Hallyu Kpop Culture

Hallyu is the export wave of Korean popular culture, and in Seoul it has physical addresses. Gangnam holds the agencies - HYBE's building in Yongsan, the older company headquarters around Cheongdam - and the streets around them have cafes run by fan clubs and pop-up shops for comebacks. Hongdae is where the practice happens: dance studios that run drop-in K-pop classes for anyone, buskers on the main street most evenings, and small live venues. Sangam in the north-west is the broadcast district, where the weekly music shows are recorded; audience tickets are distributed through fan clubs and are hard to get without one. Add the K-Star Road in Apgujeong with its bear statues, and the Seoul Music Bank and concert calendar. The honest note is that the industry has a large, structured fandom economy around it, and much of what looks like a public attraction is fan infrastructure.

What you actually see

• The agency districts - Yongsan and Cheongdam, with fan cafes around them.
• The Hongdae studios - drop-in dance classes open to visitors.
• Sangam broadcast halls - where the weekly music shows are made.
• K-Star Road - the Apgujeong walk of statues and shops.

When to go

Any time; the concert calendar is heaviest in summer and winter. Book dance classes ahead. Music show audience places generally require fan club membership.

Honest expectations

There is no single site - it is a scene spread across districts, and agency buildings are offices you can only photograph from outside. Much of the merchandising is aimed at existing fans and means little otherwise.

Nearby

Hongdae, Gangnam and Yongsan are all a metro ride apart.