Hallyu Diary Vol.17

Don’t you find yourself curious about where celebrities shot the pics they upload to social media?
I’m sure every fan once felt, I wish I could go there and pose like that myself!

For this trip, we’re going on a fandom tour chasing down
the same places that the idols took their social media photos in.
Let’s dive deep into the scenes straight out of the photographs on their SNS!
Here are the K-idol photo spots from the tour!

The first place I arrived at was Samcheong-dong street!
It’s no surprise, as true fans of BTS are already aware of RM’s love for Samcheong-dong street.
His SNS feed shows tons of art galleries and eateries scattered throughout the street.

Samcheong-dong Street has everything from major art museums to stylish galleries,
so a simple walk down the street feels like stepping into multiple exhibitions.
Many of the galleries offer free admission, so they’re great to look around for fun!

I wandered through Kukje Gallery, also visited by RM,
and tried taking various photos from places where I assumed he also snapped his pics.
I was so excited to stand exactly where he once stood, and felt the fun of a true fan-tour.

I heard SEVENTEEN’s Wonwoo also loved to take in the autumn vibes
of Samcheong-dong Street,
and though it was winter when I went, and the season was different,
I felt like we were sharing the same sensations.
The alleyways of Samcheong-dong Street yield the most gorgeous photos on snowy winter days,
with the many pretty cafés and traditional Hanok houses resulting in the perfect shot!

And if you keep walking a bit farther along the road, you’ll reach Hwagae-gil,
another charming part of Samcheong-dong Street.
Time flew by while I browsed its many assortment of unique clothing boutiques.

At the very end of Hwagae-gil, you’ll find Bokjeong Well and a guesthouse,
which are famous for having been featured in the dramas Hotel Del Luna and Flower of Evil.
Samcheong-dong Street can even be enjoyed for this pilgrimage of drama film sets,
so there wasn’t a single dull moment during my walk.

Just a short walk away from Samcheong-dong Street lies the cozy Seosulla-gil Road.
This place is famous among Red Velvet fans as Seulgi snapped a couple of pics here.
It made headlines recently when Hyeri of Girl’s Day also visited the road.

Seosulla-gil Road really blew up
after Jun Hyun-moo talked about it on the variety show I Live Alone.
That’s when it started becoming a hot spot for the MZ crowd,
and recently it appeared in the drama My Youth
where the main characters enjoyed a walk together.

I was getting hungry, so I went to the taco place that Seulgi, Hyeri, and Jun Hyun-moo visited.
There was a line when I went, which spoke to the popularity of the place.
Once I tried one of their tacos, I totally got why people were waiting.
Each shell was packed full of flavor, the perfect way to kick off my Seosulla-gil Road adventure.

With my stomach full, I followed the same route Seulgi took and strolled down the road.
The road was originally used by royal guards during the Joseon Dynasty
while patrolling the fortress walls and Jongmyo Shrine.
You can get a sense of history when you walk around the traditional structures of the road.

Between the old alleys, there are little workshops and restaurants tucked in here and there,
which makes wandering around super fun.
The many cute, photogenic spots on the road made it hard to put my camera down!

If you keep walking down the alley, it leads to Cheonggyecheon Stream.
The views peeking through the city buildings kept making me stop and look around.
At some point, I felt like I had slipped right into Seulgi’s day,
as I basked in the perfect mix of fan-tour excitement and a laid-back mood.

After Seosulla-gil Road, I headed to the Hapjeong Sky Road, visited by NCT’s Johnny.
The Sky Road actually refers to a little neighborhood area near Exit 7 of Hapjeong Station,
and it’s filled with indie bookstores and cultural spaces that give the place a unique aesthetic.
The whole alley feels like its own mini cultural map, and I just kept wanting to explore more.

The first thing that caught my eye was the long sky-blue path painted on the ground.
It really brightens up the whole alley and gives the place a fresh, lively look.

There are also tons of cute cafés packed into the side streets,
and since the Hapjeong–Sangsu–Mangwon area is all connected,
it’s one of those spots that gets super busy on weekends.
As I wandered around, I kept stumbling upon tiny prop shops and little galleries tucked away,
 so much so that I found myself stopping every few steps
to discover something new, “Oh! What do we have here?”

I hunted down the café where Johnny took his photos and snapped a picture from the outside,
and it totally captured Hapjeong’s signature calm, stylish mood.
It’s quieter than Hongdae, but that quiet actually makes the vibe come alive even more,
perfect for breathing in the smell of coffee and taking amazing photographs.

Just a bit farther from Sky Road,
you’ll end up in Mangwon Market, which is always buzzing with great food and people.
Here, you can enjoy the perfect combo of café → stroll → food in the same place.
Following Johnny’s footsteps, I somehow ended up creating my own little route—★

My final stop for the day was Some Sevit, where LE SSERAFIM’s Kim Chaewon took her pics!
Some Sevit is made up of three artificial islands that beautifully light up Hangang River,
and it was fascinating to learn that the entire building sits on the water.

Once the sun sets and the lights turn on one by one, the island transforms into a glowing stage.
Watching it made me feel like I’d stepped right into a K-pop music video.
I took some photos in the exact spot where the video characters enjoyed the nightscape from!
The mix of river breeze and soft lights created the perfect Hangang River atmosphere,
and honestly, the photos came out amazing from every angle.

Some Sevit has tons to enjoy, including restaurants, cafés, even water leisure activities.
And as you walk around, you’ll run into buskers and small performances here and there,
so it feels like K-pop vibes are just floating around you.
It was a bit quiet when I went since it was a winter night, but when the weather warms up,
music festivals and live performances pop up, offering a chance to enjoy K-music up close.

One thing that caught my eye was the super popular Tubester,
a floating tube-boat where you can drift along the Hangang River and enjoy a meal.
Sadly, it wasn’t running in the winter season, so I couldn’t try it this time,
but I definitely wanted to come back some other day to enjoy the ride.

Some Sevit is also a well-known filming location for several dramas.
In She Was Pretty, it was the backdrop in a scene featuring two friends comforting each other,
and in Oh My Ghost, it set the stage for an important moment
where misunderstandings were cleared up.
Thinking of those scenes while standing in the same place inspired the same emotions in me.

With its idol photo spots, gorgeous night views,
tons of things to do, and drama-filming charm all in one place,
Some Sevit was the perfect way to wrap up my little fan-tour adventure!