BLACKPINK is one of the biggest and most successful K-pop groups to come out of Korea, and one of the bands that Dojeon team member, Lewis, believes to have started the Korean Wave (Hallyu). Follow Lewis as he tours Seoul, BLACKPINK style!
Stop 1: YG Entertainment Building
Hapjeong-dong is already the hot spot amongst the younger generation but is also famous for YG Entertainment’s new building, which BLACKPINK is part of!
Taking an entertainment-building tour is A MUST for all K-pop fans, including myself, when I have been to the area before. During the fan tour, it’s impossible to overlook the new YG building where the most popular group BLACKPINK belonged. The YG building is easy to spot and there is an MD shop in the basement of the café building where you can purchase official merchandise! If you are a fan of the girl group, then this is a must-do when you are in Seoul!
Not only does the space make the YG fans’ hearts flutter but they also have delicious desserts. Make sure you are enjoying a donut, the signature dessert from The sameE, as you take a look around the YG building! Unfortunately, I have yet to see BLACKPINK when I have been in Seoul, though I continue to hold out hope!
Stop 2: Pottery Cafe Jool
If you remember during BLACKPINK’s reality show "24/365 with BLACKPINK" which was uploaded on BLACKPINK’s official YouTube channel, BLACKPINK’s Jisoo and Rosé went on a pottery date.
Cafe Jool located in Donggyo-dong is where BLACKPINK visited. Many people come alone, so if you need to take time to heal during your busy daily life, try pottery making as a special event for yourself! Not only does it relieve your stress as you fully focus on your pottery creation, but it also gives you the benefit of taking home a unique gift that can’t be found elsewhere. For me, I have tried making pottery before, and I have to say it was so much fun, and although I found it difficult, it was fairly relaxing!
Stop 3: Rakkojae, the Hanok Hotel
Rakkojae, the Hanok Hotel is where BLACKPINK had a photo shoot back in 2020. 2020 was when I came to Korea, and the Hanok Hotel is a place that I have been to before. It is very photogenetic and traditional, and I really recommend that you visit here on your BLACKPINK tour of Seoul!
The Rakkojae is located in the Bukchon Hanok Village, where this amazing photoshoot took place. Rakkojae, located in the middle of a quiet Hanok alley that seems unimaginable in Seoul, has starred in the MICHELIN guide. It is a Hanok hotel that perfectly portrays the alluring beauty of Korea. If you want to take a break from your everyday routine and experience a time in the beautiful past, head over to Rakkojae. Add some fun by taking your photo shoot at the same place where BLACKPINK took theirs!
Let us know if you have been to any of the locations on the tour, and tag us in your photos if you have!