INC&EAFONS2025
FEB. 13-14, 2025 / COEX, SEOUL, KOREA
D-118
BTS Jungkook’s love for meat is unlike anyone else. There’s a saying that if you want
to see Jungkook, either go to his concert or go to a Korean barbecue restaurant. As
for Key and Minho, members of SHINee, their comfort food is sundae gukbap.
In an episode of the reality show “I Live Alone,” the two boys visited a sundae gukbap
restaurant frequented even by other celebrities. If you are a K-pop fan looking for
dining options, read on for suggestions based on popular K-pop idols’ favorite dishes.
One of Jungkook’s favorite restaurants. This restaurant was also recognized by Michelin and found its place in Michelin Seoul Guide 2024. The restaurant’s most popular menu is “bone samgyeopsal,” chewy pork belly meat around the rib bones.
A restaurant frequented by BTS members before their debut. Their favorite menus are known to be heukdweji dolsot bibimbap (black pork hot stone pot bibimbap) and Yoojung ssambap.
Sundae gukbap restaurant that appeared in Key and Minho’s episode of “I Live Alone.” The restaurant’s squid sundae is also a special treat worth trying.
Seoul offers a wide array of ways to explore K-Culture! Discover Lotte World Adventure, home to the world’s largest indoor theme park and the exciting outdoor Magic Island. Visit the Starfield Library, featuring 13-meter-high bookcases within a cultural complex that combines shopping, dining, and entertainment. Relax at Yeouido Hangang Park, famous for its Cherry Blossom Festival in spring and the Seoul International Fireworks Festival in fall. Immerse yourself in K-Pop, K-Drama, and K-Movies with smart technologies at HiKR Ground. Don’t miss the captivating nonverbal performance at NANTA Theater in Myeong-dong.
Lotte World Adventure consists of two sections: Adventure, the largest indoor theme park in the world, and Magic Island, its outdoor section.
This is a cultural complex that offers a one-stop solution for shopping, dining, culture, and entertainment opportunities.
You can enjoy a wide variety of delivery food ― from fried chicken to desserts and beverages ― while taking in the stunning view of the Hangang River.
HiKR Ground offers an immersive experience that blends diverse K-content such as K-Pop, K-Drama, and K-Movies with smart technologies and art.
“NANTA” is a unique show that uses kitchen utensils like knives and cutting boards to create music and movement.
A visit to the national museum is an excellent way to familiarize oneself with Korea’s cultural heritage regardless of nationality, age, or knowledge.
Departing from Yeouido Hangang Park, this cruise service offers various experiences.
Discover Seoul’s top attractions with your family. Visit Cheong Wa Dae, the former presidential residence now open to the public. Step back in time at Bukchon Hanok Village, featuring traditional Korean houses. Stroll along the scenic Cheonggyecheon Stream, complete with fountains and waterfalls. Ride the Namsan Cable Car to the top of Namsan Mountain, the city’s beloved landmark, and experience traditional culture at Namsangol Hanok Village in the heart of Seoul.
Cheong Wa Dae, also known as the Blue House, served as the presidential residence of Korea from 1948 until May 9, 2022.
This area showcases traditional aesthetics through its narrow alleyways, stone walls, elegantly slanted hanok eaves, and wooden gates.
Along the stream, visitors can enjoy water fountains, waterfalls, and scenic trails. At night, the stream is beautifully illuminated, creating a picturesque view.
The cable car offers a unique opportunity to experience the changing seasons, highlighted by cherry blossoms in spring and vibrant autumn colors in fall.
The village offers a gateway to traditional Korean culture with a variety of experiences and learning opportunities.
Dongdaemun Design Plaza is a cultural complex that hosts exhibitions, fashion shows such as Seoul Fashion Week, new product launches, and conferences.
The park introduces urban plants and botanical culture from 12 cities around the world through its four main sections: the Forest Field, Botanic Garden, Wetland, and Lake Garden.
The Leeum Museum showcases a collection of Korean cultural heritage and globally renowned contemporary artworks.
On this trip, you will be visiting places that will inspire your artistic soul, Seorae Village has premium restaurants, Sebit Seom is a landmark of Hangang River, and Banpo Hangang Park, where BTS filmed their videos.
A representative Korean integrated space for culture and art
The floating integrated culture space is a landmark of Hangang River
A small France in Seoul
The floating integrated culture space is a landmark of Hangang River
Hangang Park is where BTS had fried chicken in the Seoul promotion video, and it’s also famous for its splendid water show
Visit the Buddhist temple next to COEX Mall, the most representative shopping mall in Seoul, as well as parks, cafes, restaurants, and shops in Garosu-gil, Sinsa-dong at the heart of Gangnam.
The representative shopping mall in Gangnam that offers fashion, dining, culture, and entertainment
The aquarium with the most sharks in Korea is located in COEX Mall
A 1,200-year-old Buddhist temple located in the heart of Gangnam
The park commemorating independence activists in the center of Gangnam
A bustling area with chic cafes, restaurants, and beauty & fashion shops
BTS is considered a pop icon of the 21st century. BTS’ leader RM, a sexy, brainy guy who hosted the variety show “Dictionary of Useless Human Knowledge (2022),” is also an art enthusiast who frequently attends art fairs. BTS fans would make a pilgrimage to the art museums posted on RM’s social media. As a result, many people view that RM has made art more accessible to the public. Check out Seoul’s leading galleries and museums that RM visited, including the Seoul Museum of Art, Gana Art Center, RKM Gallery, Leeum Museum of Art, and the National Museum of Korea!
The representative shopping mall in Gangnam that offers fashion, dining, culture, and entertainment
An art museum where special exhibitions are held free of charge throughout the year.
A gallery that focuses on works up-andcoming rising artists as well as master artists.
A representative museum in Korea which houses a vast collection of over 420,000 artifacts.
Enjoy the charm of Seoul as an eco-city by visiting beautiful spaces of relaxation that were previously an abandoned industrial facility and a landfill.
Eco-culture space that was formerly an old oil tank
An eco-park refurbished from a landfill
The site that holds the memories of the 2002 FIFA World Cup
A park by Hangang River with a camp site
Nights in Seoul are just as vibrant and fun as daytime. With malls and night markets open until very late hours, you can shop and have fun, and continue your travels well into the night.
There are many large shopping malls in Dongdaemun Fashion Town that are open until dawn. It’s a great place to shop for stylish and trendy clothes at moderate prices. Some of the most popular malls in the area include Doota Mall with designer and brand shops, apM Place with trendy women’s wear, and Migliore with a wide selection of fashion clothing and accessories. There are also many restaurants and coffee shops in the area.
Depending on where you go, you can enjoy a great selection of food such as dak gangjeong (glazed fried chicken bites) or gopchang bokkeum (stir-fried beef or pork intestines) even late at night. The Seoul Bamdokkaebi Night Market opens at night from spring to fall in several locations: Yeouido Hangang Park, DDP (Dongdaemun Digital Plaza), Cheonggyecheon Stream and Banpodaegyo Rainbow Fountain, selling international treats such as crêpes, churros, and sandwiches as well as cute and unique souvenirs. At Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market, which is the largest fish market in Seoul, you can enjoy fresh seafood until midnight.
Cultural heritage sites in the downtown Seoul area are serene and peaceful at night. The Hanyangdoseong Seoul City Wall, stretching from Hyehwamun Gate to Heunginjimun Gate, is recommended for night walks. It’s about an hour long and the lights along the fortress create a cozy atmosphere. Deoksugung Palace and Changgyeonggung Palace are open until 9 p.m. (tickets sold until 8 p.m.), and the palace buildings are beautifully lit. Changdeokgung Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site, offers the “Moonlight Tour” from spring to fall. It’s a great way to enjoy a private guided tour and traditional performances. Gyeongbokgung Palace is also open at night from spring to fall, during which period visitors can taste the royal cuisine of Korea.
Korean e-sports players and teams are very popular worldwide, and that ’s probably why online gaming is a favorite pastime for many Koreans. PC bang, or Internet cafés, in Korea are equipped with the latest and fastest computers, keyboards and headsets optimized for playing. They also sell meals and snacks such as ramyeon (instant noodles) and tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes). Due to the Youth Protection Act, children and teenagers are not permitted from 10 p.m. to 9 a.m., so you will need your passport to go to a PC bang after 10 p.m.
Jjimjilbang, which are Korean-style saunas where you can bathe, eat, relax, and even sleep, are easy to find anywhere in Korea. By switching back and forth between hot and ice rooms, the extreme temperature gap will help you reduce travel stress and fatigue. Koreans, young and old, enjoy eating baked eggs with ice cold sikhye (sweet rice punch) while chatting with friends at a jjimjilbang.
Hopping on a Hangang passenger ferry can be a great way to enjoy the night view of Seoul. Various ferry/boat tours are offered from the Yeouido or Jamsil Quays, and you can see the Banpodaegyo Rainbow Fountain Show from the ferries. Passenger ferries and boats are also available at Gyeongin Ara Waterway in the downstream of the Hangang River. The highlight of the ferries are the fireworks. You must present your passport to board, and you can make reser vations on the website of the ferry/boat company. At the Some Sevit Quay, you can ride the Tubester, a six-passenger electric tube boat, to enjoy the night view of Seoul and the Hangang River.
Around Seoul’s downtown areas of Gangnam, Hongdae (Hongik University Area) and Jongno, there are many late-night indoor sports facilities where you can enjoy baseball, shooting, bowling and more. Legend Sports Heroes, a franchise with stores in Dongdaemun and Gangnam, invites you to enjoy various sports such as baseball, football, ski, fishing and archery. Most facilities are open until midnight.
City tour buses may be the most convenient way to enjoy the night view of a city. Seoul City Tour Bus, which runs along the Hangang River, allows you to enjoy the night view of the glittering city. The bus makes stops at Dongjakdaegyo Bridge and Namsan Seoul Tower for passengers to soak in the view and take pictures.
There are a number of popular pojang macha areas in Seoul, around Jongno 3(sam)-ga Station, Yeouido Station, and Yeomri Elementary School near Gongdeok Station. They ser ve unique Korean dishes such as live octopus, hagfish, noodles, and ramyeon. Some of them may not accept credit cards, so be sure to have cash when going to a pojang macha.