BTS Tribute Tour: Exploring the Past
During the height of the pandemic when countries were in lockdown, BTS became a source of comfort for millions of fans worldwide. When borders opened again, I knew I had to visit South Korea to pay homage to the seven guys who brought so much laughter, joy and music to me when I needed it the most. I designed my trip to visit places of importance to the BTS ARMY (the fandom), with a sprinkle of tourist sites. This will not appeal to everyone out there but it is directly aimed at ARMY travelers. I hope that it will be helpful to have an itinerary of where to go, what to do, and why these places are important in our universe.
I’ve included subway station stops but if you choose to take taxis, I’ve also added the names of the places and addresses in Korean to make it easier for the cab drivers.
Hakdong Park 학동공원
Located in Gangnam, Hakdong park is minutes away in walking distance from the old BigHit building. The guys used to hang out there when they were trainees to relax after a day of practice. You can see them revisit the park in the 2022 special Run BTS episode Telepathy part 2. Recently, Suga did a photoshoot on the swing for Marie Claire magazine.
Depending on which station you get off at, you may have to walk up a hill to get to the part where the playground is. Just keep following the path for a few minutes and you will see it!
Address: Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Address in Hangul: 서울 강남구 강남대로140길 47
Subway Stations: Line 7 to Nonhyeon station, exit 8 or Hak-dong station, exit 6 or 7, or line 3 to Sinsa station, exit 1
Old BigHit Building 청구빌딩
After spending some time playing on the swings at the park, walk about five to ten minutes to the old BigHit building. It’s a bit tricky to find but there will be a cluster of fans outside taking photos. It’s called the Cheonggu Building and it is now a regular office building, so there will be workers walking in and out of the main door. I forgot to bring a marker with me so bring one and add your message to BTS. The entire building is covered with messages to the guys!
Address: 13-20 Dosan-daero, 16-gil Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Address in Hangul: 서울 강남구 도산대로16길 13-20
Subway Station: Line 3, Sinsa Station, exit 1
Yoojung Sikdang 유정식당
When they were trainees and rookies, the members used to walk over to Yoojung Sikdang for their meals after dance practices. When I went on a random weekday for lunch, the place was filled with not only fans but nearby office workers too. The food is incredibly hearty and delicious, and also affordable! I ordered spicy gochuchang pork that came on a hotplate and dolsot bibimbap, the dishes BTS used to eat often. They came with a bunch of healthy side dishes, and the entire bill was only ₩20,000 (US$16) for the two of us! The entire restaurant is covered with BTS posters and they will offer you a free photocard after you pay your bill.
Address: 14 Dosan-daero 28-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Address in Hangul: 서울특별시 강남구 도산대로28길 14
Subway Station: Line 3, Sinsa Station, exit 1
Opening Hours: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Hyuga Café 휴가
Hyuga Café used to be the location of BTS’s third dormitory, in which it was the first time they had more than one bedroom for seven guys. Hyuga was minimally renovated to preserve the look and feel of the old dormitory, and BTS is featured in practically every corner of the space. Even a non-fan can appreciate the artistic zen/industrial aesthetics of the café, not to mention the trays of gorgeous and delicious baked goods, and a variety of drinks. They provide post-it notes for ARMY to leave messages of love and support for BTS. I doubt they will see them, but it is more of a way to express ourselves.
You can choose to walk to the cafe from Yoojung Sikdang or take a bus. It is about a 20-minute walk along a main road, and it was pretty straightforward and easy to navigate.
Address: 16 Nonhyeon-ro 119-gil, Gangnam District, Seoul
Address in Hangul: 서울 강남구 논현로119길 16우성빌리지뒷담길
Subway Station: Line 7 Hakdong Station, exit 4
Opening Hours: Daily, 10 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
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