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The Korea Times

By Pyo Kyung-min
Now that K-pop juggernaut BTS have officially made their comeback – having just staged a free performance at the Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on March 21 and with three more dates at Goyang Stadium on April 9, 11 and 12 – fans from around the world are once again planning journeys that extend far beyond a single night of music.
For many members of Army, BTS’ official fandom, travelling to South Korea is also about stepping into the physical landscapes that shaped the group’s story, tracing the arc from uncertain trainee years to global influence.
Across Seoul and beyond, buildings, cafes, coastal landmarks and performance sites have quietly evolved into a living map of BTS’ rise. Some are grand symbols of the group’s transformation. Others are modest, almost hidden spaces that carry emotional resonance precisely because they reflect the ordinariness of the members’ early lives.
Together, they form an unofficial pilgrimage route that continues to grow in significance each time BTS embarks on a new chapter.
1. Hybe headquarters

Few places illustrate the scale of BTS’ sheer impact more clearly than Hybe’s glass-and-steel headquarters in Yongsan district. The sleek structure stands as a visible marker of how dramatically the group reshaped not only its agency’s fortunes, but also the global perception of the K-pop genre.
Fans often gather outside and around the building for photos or fan events, even though the interior is not open to casual visitors. The experience of standing before Hybe’s imposing facade is less about nostalgia than about witnessing the tangible results of BTS’ journey.
In many ways, the building symbolises the moment when BTS’ success became institutionalised, transforming from a narrative of struggle into a blueprint for global pop ambition.
2. Nonhyeon-dong
In striking contrast to Hybe’s headquarters stands the group’s former agency office in Nonhyeon-dong, southern Seoul. Modest in scale and easy to overlook, the old BigHit building has become one of the most emotionally charged destinations for long-time fans.

This was the neighbourhood where BTS spent its trainee years, rehearsing in relatively cramped practice rooms and navigating the uncertainty of debut in an industry dominated by larger agencies. Visiting the site offers a rare opportunity to encounter the group’s story at its most vulnerable stage.
Over time, the building’s exterior walls have become densely covered with graffiti left by visiting fans, transforming the space from a former company office into something closer to a cultural landmark.
While BTS remains the central focus, the names of other Hybe artists can also be spotted among the layers of marker. For many visitors, part of the fun lies in scanning the walls to find the name of their own favourite artist, turning the act of pilgrimage into a personal treasure hunt.
3. Yoojung Sikdang

Just a short walk from the former agency site is Yoojung Sikdang, a Korean ssambap (rice lettuce wrap) restaurant that serves rice and grilled meats accompanied by a variety of fresh leafy wraps and side dishes. The eatery has become one of the most recognisable BTS pilgrimage stops in Seoul after gaining a reputation among fans as a place the members visited frequently during their trainee and early debut years.
From the exterior walls to the interior decor, the space is densely lined with BTS posters, handwritten notes and fan-donated merchandise, transforming what was once a neighbourhood dining spot into an important fan landmark. For many visitors, sharing a simple ssambap meal here feels less like dining out and more like stepping into a living archive of the group’s early memories.
4. Geumdwaeji Sikdang
Located in Jung district, Geumdwaeji Sikdang offers a different kind of BTS-related experience. The Michelin Bib Gourmand-selected pork barbecue restaurant gained further international attention after being associated with visits by the members of the group. Its inclusion in fan itineraries reflects how BTS’ everyday choices can elevate already-popular spaces into global attractions.

5. Otsu Seiromushi
Otsu Seiromushi is a Japanese-style restaurant in Yeouido that is known for its dishes served in traditional wooden steamers. The venue has drawn steady interest from BTS fans over time due to its association with Jin’s older brother.
Recently, the restaurant has seen a renewed wave of visitors after announcing that it will cease operations on March 30. The news has added a sense of urgency for fans hoping to experience the space before it closes, turning what might otherwise be a routine restaurant stop into a final chance to dine at a location popularised largely through word of mouth within Army networks.
6. Cafe Far Ben
Across the Han River in Seongsu-dong, Cafe Far Ben has developed a reputation among fans as a space associated with RM’s sister. Located in one of Seoul’s most trend-conscious neighbourhoods, the venue embodies a quieter, more relaxing side of the pilgrimage route.

Visitors frequently describe the cafe as a contemplative stop amid a high-energy itinerary, aligning with RM’s public image as a thoughtful and intellectually inclined artist. Its understated atmosphere demonstrates how BTS-related destinations need not always be spectacle-driven to hold meaning.
7. Nodeul Island
Nodeul Island, located along the Han River in Yongsan, bridges the worlds of K-pop and urban regeneration. The site gained prominence among fans after appearing in scenes from the “Run” music video and later being revisited in BTS’ content.
Today, Nodeul Island has evolved into a vibrant cultural complex hosting concerts, exhibitions and community events. Its transformation parallels BTS’ own trajectory, making it a fitting stop for visitors seeking to experience both the group’s visual legacy and Seoul’s evolving creative landscape.
8. Hyangho Beach bus stop

Beyond Seoul, the bus stop installed at Hyangho Beach in Gangneung, Gangwon province, stands as one of the most iconic BTS landmarks. Originally built as a prop for album jacket photography tied to 2017’s You Never Walk Alone, the structure was later reinstated after fans began travelling in large numbers to see it.
Set against the expansive East Sea, the stop has come to symbolise themes of companionship and endurance central to BTS’ artistic identity. For many Army visitors, the quiet coastal setting offers an emotional counterpoint to the intensity of urban pilgrimage sites.
9. Maengbang Beach
Further along the coast, Maengbang Beach gained global recognition after appearing in promotional imagery for the chart-topping single “Butter”. Its bright sands and open horizons evoke a celebratory mood, capturing BTS at the height of its global pop dominance.
Together with Hyangho Beach, Maengbang forms part of a coastal pilgrimage route that mirrors the emotional range of BTS’ music, from introspective longing to exuberant confidence.
10. Mosan Airfield


Inland in Jecheon, Mosan Airfield provides one of the most visually symbolic stops on the BTS trail. Featured in the “Epilogue: Young Forever” music video, the abandoned runway setting underscored themes of youth, uncertainty and aspiration.
While the airfield was built in 1950 as a training ground for war prevention and peace regime establishment, the venue has since been repurposed as a public park. The site allows visitors to step into one of the group’s most enduring visual metaphors: the idea of life as an open runway, filled with both risk and possibility.
Read the full story at The Korea Times


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Members of K-pop boy band BTS at Maengbang Beach in Samcheok, Gangwon province, South Korea. The coastal backdrop was used in imagery tied to the group’s global hit single “Butter”. Photo: courtesy of BigHit Music

The exterior of the Hybe headquarters building in Yongsan district, Seoul. Photo: The Korea Times

The former BigHit Music headquarters in Nonhyeon-dong, Seoul. Photo: The Korea Times

The interior of Yoojung Sikdang, a Korean ssambap restaurant in southern Seoul, is packed with tributes to BTS. Photo: X/jnfication

Geumdwaeji Sikdang, in Seoul’s Jung district, is a BTS favourite.

Cafe Far Ben, which is associated with RM’s sister, is in Seongsu-dong, a trendy neighbourhood in Seoul.

Members of BTS at the Hyangho Beach bus stop, in Gangneung, Gangwon province, in 2017. Photo: courtesy of BigHit Music

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Explore iconic landmarks throughout the K-pop band’s history, from the current Hybe headquarters to their trainee-era haunts


Explore iconic landmarks throughout the K-pop band’s history, from the current Hybe headquarters to their trainee-era haunts.


Tourism

Seoul

Korea Times

Hybe

10 BTS pilgrimage spots in South Korea every Army should visit

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Explore iconic landmarks throughout the K-pop band’s history, from the current Hybe headquarters to their trainee-era haunts

Explore iconic landmarks throughout the K-pop band’s history, from the current Hybe headquarters to their trainee-era haunts