Cool and Unique Places in Seoul: Gen Z’s Picks

Exploring Seoul is a thrilling adventure, especially when you know the right spots. Here’s a guide to some of the coolest and most unique places in the city, handpicked by Gen Z.

Now Trending Travel Concept: K-POP Hot Place Tour

What places do K-POP fans from overseas look for when visiting Korea? Recently, SNS, YouTube, and other platforms have helped fans identify hot places in Korea, allowing them to create travel courses. Searching for “Kpop tour Seoul” on YouTube shows many travel vlogs by overseas fans. These places are often popular with local fans too. Here are some of the latest spots where fans gather for various experiences.

Hongdae Beat Road | 홍대 비트로드

• Address: 107 Donggyo-ro, Mapogu, Seul | 서울 마포구 동교로 107
• Open hours: Mon. – Sun. 11:00 – 21:00
• beatroad_official

Offline music store ‘Beat Road’ in Hongdae is a must-visit for K-POP fans! It has almost all the albums of your favorite idols. They also sell goods like light sticks. When you buy an album, you can use the ‘lucky draw’ machine to get random photo cards. There’s even an ‘album unboxing zone’ inside the store, where fans gather to unbox their albums. You can also take pictures and videos with simple filming equipment provided. It’s a favorite spot for travelers who love idols.

Reasons for Selection:

• K-POP fans want to record their fan activities in videos/photos
• Hongdae Beat Road allows album purchase, unboxing, and interaction with local fans, making it a popular tourist course

Jjunine Churros Apgujeong Branch | 쭈니네 츄러스 압구정점

• Address: 37 Dosandae-ro, Gangnamgu, Seoul | 서울 강남구 도산대로51길 37
• Open hours: Mon. Close | Tue. – Sun. 13:00 – 23:00
• jjunine_churros_apro

The Jjunine Churros is a shop that sells letter-shaped churros. It’s especially popular among domestic and foreign K-POP fans who order churros shaped like their favorite idols’ names and take photos. The churros are made to order, so you need to book in advance. Watching the churros being made and leaving photos/videos of the process is part of the experience. Completed churros can be certified with photos along with idol goods. The store even provides Instagram booking methods for foreigners.

Reasons for Selection:

• The Jjunine Churros sells churros shaped like names, which customers want
• It’s popular among Asian K-POP fans who order churros shaped like their favorite idols’ names and take certification photos

One Million Dance Studio | 원 밀리언 댄스 스튜디오

• Address: 33 Ttukseon-ro 13-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul | 서울 성동구 뚝섬로13길 33
• Open hours: Mon. – Fri. 16:00 – 22:00 | Sat. Sun. 15:00 – 21:30
• www.1milliondance.com

One Million” is the most popular dance crew among K-POP fans. Their YouTube channel has over 26 million subscribers. People flock to the studio to learn choreography directly from the crew members. They offer classes suitable for all levels, from beginners to advanced dancers. Due to its global popularity, they also provide an app for reservation and an English service, making it convenient for foreigners. It has become a must-visit place for K-POP fans and those who enjoy filming dance videos. Recently, even agency dancers visit the studio.

Reasons for Selection:

• Frequently mentioned by foreign tourists as a popular activity during their visit to Korea.
• One Million Dance Studio is the most recognized place in its field.
• The studio’s crew gained high popularity after appearing on the dance competition program “Street Woman Fighter 2” in Korea.

HiKR Ground | 하이커 그라운드

• Address: 5F, 40 Cheonggyecheon-ro, Junggu, Seoul | 서울 중구 청계천로 40, 5층
• Open hours: 10:00 – 19:00
• https://hikr.visitkorea.or.kr

HiKR Ground” is a tourist information center located in Jongno. It offers various experiences related to K-POP, which makes it very popular. The “K-POP Ground” space is especially favored for its large screens, colorful stage equipment, and various props that allow visitors to freely film videos or take photos. It’s fun to move around the large screen installed on the stage and see yourself on the monitor. There’s also an English docent service, so foreigners unfamiliar with Korean can visit without any issues.

Reasons for Selection:

• It features various programs to experience K-POP culture, making it a popular tourist course.
• The “K-POP Ground” space, designed to film music videos or broadcast stages, is highly popular.

Like a Local: Korean University Student Experience Travel

One of the recent travel trends is to experience the daily lives of locals living in Seoul. Instead of visiting well-known tourist spots, travelers visit local shops and eateries. On Social media, searching for “Seoul life,” “Busan life,” or other regional names with “life” will show how the overseas MZ generation plans their trips to experience authentic Korean life.

Seosulla-gil | 서순라길

• Address: 300m from Jongno3-ga subway station
• 서순라길

Foreigners often visit Hongdae, Gangnam, or Itaewon, but the real hot spot now is ‘Seosulla-gil.’ It has a mix of traditional Korean and modern buildings, making it very charming. Many trendy cafes and shops like ‘Bittels Taco 비틀스타코’, ‘Queens Guard 퀸즈가드’, and ‘Daramgee 우리술집 다람쥐’ and others are opening here. It’s a great place to experience the unique night culture of Korea.

Reasons for Selection:

• Popular among the Korean Z generation and often visited by university students.
• Located near popular tourist sites like Gyeongbokgung and Ikseon-dong, making it easy to include in travel itineraries.

T1 Basecamp | T1 베이스캠프

• Address: B1, 147 Yanghwa-ro, Mapogu, Seoul | 서울 마포구 양화로 147 지하1층
• Open hours: 24h
• t1_basecamp

T1 Basecamp feels more like a pop-up store than a simple PC room. You can buy goods from the famous team ‘T1’ and take photos in the photo zone. It’s particularly appealing to fans of the game ‘League of Legends,’ because T1 Basecamp features actual ‘tournament gaming seats’ used in real LOL competitions. This allows visitors to play in a better environment than typical PC rooms and immerse themselves as if they are participating in a real tournament with friends. Plus, it’s near the Hongdae 9th exit, making it easy to find.

Reasons for Selection:

• PC rooms are one of the representative places where Korean university students enjoy spending time.
• T1 Basecamp, operated by the famous e-sports team T1, is popular for its goods shop and photo zone, making it a great spot for tourists.

Incheon SSG Landers Field | SSG랜더스필드

• Address: 618, Maesohol-ro, Michuhol-gu, Incheon | 인천 미추홀구 매소홀로 618
• Open hours: 09:00 – 06:00
• xIheCgoL

Incheon SSG Landers Field is a must-visit for baseball fans. The BBQ zone is especially popular, and you can enjoy grilled meat while watching the game. Even non-baseball fans can have a great time here with all the different attractions and photo spots. Besides grilling pork belly at the BBQ zone, Landers Field offers many popular dishes like cream shrimp. The experience of cheering enthusiastically while enjoying delicious food is a highlight of Korean baseball culture that foreigners admire. Watching a game with friends and taking photos at the photo booth will complete a perfect visit.

Reasons for Selection:

• Professional baseball is gaining popularity among young audiences, and the BBQ zone where you can eat grilled meat while watching the game is a hit.
• The stadium sells various goods and offers diverse experiences, making it popular on SNS.

Forest Hanbang Land | 숲속한방랜드

• Address: 75-7, Bongwonsa-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul | 서울 서대문구 봉원사길 75-7
• Open hours: 06:30 – 22:00
• naver.me/FKKxCSnm

I took my foreign friends to Forest Hanbang Land to give them a unique Korean cultural experience. They loved the ‘Korean Sauna Experience’ and the herbal treatments. Unlike typical Korean jjimjilbangs, Forest Hanbang Land features a restaurant where you can grill pork belly in a ‘Bulgama charcoal’. This trendy spot has become popular on social media, attracting many people in their 20s. It’s a great spot for taking photos and experiencing something different from other jjimjilbangs.

Reasons for Selection:

• Korean jjimjilbangs are often featured in dramas and movies, making them a must-try cultural experience for foreigners.
• Forest Hanbang Land is easily accessible in Seoul and popular with young people.

Locals Recommend: Latest Hot Places & Trend Items in Korea

Dotori Caricature | 도토리 캐리커쳐

• Address: 34 Donggyo-ro 38-gil, Mapogu, Seoul | 서울 마포구 동교로38길 34
• Open hours: 12:00 – 21:00
• acorn_caricature

It offers a unique opportunity to capture your visit to Seoul with personalized caricatures, making for memorable and distinctive souvenirs. Popular among both locals and tourists, Dotory Caricature Store is renowned for its quick and skillful artists who can capture your likeness in a fun and artistic way. This spot has become a must-visit for anyone looking to bring home a special keepsake from Korea.

Reasons for Selection:

• Famous for its appearance on the MBC entertainment program ‘I Live Alone.’
• Suitable for tourists who want to leave a memorable souvenir of their trip to Korea.

Celeb Paparazzi | 셀럽 파파라치

• Address: 53, Worldcupbuk-ro 5-gil, Mapogu, Seoul | 서울 마포구 월드컵북로5길 53
• Open hours: 11:00 -21:00
• official.celeb.p

Celeb Paparazzi is a unique studio cafe in the Mapo area where you can experience being a celebrity for a day. This trendy spot features hidden cameras and themed spaces like car zones and stair zones, perfect for capturing your glamorous moments. Visitors can enjoy a paparazzi-style photo shoot, making it a fun and immersive way to feel like a star. Ideal for those looking to create memorable photos and enjoy a slice of celebrity life in Seoul.

Reasons for Selection:

• A concept cafe where you can feel like a celebrity with hidden cameras all around.
• Enjoy different themed spaces like car zones and stairs zones, which are popular for taking profile pictures.

Tub | 텁

• Address: 19 Wowsan-ro 15-gil, Mapogu, Seoul | 서울 마포구 와우산로15길 19
• Open hours: 24h
• tub.kr

This flower shop in Hongdae area stands out for its unique packaging method, offering an innovative twist on traditional floral arrangements. Known for its 24-hour self-service, customers can select flowers and package them in stylish, travel-friendly cases. The shop has gained popularity on social media for its trendy, eye-catching designs, making it a favorite among locals and tourists alike. Perfect for those looking to gift or showcase beautiful blooms in a modern and fashionable way.

Reasons for Selection:

• Popular on SNS for its trendy packaging and 24-hour self-service.
• Attracts tourists interested in taking photos and videos for social media.

Audium | 오디움

• Address: 6, Heolleung-ro 8-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul | 서울 서초구 헌릉로8길 6
• Open hours: Thu. – Sat. 10:00 – 17:00 | Sun. – Wed. Close
• audeummuseum

Audium, located in Seocho, is an audio museum designed by renowned architect Kengo Kuma. This distinctive museum showcases an impressive collection of vintage speakers and offers private tours limited to 100 visitors per day, making each visit an exclusive experience. The innovative design and historical audio equipment attract architecture enthusiasts and audiophiles alike. Audium’s unique blend of cutting-edge design and vintage charm makes it a must-visit spot for those looking to explore Seoul’s cultural landscape.

Reasons for Selection:

• Recently opened and popular for its private tours and impressive collection of vintage speakers.
• Attracts tourists with an interest in unique museums and architecture.

Nyunyu | 뉴뉴

• Address: 34 Majang-ro, Junggu, Seoul | 서울 중구 마장로 34, 1-3F
• Open hours: 11:00 – 05:00
• nyunyu_seoul

Nyunyu, located in Dongdaemun, is a trendy accessory and clothing shop known for its affordable prices and stylish selections. This three-story store offers a wide range of accessories and apparel, making it a popular shopping destination for both locals and tourists. Recently gaining attention on social media, Nyunyu is celebrated for its unique designs and budget-friendly shopping experience. It’s the perfect spot for fashion enthusiasts looking to find unique items in one of Seoul’s bustling shopping districts.

Reasons for Selection:

• Popular on SNS and known for its affordable accessories and clothing.
• Attracts tourists interested in unique shopping experiences in Dongdaemun.

These spots not only provide a glimpse into the vibrant culture of Seoul but also offer unique experiences that you won’t find anywhere else. So, grab your camera and start exploring these Gen Z-approved locations!