K-pop is a symbol of Korean culture and many people knows Korea firstly from K-pop. K-pop stars win much popularity among fans from all over the world. Whether you are a fan of k-pop stars, it is a special experience to enjoy K-pop culture here. Now I will introduce you two places where you can deeply feel the K-pop culture and follow K-pop stars’ track.
K-Star Road
Location: Apgujeong Rodeo Station ( 압구정로데역), exit 2 – Cheongdam crossroads (청담사거리)
SM, YG and JYP are the most influential entertainment company in Korea. They cultivated many famous K-pop stars, such as Bigbang (빅뱅), Girls Generation (소녀시대), Super Junior (슈퍼주니어), Wonder Girls (원더걸스), EXO (엑소) and so on. Unless we attend concert, it is difficult for us to get close to them. However, in K-Star Road you feel like getting close to them because there are 18 Kangnam DOL (artistic doll) placed in K-Star Road. You can take pictures with them. Let’s find your favorite idol singer’s GangnamDol!
This is the K-Star Road map I collected. You can follow it.
In addition to walking in K-Star Road, you can also spend time finding several entertainment companies here. More than 3 entertainment companies are located in this area, including SM, JYP and FNC. If you are lucky enough, you may come across some stars. One of my friends came across 2PM near JYP. JYP is easy to find because of the salient direction tips on the wall. It is a little difficult to find SM. According to my own experience, I think you can firstly find FNC which is easier and then you can ask people around that place or just follow the map.
Around this area, there are many special theme restaurants. After walking for a long time, you can enjoy your afternoon with your friends here. I strongly recommend you to get the K-Star Road travel guide in the Gangnam Tourist Information Center (강남관광정보센터) first because there is much useful information inside it, including the K-Star Road map, special cafe shops and famous restaurants.
This is the travel guide. There are 3 versions, including Chinese, English and Korean.
This is the K Star Road map.
Klive
Klive is a concert hall where you can experience K-pop stars’ performance in virtual reality（全息演唱会）. Through this new technology, your favorite star seems to stand beside you. If you are a big fan of YG, you can’t miss it because artists of hologram concert are all from YG, including G-Dragon (지드래곤), Bigbang, PSY, 2PM, Wonder Girls and GOT 7. The concert schedule of each month is different, so you need to have a check online before you go. You can go to http://www.klive.co.kr/renewal/Chn/main.php#concert to see the schedule.
Photo: G-Dragon’s hologram concert “AWAKE” (courtesy of Klive) (Source: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=2435655)
This is the schedule of November 2016 (Source: http://www.klive.co.kr/renewal/Chn/main.php#concert )
You can also visit the photo booths, listen to music on the “Giant Tower” and enjoy the view from “Starry Garden” here. Also you must go to the hologram concert which is really famous and interesting. Klive is not a big place, but you can discover it carefully and then you can find several photo walls and Klive gift shop. You can take a lot of photos. All the celebrities standing in different positions add fun to your pictures. In the end, you can buy some souvenirs to store this experience.
(1) Address: Lottefitin Bldg. 9F, 264, Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울시 중구 을지로 264 롯데핏빌딩 9층)
(2) Directions: Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station (동대문역사문화공원역) (Seoul Subway Line 2,4,5), Exits 11 & 12. Walk approx. 2-3 min.
(3) Operating hours: 13:30-22:00, Closed Mondays and the day of Seollal (설날) (Lunar New Year) and Chuseok (추석) (Korean Thanksgiving)
(4) Admission fees
a. K-POP EXPERIENCE: Adults 15,000 won / Teenagers & Children 12,000 won
b. BIGBANG SPECIAL/JYP NATION: Adults 33,000 won / Teenagers & Children 16,500 won
c. Comic Maple Story: 33,000 won
※ Discounts available through online purchase
(5) Website: http://www.klive.co.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
(Information provided by http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=2435655 )
Although it is hard to come across stars, I hope you can see your favorite stars in the K-pop Star Road. K-pop Star Road and Klive are worthy for K-pop fans to visit. Just an afternoon, then you will certainly enjoy it.
Article by Jessica from China
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