20 Space Cafe next to CUBE Entertainment building 

I could see some trainee

For all the K-pop fans out there, Coming to South Korea is like a dream come true. You can go to the bases of your favourite act or band and jump into all the fandom and showbiz of the biggest bands out there. Seoul has several areas where you can purchase the goods and experience the Korean wave by attending filming sites of Korean drama and trying on the real clothes of Korean singers. If you are one of those K-pop fans then you will enjoy jumping into this topic.

Of course, you could buy all your k-pop needs online and be done with it. But then you are taking the experience of coming to Korea and the chance of meeting your idol out of the equation. Would you really call yourself a super fan if you aren’t bothered to come here and go to the places where the Idols work and be in with a chance to take a picture with them and actually be able to say to other fans that you met them in person and got to touch. Do you know how much jealousy the other fans would feel? Anyways, There is great stores for you to search out if you ever make the jump to come here to South Korea.

Buru Ddeurak (부루의 뜨락):

This is a very famous music store in Myeong-dong that open up all the way back in 1979. Also known as  The Ttrak of Bloo. You can find not only music album but also can find and purchase merchandise of your favourite band. Items like posters, stickers, notes etc. This is a great place to visit as K-pop fan for 2 reasons. 1) The history behind the store and 2) You can get a feel for what a Korean music store is.

K.Art Offline Store:

As the title of the store suggests, its a store you can find offline. This store is located on the 9th floor Lotte Fitin building right beside the K-live hologram concert theatre in Dongdaemun. You can buy the official merchandise of BigBang, GOT7, B1A4, 2PM, Kim Hyun Joong, Sistar, ZE:A and many more of course. There is clothes, albums, posters, dolls, accessories and more. Can you resist the urge to yelp out in excitement?

SMTOWN@coexartium:

You can find this spot near Samseong Station. This spot is a complex that sells SM-related content and hold exhibitions like holographic performances, MD shops, artiste experience and F&B. A very popular K-pop related place for Local and foreign fans. Considered to be Heaven by K-pop fans you can’t skip out on this spot. The price of a ticket is a bit high but the content you can enjoy is of the highest level. There is 6 floors worth of K-pop fandom to delve into.

SM TOWN STARDIUM (SM TOWN 스타디움):

Another K-pop related stores found in Dongdaemun. This store is located at the D3 gate of the Dongdaemun Design Plaza. Again you can purchase any item k-pop. There is everything there and nothing you don’t want to not buy. This SM store is different from other SM stores in that here you can purchase t-shirts that are one of a kind because they have the initials of an SM Idol or a hand written message from them. You can buy shoes, accessories, mugs, key rings and so on. And for every purchase, you can get a postcard and a gold plated stamp sticker as a complimentary gift. A t-shirt costs anywhere from 40,000won and up.

20 Space – The Mint Universe (20 스페이스):

This store is located by Seongsu Station which is actually a café run by Cube Entertainment in Seoul. After the agency moved its headquarters from the building, this café became ’20 Space – The Mint Universe’. The café offers a relaxing atmospohere for fans and visitors. In the café, you can enjoy the interior and also the souvenirs of artists under the Cube Entertainment brand. Check it out if your favourite artists are from Cube Entertainment. You can also buy CDs as well. The Bingsu (빙수) is good but the portion is enough for exactly one more person. Share at your own peril.

SM TOWN Pop up store:

Found on the B1F next to Lotte Department Store in Myeongdong. This is the biggest SM TOWN store you can find. You can buy the merchandise of artists like EXO, SNSD, Super Junior, TVXQ and more. From cup holders to clothing, there isn’t much left to the imagination. EXO items especially sell like hot cakes. Remember SM TOWN stores only sell merchandise for SM artists exclusively. If you like SM artists, this place will be like a 2nd home to you and if you are not a fan of SM artists then this place could be one huge turn off to you. Wander in to the store at your own risk!

Myeongdong Underground Shopping Center (명동 지하상가):

This is the ultimate spot for shopping all K-pop merchandise. Nearby to the Myeongdong station, When you go underground you will see the station in one direction and stores in the other direction. You can buy K-pop and K-drama memorabilia. The D-2 store “Myeong-dong Character”, should be your first stop when you arrive underground. The owner speaks Korean and Chinese. But don’t worry nearly all products are marked clearly with how much they cost. Prepare to lose half a day here! Also great for finding older k-pop albums.

SUM Market (썸마켓):

This spot is kinda unique in that its not a store but actually a supermarket. SUM Market is located in the basement of SM building, You can buy “Girls Generation Wine”, “Super Junior Potato Chips”, and “SHINee Ice Cream” to name a few. There is also household products like candles and plates which are exclusive content. There is also an exhibition space where recently released albums are laid out for your viewing pleasure.

Gangnam Tourist Info Center (강남관광정보센터):

This is probably the first place you should drop by once you arrive in Gangnam. Obviously as a tourist info center, it offers services for tourists like currency exchange, tourist information and interpretation services. But if you can get up to the 2nd floor of the centre, you can enjoy ‘Korean wave’ and the souvenirs on show. Staff here speak English, Japanese and Chinese so the risk of a misunderstanding is considerably lower. This building can be found nearby to Apgujeon Station on Line 3. Just get out at Exit 6 and you will find the tourist info centre beside the Hyundai Department Store. Also there is some great photo zones to enjoy, take a friend with you.

You will no doubt be in wonderful harmony with the universe when you find your favourite artist and buy all their merchandise. Make sure to have deep pockets cause there is deep reservoirs of K-pop products that you will wish you can buy. This in itself would make for the perfect K-pop holiday once you once mix it into your schedule of learn k-pop dance routines and visiting K-pop exhibitions. Myeongdong really should be your first and last stop just to make doubly sure that you got each desired item and tick them off that checklist. Are you gonna look for the idol or spend more item purchasing albums and enjoying their voice? Enjoy either way!

Time to play Identify a Possible K-Pop Idol!!! :)) I’ve been sitting in the CUBE Cafe for a while, and these two really tall guys who I don’t recognize came in (a couple fangirls trailed behind them, so I assume they’re famous). They aren’t BEAST, so that leaves either BTOB or Pentagon? Is anyone a big enough fan of either who can identify them from their backs? :3