K-Pop and K-Drama Locations in Seoul: 7 Must-Visit Spots
If you’re looking for K-pop and K-drama locations in Seoul, you can easily turn a normal sightseeing trip into your own Korean Wave pilgrimage.
Seoul is filled with entertainment-company landmarks, K-pop shopping spots and locations that appeared in famous Korean dramas.
The best part is that many of them are real neighborhoods and attractions worth visiting even if you’re not a hardcore fan.
Here are seven places I’d add to a Hallyu-themed Seoul itinerary.
1. HYBE Headquarters — A Must for K-Pop Fans
For many international K-pop fans, HYBE Headquarters in Yongsan is one of the first names that comes to mind.
HYBE moved its headquarters to Yongsan in 2021, and the area has since become a well-known stop for fans. Seoul’s official tourism guide notes that fan-run birthday cafés and merchandise shops have also developed around the neighborhood.
But there is one very important rule:
The building itself is not a tourist attraction.
Access to the interior is restricted to employees, so visitors should treat this as an exterior photo stop rather than trying to enter the building.
Bring your photocard or merchandise, take a photo from an appropriate public area and explore Yongsan afterward.
Best for: BTS and HYBE-label fans
2. K-Star Road — Classic Gangnam K-Pop Pilgrimage
K-Star Road runs through the Apgujeong and Cheongdam area, one of the neighborhoods most closely associated with Korea’s entertainment industry.
The approximately 1-kilometer route is decorated with GangnamDol art figures representing K-pop artists such as Girls’ Generation, EXO and TVXQ.
The surrounding Gangnam area has also historically been home to entertainment agencies, fashion stores and restaurants associated with Korean celebrities.
This isn’t necessarily somewhere you’ll spend half a day.
Think of it as a K-pop photo walk that can easily be combined with:
Apgujeong Rodeo → K-Star Road → Cheongdam → cafés and shopping
Best for: Classic K-pop fans and Gangnam sightseeing
3. COEX K-Pop Square & Ktown4u — Best All-in-One K-Pop Stop
If you only have time for one easy K-pop stop in Gangnam, COEX is probably the most convenient.
COEX K-Pop Square sits beside the COEX complex and features a huge digital display known for 3D media art and Korean Wave content. The official Seoul tourism site describes it as one of the city’s major digital-media landmarks.
Then head inside to Ktown4u COEX.
Its permanent K-culture store sells K-pop albums, merchandise, magazines, fashion and beauty items, while another floor offers K-pop-related experiences including dance and vocal classes.
That makes this much more than a photo stop.
You can actually shop while you’re there.
Easy Gangnam route
K-Star Road → COEX K-Pop Square → Ktown4u → Starfield Library → Bongeunsa
Best for: Albums, merchandise, photos and first-time K-pop travelers
4. Noksapyeong Overpass — Itaewon Class
K-drama fans will probably recognize this view immediately.
Noksapyeong Overpass became one of the most memorable locations from Itaewon Class.
From the overpass, you get a dramatic view toward Namsan and N Seoul Tower, with the road running directly through the Itaewon area.
Seoul’s official filming-location guide specifically highlights the bridge as an Itaewon Class location and notes that it has become popular with both local and international visitors.
It’s particularly atmospheric after sunset when Seoul’s lights start coming on.
Recommended route
Noksapyeong Station → Noksapyeong Overpass → Haebangchon → Itaewon
Even without the drama connection, this is a genuinely good walking route.
Best for: Itaewon Class fans and night photography
5. N Seoul Tower — One of Seoul’s Most Famous Drama Locations
N Seoul Tower appears constantly in Korean entertainment.
Its panoramic city views, night scenery and famous love locks have made it a natural setting for romantic K-dramas.
The official Seoul tourism guide even includes N Seoul Tower in a filming-location route for My Love from the Star.
Today, the tower remains one of Seoul’s most recognizable landmarks and offers a 360-degree view of the city from Namsan.
I’d recommend visiting near sunset.
You get the daytime city view first, then watch Seoul light up after dark.
Combine it with
Myeongdong → Namsan → N Seoul Tower
or
Itaewon → Noksapyeong → Namsan → N Seoul Tower
Best for: Romantic K-drama fans and first-time Seoul visitors
6. Unhyeongung & Yunposun-gil — Goblin Filming Locations
Fans of Goblin: The Lonely and Great God can find several recognizable locations around the Anguk area.
Unhyeongung’s Yanggwan Hall was used as the residence shared by the Goblin and Grim Reaper in the drama. However, Seoul’s official tourism guide currently notes that Yanggwan Hall itself is closed, so don’t plan your trip around entering that specific building.
The surrounding area is still worth visiting.
Nearby Yunposun-gil also appeared in the drama, and the streets around Anguk are filled with hanok architecture, cafés and access to Bukchon and Insadong.
Recommended route
Unhyeongung → Anguk → Yunposun-gil → Bukchon → Insadong
This is one of the easiest ways to combine drama filming locations with traditional Seoul sightseeing.
Best for: Goblin fans and traditional Seoul
7. Gyeongbokgung Palace — Historical K-Drama Atmosphere
If historical Korean dramas are your thing, Gyeongbokgung Palace is an essential stop.
Built in 1395, it was the largest of the Joseon Dynasty’s Five Grand Palaces and remains one of Seoul’s major historical landmarks. Seoul’s official tourism site also categorizes it as a K-drama filming location.
Even if the exact drama you watched wasn’t filmed there, this is one of the best places to experience the architecture and atmosphere often associated with historical K-dramas.
Renting a hanbok nearby can make the visit even more memorable.
Recommended route
Gyeongbokgung → Bukchon Hanok Village → Anguk → Insadong
That also connects naturally with the Goblin locations above.
Best for: Historical K-drama fans and first-time visitors
Best K-Pop and K-Drama Locations in Seoul by Interest
| Location | Best For |
|---|---|
| HYBE Headquarters | HYBE & BTS fans |
| K-Star Road | Classic K-pop |
| COEX K-Pop Square | K-pop culture & media |
| Noksapyeong Overpass | Itaewon Class |
| N Seoul Tower | Romantic K-dramas |
| Unhyeongung / Anguk | Goblin |
| Gyeongbokgung Palace | Historical dramas |
You don’t need to visit all seven.
Pick the places connected to the artists or dramas you actually care about.
One-Day K-Pop Seoul Course
For a K-pop-focused day, I’d do:
Yongsan
HYBE Headquarters
↓
Apgujeong
K-Star Road
↓
Samseong
COEX K-Pop Square
↓
Ktown4u
↓
COEX & Starfield Library
This gives you agency culture, a classic Hallyu landmark, albums, merchandise and modern Gangnam in one day.
One-Day K-Drama Filming Location Course
For drama fans:
Gyeongbokgung Palace
↓
Anguk
↓
Unhyeongung
↓
Bukchon & Insadong
↓
Noksapyeong
↓
N Seoul Tower
This route takes you from historical Seoul to some of the city’s most recognizable modern drama scenery.
I’d start early because there is plenty of walking involved.
K-Pop Fan Etiquette in Seoul
This is worth mentioning because entertainment-company headquarters are workplaces, not amusement parks.
Don’t:
- Enter restricted company buildings
- Block entrances
- Follow employees or artists
- Photograph people without permission
- Leave fan items or trash outside buildings
- Congregate in ways that block pedestrians
At HYBE specifically, the headquarters interior is restricted to employees.
Take your photos from public areas and move on.
You can still enjoy the experience without making things uncomfortable for the people who work there.
How to Find Filming Locations More Easily
Use Naver Map rather than depending entirely on Google Maps.
Search using both the English and Korean location names when necessary.
Save all your locations before leaving your hotel and group them by neighborhood.
For example:
Yongsan → HYBE
Gangnam → K-Star Road + COEX
Jongno → Gyeongbokgung + Anguk
Yongsan/Itaewon → Noksapyeong + N Seoul Tower
This is much more efficient than crossing Seoul several times in one day.
Are K-Pop and K-Drama Tours Worth It?
For serious fans, absolutely.
But you don’t necessarily need to pay for an organized tour.
Many K-pop and K-drama locations in Seoul are easily accessible by subway and can be combined with normal tourist attractions.
That’s actually the way I’d recommend doing it.
Instead of spending an entire day taking photos outside entertainment companies, combine each Hallyu stop with the neighborhood around it.
For example:
HYBE + Yongsan
K-Star Road + Apgujeong
COEX + Gangnam
Goblin locations + Bukchon
Itaewon Class + Itaewon
Then your trip still feels like Seoul—not just a checklist.
Final Thoughts
Exploring K-pop and K-drama locations in Seoul is one of the most fun ways for Hallyu fans to experience the city.
You can stand near the headquarters of companies behind global K-pop artists, shop for albums at COEX, walk through an Itaewon Class scene and visit locations connected to classic dramas like Goblin.
But the best Hallyu trip isn’t about chasing celebrities.
It’s about seeing the real Seoul behind the music and dramas you already love.
Use these locations as starting points, explore the surrounding neighborhoods, and you’ll probably discover places that never appeared on your screen at all.
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