Kstar Road in Seoul: How to Walk the K-pop Street

Why the Road Is in Gangnam

More than half of Korean entertainment companies are located in Gangnam, so the theme matches the neighbourhood. SM Entertainment, JYP Entertainment, BH Entertainment and JNC Entertainment are all in the area around the road.

The project covers 4 zones across Sinsadong, Nonhyeondong and Cheongdamdong. The main stretch is the 1.08 km along Apgujeong-ro, and that is where most fans walk. There is no gate and no ticket. Visit Gangnam lists it as a public street with free access.

What GangnamDol Means

The statues are called GangnamDols. The name combines three words: Gangnam, idol and doll. Each one is an art toy in bear form, styled for one K-pop group.

There are 17 of them at 1.5 m high, plus one larger statue at 3 m. The bears are the reason most fans come, and each one is a photo stop on the way to Cheongdam Crossroads.

Which Exit to Use

Ride the Suin-Bundang Line to Apgujeong Rodeo Station. The two exits that matter are compared below, with locations from Visit Gangnam, KoreaToDo and Visit Seoul.

How the Road Fits a K-pop Day in Seoul

K-Star Road is a Gangnam stop. COEX K-POP Square is also in Gangnam-gu, at 513 Yeongdong-daero, 13 m from Bongeunsa Station Exit 7 on Line 9. Visit Gangnam lists that square as open 24 hours and free.

Both are outdoor and free, so they pair well on one Gangnam day. For guided agency visits and shows, see K-pop tours in Seoul.

The 17 Groups on the Statue List

The table lists the 17 groups named on Visit Seoul's statue list, which Visit Korea repeats. Use it as a checklist on the 1.08 km walk rather than as a fixed street order.

Stray Kids, BLACKPINK and Newer Groups

Fans often search for Stray Kids and BLACKPINK on K-Star Road. Neither group is on the published list of 17. The list comes from the original installation and stops at groups like KARA and Block B. If your favourite group debuted later, the road still works as a Gangnam K-pop walk with 17 bears, but plan their fan spots elsewhere, for example with a K-pop idol experience in Seoul.

Timing Your Visit

Arrive before 13:00 or after 14:00 if you want the shop. During the 13:00-14:00 break, start the walk from Exit 2 and come back later. The road itself is a public street and has no opening hours, so only the shop sets your timing.

A miniature GangnamDol also works as a prop for photos at the 17 statues on the road.

The Route in Four Stops

The table sets out a self-guided order for the walk, built from the exits, distance and shop hours given by KoreaToDo, Visit Seoul and Visit Gangnam.

Seoul Guided Walking Tour Rules

Visit Korea's K-Star Road page also carries the booking rules of the Seoul Guided Walking Tour. Reserve at least three days before the tour date. Groups over 10 book by email. Bookings for the next month open on the 15th of the current month. All bookings are cancelled if a weather warning is issued.

For a full fan day with transport, the BTS K-Pop Star Footsteps ARMY Fan Day Tour runs 10-13.5 hours at $78 per person. The Private K-pop boyband Location Tour from Seoul City with Pickup runs 4-5 hours at $230 per person.

BTS and BLACKPINK at a Glance

The table compares what each group has on K-Star Road and where fans go next, from Visit Seoul's statue list and its self-guided K-pop route.

After the BTS Bear

Visit Seoul's self-guided K-pop route states that visitors are not permitted to enter the HYBE headquarters building, so fans view it from outside. ARMY fans who want a guided day can compare options on the BTS tour in Seoul page. The BTS K-Pop Star Footsteps ARMY Fan Day Tour is $78 per person, rated 4.9 from 176 reviews.

What Fans Can Do

Treat the buildings as offices. Look from outside, keep noise down and do not wait at doors. Visit Seoul's K-pop route says visitors are not permitted inside the HYBE headquarters building, and the same respect fits every agency.

For SM fans, there is a free SM flagship store at B1F, 83-21 Wangsimni-ro, open daily 10:30-20:00 and 73 m from Seoul Forest Station Exit 5. See the SM Entertainment building page. A guided agency stop comes with the Seoul K-POP Fan Tour: Real Idol Show & K-POP Agency Visit, 6-7 hours at $56 per person.

Eating on the Walk

Use the Gangnamdol Haus lunch break, 13:00-14:00, as your own lunch hour. The shop is closed then anyway. The walk covers 4 zones across Sinsadong, Nonhyeondong and Cheongdamdong, so you pass plenty of places to eat along the 1.08 km.

For an evening plan after the walk, The Painters Live Art K-pop Dance Show Ticket is $37 per person, rated 4.8 from 962 reviews. More shows are on the K-pop show tickets in Seoul page.

Three Shots to Get

The 3 m statue is the tallest on the road and the one for a full-height photo. Your group's bear is the second shot, so check the list of 17 before you go. Statues are moved from time to time, so walk the full stretch rather than heading for one spot. The third shot is the Gangnamdol Haus front at Exit 7.

For posed idol-style photos and video, the Be a K-Pop Star in Seoul: Studio Recording, Makeup & Video session runs 3 hours at $261, priced per group of up to 1 person. A K-pop dance class in Seoul can also include video shooting.

Why Fans Pick It

The road has 17 GangnamDol statues plus one 3 m statue, and agencies such as SM Entertainment and JYP Entertainment are in the area. It is a public street with free access. A K-pop day in Gangnam can also take in COEX K-POP Square, which Visit Gangnam lists as open 24 hours and free.

Concert plans for the same trip are on the K-pop concerts in Seoul page.