved from time to time, so a fixed spot can go out of date. They stand along the 1 km from Apgujeong Rodeo Station toward Cheongdam Crossroads — walk the street to find your group's GangnamDol.
No. SM Entertainment moved from Cheongdam to Seongsu in 2021, and JYP has also relocated. The former JYP building in Cheongdam still draws Stray Kids fans retracing the group's trainee years, and Fantagio now uses the former SM building on Samseong-ro. The agencies still based in Gangnam are Starship, FNC, P Nation and Fantagio.
No. It is an animated film, so there are no filming locations. What you can visit are the real places the film draws on: COEX K-Pop Square, where HUNTR/X drop "Golden" on the big screen, and Cheongdam Bridge, the setting of the subway fight.
No. They are working offices rather than attractions, so there are no tours or waiting areas. Please view them from the outside and keep noise down — the buildings sit among homes and businesses.
Very little, if you stick to the landmarks. K-Star Road is a public street and COEX K-Pop Square is free and open 24 hours. The main costs are classes, recording sessions and meals.
Yes, anyone can walk in. A fandom rents a café for a few days around an idol's birthday and decorates it with cups, banners and freebies. They are organised by fans rather than by the café, announced on fandom social accounts usually a week or two ahead, and they end when the period is over. Many are held in Gangnam — the district's guidebook uses a SEVENTEEN's Hoshi birthday café at Horang Gasi, near Gangnam Station, as its example.
The district's Hallyu guidebook names Wooga (Sinsa Square, Gangnam-daero) as a restaurant known to be frequented by BTS. It is a dry-aged Korean beef specialist. Keep in mind this means "known to visit" — not that anyone will be there on the day.
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