K-Pop and K-Drama Guide: Experiences, Filming Sets, and Fan Events

Seoul provides dedicated, technology-driven spaces where visitors can step directly into K-pop music video sets.

• HiKR Ground (KTO Seoul Center): Located on Cheonggyecheon-ro near Jonggak Station (Line 1, Exit 5) and Euljiro 1-ga Station (Line 2, Exit 2). Admission is free (0 KRW).
  • 1st Floor: Features the 32-meter panoramic "HiKR Wall" showing media art and fan creations.
  • 2nd Floor (K-pop Ground): Contains music video sets modeled after subway cars and coin laundromats, alongside an XR Live Studio where visitors customize stage lighting and music to record dance performances.
  • 3rd–4th Floors: Houses art installations, including Do Ho Suh’s North Wall, and regional tourism showcases.
  • 5th Floor: Offers the HiKR Lounge, a Tourist Information Center, and a cafe.
• KWANGYA@SEOUL: Located at Acro Seoul Forest basement level (Seoul Forest Station, Suin-Bundang Line, Exit 5). This flagship store provides free entry, operating daily from 10:30 to 20:00 except on Seollal and Chuseok. It features transparent OLED displays, artist goods, and custom photo booths.

Birthday cafes (called saeng-il cafe or saeng-ka) are fan-organized gatherings hosted at rented cafes to celebrate an idol's birthday or debut anniversary. The highest density of these events takes place around the Hongdae and Sinchon districts.

• How to enter: You do not need official fandom memberships or advance tickets. Buying a regular drink or dessert provides special, fan-made freebies while supplies last.
• Exclusive items: Visitors receive items such as custom cup holders, photocards, stickers, postcards, and opportunities to join on-site lucky draws.
• Fan rituals: Attendees often bring photo cards or character dolls to photograph in front of decorated displays or cafe treats (a tradition known as yejeol shot).
• Locating events: Schedules are tracked on X (formerly Twitter) by searching the idol's Korean name alongside "생일카페" or through tracking apps such as Fiveduck and Duk Place.
• Merchandise shopping: Official light sticks and albums can be bought nearby at shops like WITHMUU in AK PLAZA Hongdae, while Idolllook sells idol doll clothing.

Korea maintains several preserved open-air sets across the country that allow visitors to walk through historical and retro drama backdrops.

Planning your route requires checking specific operating schedules and setting realistic expectations for residential filming spots:

• Visiting HiKR Ground on Mondays: While the 5th-floor tourist lounge remains open daily, the 1st through 4th exhibition floors, including K-pop Ground, are closed every Monday.
• Expecting temporary drama sets to remain intact: Urban filming locations in active neighborhoods are often taken down once production wraps. For instance, the rooftop apartment set from Rooftop Prince in Seoul's Songwol-dong was dismantled after filming, and the underlying structure is a private residence with no public rooftop access.
• Overlooking holiday closures at regional sets: Venues like KWANGYA@SEOUL, Mungyeongsaejae, and Nonsan Sunshine Land close on traditional holidays such as Seollal and Chuseok. Others, like Hapcheon Movie Theme Park and Iksan Prison Set, close every Monday.