For many international visitors, Korea first became interesting through a song, an idol, or a Korean drama.
Then one day, you're actually in Seoul.
So where should a K-pop or K-drama fan go?
You could spend your entire trip chasing filming locations and entertainment companies, but you don't need to.
Here are 7 places in Seoul that are actually worth considering, especially if you want to combine your love of Korean entertainment with a real Seoul experience.
1. HiKR GROUND – Start Here If You Love K-Content
If you're new to Korea and interested in K-pop, this is one of the easiest places to start.
HiKR GROUND is operated by the Korea Tourism Organization and is designed around Korean tourism and K-content experiences.
It is located near Cheonggyecheon in central Seoul.
The building includes interactive spaces where visitors can experience Korean content in a more hands-on way rather than simply looking at displays.
The official VISITKOREA information currently lists HiKR GROUND at 40 Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul.
Why Go?
Because it doesn't require you to be a fan of one specific group.
If you like K-pop, Korean media, photography, or digital experiences, it's an easy place to include in a central Seoul itinerary.
Local Tip
Combine it with:
Cheonggyecheon → Gwanghwamun → Insadong
instead of making a separate trip just for one building.
2. Walk K-Star Road in Gangnam
If you want the classic K-pop fan experience, head to K-Star Road around Apgujeong and Cheongdam.
The official Korea tourism guide describes it as a Hallyu-themed street featuring art figures inspired by K-pop artists and locations connected with Korean entertainment culture.
The area itself is also useful because Apgujeong and Cheongdam are known for fashion, cafés, beauty businesses, and entertainment-industry activity.
So even if you're not interested in every K-pop landmark, there is plenty to do nearby.
What You'll Find
You may see:
K-pop-themed street art
Entertainment-related landmarks
Fashion stores
Cafés
Beauty shops
Luxury shopping
Local Tip
Don't expect idols to suddenly walk past you.
That happens much less often than social media may make it seem.
Go because you want to experience the neighborhood — not because you're expecting to meet a celebrity.
3. Visit the MBC Area in Sangam
Sangam is another interesting area for fans of Korean entertainment.
The MBC headquarters and Media Center area is located in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu.
According to VISITKOREA, the cultural plaza around MBC includes K-content attractions and a Star Road featuring handprints connected with Korean entertainers.
If you watch Korean:
Variety shows
Music programs
Dramas
Entertainment programs
the broadcasting district itself can be interesting.
Important
Do not expect to freely enter broadcasting studios.
Many areas are workplaces with controlled access.
Think of this as seeing the environment where Korean television is produced rather than getting a backstage tour.
4. Walk Through Itaewon Like a K-Drama Fan
If you've watched Itaewon Class, this neighborhood probably looks familiar.
A number of scenes from the drama were filmed around Itaewon and Haebangchon, and Seoul's official tourism information specifically promotes the area as a filming-location destination connected with the series.
But even if you've never seen the drama, Itaewon is worth exploring.
This neighborhood feels very different from traditional areas such as Bukchon or Insadong.
You'll find international restaurants, bars, cafés, steep streets, and views across Seoul.
The Better Way to Visit
Don't spend your entire time trying to reproduce exact screenshots from the drama.
Walk around.
Eat something.
Climb the streets toward Haebangchon.
Then you'll understand why filmmakers liked the neighborhood in the first place.
5. N Seoul Tower – You've Probably Seen It in a Drama
N Seoul Tower is one of Seoul's most recognizable landmarks.
It has also appeared in multiple Korean dramas; VISITKOREA specifically lists it among filming locations associated with productions including My Love from the Star and Boys Over Flowers.
But this is one place where you shouldn't visit only because of a drama.
Go for the view.
From the Namsan area, you can see just how enormous Seoul is.
Best Time?
Late afternoon can work well.
You see Seoul during daylight, stay through sunset, and then watch the city lights come on.
That's much more memorable than simply taking one photo and leaving.
6. Cheonggyecheon – A Real Seoul Location Used by Film Crews
Some filming locations aren't famous because of one specific drama.
They're famous because production teams keep using them.
Cheonggyecheon Stream is a good example.
In 2025, the Seoul Metropolitan Government reported that Seoul hosted a record number of television and film productions during the previous year, with Cheonggyecheon among the city's most frequently used filming locations.
And unlike some distant filming sites, Cheonggyecheon is extremely easy to include in a normal Seoul trip.
It runs through central Seoul near several major attractions.
Try This
Walk along Cheonggyecheon in the evening.
Then move toward:
Gwanghwamun, Jongno, Euljiro, or Myeongdong.
This lets you experience a filming location without turning your entire day into a filming-location tour.
7. Go to a Real K-Pop Concert Venue
If your favorite group is performing while you're in Korea, seeing a concert here can become one of the highlights of your trip.
Major K-pop performances in Korea use venues including places such as:
KSPO DOME
Gocheok Sky Dome
INSPIRE Arena
Goyang Stadium
VISITKOREA published a dedicated 2026 K-pop concert venue guide covering major venues and nearby travel information for international fans.
For a Seoul-based visitor, Gocheok Sky Dome is one of the names you're likely to encounter when checking major concert schedules.
But Don't Visit an Empty Stadium Just for the Name
This is important.
A concert venue is exciting when something is happening.
If there is no event, I wouldn't sacrifice half a day just to stand outside a stadium.
Check your favorite artist's official schedule first.
Should You Visit Entertainment Company Buildings?
This is one of the most common questions K-pop fans have.
You can visit neighborhoods where entertainment companies are located.
But remember:
An entertainment company is a workplace.
It isn't automatically a tourist attraction.
Don't block entrances.
Don't wait in private areas.
Don't follow vehicles or employees.
And definitely don't expect access to idols.
Being a fan doesn't mean ignoring someone's privacy.
How to Plan a K-Pop Day in Seoul
Trying to visit all seven places in one day would be exhausting.
Instead, group locations by area.
Central Seoul
HiKR GROUND → Cheonggyecheon → Namsan / N Seoul Tower
Good for a first-time visitor.
Gangnam
Apgujeong → K-Star Road → Cheongdam
Good for K-pop, fashion, beauty, and café culture.
Western Seoul
Sangam MBC → Hongdae
Good if you're interested in broadcasting and youth culture.
Itaewon
Spend a few hours exploring:
Itaewon → Haebangchon → Noksapyeong
especially if you're a K-drama fan.
Don't Spend Your Entire Korea Trip Chasing Celebrities
This may sound strange in a K-pop travel guide.
But it's probably my most important recommendation.
K-pop and K-dramas may be what brought you to Korea.
Use them as a starting point.
Then discover the rest.
Try Korean food.
Walk through a traditional market.
Take the subway.
Visit a neighborhood you've never seen online.
Sit in a small café.
Walk along the Han River.
Those ordinary moments may become the memories you remember most.
What I Would Choose If I Had Only One Day
If this were my first K-content-themed day in Seoul, I would do:
Morning
HiKR GROUND
Lunch
Jongno or Euljiro
Afternoon
K-Star Road in Apgujeong and Cheongdam
Evening
N Seoul Tower
That gives you:
K-content + local food + K-pop + Seoul city views
without spending your entire day traveling from one side of the city to another.
One More Tip for K-Drama Fans
Filming locations change constantly.
New dramas create new places that suddenly become popular.
So if there's one particular drama you love, search for its filming locations shortly before your trip rather than relying on a list written several years ago.
Official Korean tourism websites also maintain dedicated Hallyu and K-drama travel content, making them useful places to check before visiting.
A Local's Final Advice
Come to Korea because you love K-pop.
Visit the place from your favorite drama.
Take the photo.
Buy the album.
Go to the concert.
But then keep walking.
Because the best part may be discovering the Korea that never appeared on your screen.
That's when Korea stops feeling like a drama location.
And starts feeling like a real place you've experienced yourself.
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