Seven BTS Locations Every ARMY Should Visit in Seoul

Type: K-Pop | Theme: Fan Pilgrimage | For: BTS Fans & K-Pop Travelers

Seoul holds BTS history in layers. From the palace where they performed for Global Citizen Live to the basement restaurant where they ate three meals a day as trainees, these places aren't tourist traps—they're the actual geography of their story. This guide covers seven spots where you can walk the same ground, touch the same surfaces, and understand why millions of fans make the pilgrimage.

Quick Guide at a Glance

Gyeongbokgung Palace (경복궁)

🎬 Featured in: BTS "Global Citizen Live" Performance (2021)

The night they stood in front of Geunjeongjeon Hall, performing under palace lights and moon, wasn't just a concert—it was Korea's cultural heritage meeting K-pop's global reach. The staging positioned them against 600 years of Joseon Dynasty architecture, and the symbolism landed.

You can stand at the same stone courtyard. The scale hits differently in person. This isn't a set or green screen—it's the real palace where kings held court, now open to anyone wearing a hanbok (traditional Korean dress gets you free admission, which is practical and photo-ready).

Scene: Main performance stage, "Permission to Dance" and "Butter" performances

Best Time: Late afternoon into golden hour—lighting matches the broadcast aesthetic

Time Needed: 1.5-2 hours

Cost: ₩3,000 (~$2.25) or free with hanbok rental

📍 161 Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 🕐 09:00-18:00 (hours extend seasonally)

The palace closes earlier than you think. Plan accordingly if you want the full tour before heading to the next location.

Daeo Bookstore (대오서점)

🎬 Featured in: RM's Social Media Posts (2016, 2019)

Seoul's oldest secondhand bookstore, operating since the 1950s. RM visited twice—photos surfaced online both times—and the spot became pilgrimage material. The family who runs it converted part of the space into a café to keep the building maintained. You buy a drink, you gain access to six decades of accumulated books and objects.

The atmosphere is what you'd expect from a place RM would choose: quiet, slightly dusty, full of Korean literature and vintage paperbacks. The table where he sat is marked. Fans leave notes and small gifts. It's respectful rather than overwhelming.

Scene: RM's personal reading spot, social media photo location

Best Time: Weekday mornings (fewer visitors, better chance for the window seat)

Time Needed: 30-45 minutes

Cost: ₩4,500-6,000 (~$3.50-4.50) for entry + drink

📍 Jahamun-ro 9-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul (5-minute walk from Gyeongbokgung Station Exit 2) 🕐 Wednesday-Monday 11:00-19:00 (closed Tuesdays)

All proceeds support building preservation. The café isn't profit-driven, which is part of why it maintains the original bookstore's character.

Yoojung Sikdang (유정식당)

🎬 Featured in: BTS Trainee Era (Pre-debut & Rookie Years)

The restaurant BTS ate at constantly during trainee days—RM mentioned they'd come three times daily when schedules allowed. It's a small Korean barbecue spot in Gangnam, walking distance from their old dorm. What makes it significant now is what happened after they debuted: fans started visiting, leaving messages, and the owner leaned into it.

Floor to ceiling, every surface is covered. BTS photos, fan art, post-it notes in a dozen languages, polaroids, letters. The menu still includes "Bangtan Bibimbap" and the tables where members used to sit are marked. The owner's warmth is real—she remembers them as struggling trainees and treats visiting fans like extended family.

Scene: Daily meals during training period, pre-debut routine

Best Time: Off-peak lunch (2:00-3:00pm) or early dinner (5:00pm)

Time Needed: 1-1.5 hours including meal

Cost: ₩10,000-15,000 (~$7.50-11) per person

📍 14 Dosan-daero 28-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (Hakdong Station Exit 7, 10-minute walk) 🕐 Monday-Friday 10:00-21:30 | Saturday-Sunday 10:00-20:00

Bring a marker if you want to add to the walls. The tradition is to leave something—a note, a drawing, your bias's name. It's participation, not just observation.

Ossu Seiromushi (오쓰 세이로무시)

🎬 Featured in: Jin's Family Business

Jin and his older brother opened this Japanese restaurant in 2018. It's in Yeouido, Seoul's financial district, tucked into a basement level. The focus is seiromushi—steamed dishes served in bamboo baskets—and the menu reflects Jin's reported love of Japanese cuisine.

Jin himself rarely appears. The restaurant operates independently, staffed by professionals who maintain quality without leveraging celebrity presence. Fans visit knowing they probably won't meet him. The draw is eating at a place he built, seeing his design choices (minimal, clean, wood-heavy), and supporting his business.

Reservations are essentially mandatory. Walk-ins face 2+ hour waits on weekends.

Scene: Jin's entrepreneurial venture, family collaboration

Best Time: Weekday early dinner slot (5:00-6:00pm openings)

Time Needed: 1.5-2 hours including meal

Cost: ₩20,000-35,000 (~$15-26) per person

📍 B1, 36 Gukjegeumyung-ro 2-gil, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul (Yeouido Station) 🕐 17:00-22:00 daily (dinner service only)

You'll need a Korean phone number for reservations. Hotels can sometimes call on your behalf. Plan ahead.

Yongma Land (용마랜드)

🎬 Featured in: "We Are Bulletproof Pt.2" Music Video (2013)

An abandoned amusement park that operated from 1983 to 2011. When BTS filmed here in 2013, they were unknown. The location matched their energy—raw, defiant, using decay as backdrop rather than hiding it. The carousel, viking ride, and rusted signage all appear in the video.

The park has since become a popular filming location for multiple K-pop groups and photographers. It's open to visitors by appointment. You can climb on the rides, recreate shots from the video, and understand why this specific type of abandonment—frozen in time but accessible—works so well visually.

Golden hour is everything here. Late afternoon light turns rust into gold and creates the exact mood BTS captured.

Scene: Multiple shots throughout "We Are Bulletproof Pt.2," carousel and viking ride sequences

Best Time: Late afternoon (4:00-5:00pm for lighting)

Time Needed: 1-1.5 hours

Cost: ₩5,000 (~$3.75)

📍 118 Mangu-ro 70-gil, Jungnang-gu, Seoul (Mangu Station) 🕐 10:00-18:00 daily (winter hours end at 17:00)

The park occasionally closes for private events or filming. Check social media or call ahead. Weather affects photography quality significantly—clear days are ideal.

LOTTE Star Avenue

🎬 Featured in: BTS Handprints & K-Pop Hall of Fame

The handprints are in the basement level of LOTTE WORLD MALL, part of a dedicated K-pop installation. BTS's prints were added in 2017 after their Billboard Music Award win. Each member's hand was cast and preserved in metal plaques mounted on the wall.

Fans line up to compare hand sizes (Jimin's prints are noticeably smaller, which is repeatedly mentioned online). It's a quick stop—10-15 minutes unless there's a crowd. The surrounding area includes various K-pop group installations, but BTS's section draws the most attention.

Free to access, easy to photograph, centrally located. This is the most straightforward stop on the pilgrimage route.

Scene: Physical handprints, photo opportunity

Best Time: Weekday mornings (before mall crowds arrive)

Time Needed: 20-30 minutes

Cost: Free

📍 LOTTE WORLD MALL B1F, 300 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul (Jamsil Station direct connection) 🕐 10:30-22:00 daily (mall hours)

The mall is massive. Use signs or ask staff for "Star Avenue" specifically. It's easy to get lost in the retail sections.

BT21 LINE Friends Store

🎬 Featured in: BTS x LINE Friends Collaboration

Each BTS member designed a character: RM (Koya), Jin (RJ), Suga (Shooky), J-Hope (Mang), Jimin (Chimmy), V (Tata), Jungkook (Cooky). The Gangnam flagship store is three floors of BT21 merchandise—plushies, accessories, home goods, limited editions.

The Line Friends collaboration started in 2017 and became one of K-pop's most successful character licensing deals. Fans buy BT21 items as both merch and design objects. The aesthetic is deliberately cute, which contrasts with BTS's music but matches their off-stage personalities.

Hongdae and Itaewon locations include themed cafés. Gangnam focuses on retail.

Scene: Character merchandise, member design concepts

Best Time: Opening time (11:00am) for limited edition releases; otherwise late afternoon

Time Needed: 45-60 minutes

Cost: ₩10,000-50,000+ (~$7.50-38+) depending on purchases

📍 437 Gangnam-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul (Gangnam Station Exit 10) 🕐 11:00-21:00 daily

Popular items sell out fast. If you're targeting specific merch, call ahead to check stock. Staff speak basic English.

Suggested Route

Start: Gyeongbokgung Palace (morning) ↓ 15-minute walk

Stop 2: Daeo Bookstore (late morning) ↓ Subway Line 3 to Hakdong Station (30 min)

Stop 3: Yoojung Sikdang (lunch) ↓ Taxi or subway to Yeouido (20 min)

Stop 4: Ossu Seiromushi (early dinner reservation) ↓ Subway to Mangu Station (40 min)

Stop 5: Yongma Land (golden hour) ↓ Subway to Jamsil Station (30 min)

Stop 6: LOTTE Star Avenue (evening) ↓ Subway to Gangnam Station (15 min)

Stop 7: BT21 Store (final shopping)

The route is optimized for subway access but requires 2-3 transfers. Budget 8-10 hours total including transit and meals. You can split this into two days if preferred—Seoul locations on Day 1, Gangnam cluster on Day 2.

Practical Tips

Timing matters more than you think. Gyeongbokgung's best light comes late afternoon. Yongma Land needs golden hour. Ossu Seiromushi requires evening reservations. Plan backward from your dinner booking.

T-Money card is essential. Load ₩20,000 (~$15) minimum. Subway rides run ₩1,400-2,000. The card works on all public transit and convenience stores.

Bring reference photos. Screenshots from music videos or social media posts help you find exact angles. Some spots look different in person.

Korean phone number problem. Several locations require local numbers for reservations (especially Ossu Seiromushi). Ask your hotel front desk to call, or use booking platforms like Naver or Kakao if you have access.

Weather affects everything. Summer heat makes outdoor walking brutal. Winter cold shortens Yongma Land hours. Spring and fall are ideal but crowded. Check forecasts and dress accordingly.

Markers and post-its. If you plan to leave messages at Yoojung Sikdang, bring supplies. Stationery stores near subway stations sell them cheaply.

FAQ

Q: Can I complete all seven locations in one day? A: Possible but exhausting. The route requires good subway navigation and tight timing. Two days is more comfortable and lets you enjoy each stop properly.

Q: Which locations are most likely to be crowded? A: Yoojung Sikdang (lunch/dinner rush), BT21 Store (weekends), LOTTE Star Avenue (after school hours). Gyeongbokgung and Daeo Bookstore handle crowds better due to space.

Q: Do I need to speak Korean? A: Basic survival phrases help, but subway signs are bilingual and most staff at tourist-adjacent locations understand simple English. Translation apps work for menus.

Closing

Seven locations, seven different ways to understand how BTS built their presence in Seoul. Some spots feel sacred because of the music videos. Others matter because of routine—the meals they ate hundreds of times, the quiet café RM chose for reading. Together, they form a map that's about more than tourism. It's about seeing where the work happened.

📌 Quick Reference Card