Travel guides › Enjoying K-pop and K-beauty: How to Experience Them in Seoul and What to Watch Out For
Enjoying K-pop and K-beauty: How to Experience Them in Seoul and What to Watch Out For
For many travelers, K-pop and K-beauty are the biggest reason to visit Korea. Seoul has spaces all around where you can experience music and beauty culture first-hand. This article covers how to enjoy them, along with etiquette to follow and cautions for treatments and shopping.
How to get close to K-pop
- Concerts: tickets for popular shows are fiercely competitive. Official ticket sellers and fan-club presales differ by artist, so check official announcements, and beware that unofficial resale tickets carry a risk of fraud.
- Music show audiences: how to apply to be in the audience at broadcasters changes often and can be hard for foreigners, so check the broadcaster's official guidance.
- Merch shops and pop-up stores: around Hongdae, Seongsu-dong and Myeongdong, merchandise shops and limited-time pop-ups open often. Check hours and queue methods before you visit.
- Dance classes and karaoke: K-pop dance classes for foreigners are sometimes held, and you can enjoy singing without pressure in a Korean coin karaoke room.
Etiquette for fans
Waiting or making noise near private spaces such as entertainment-agency buildings or an artist's residence is a problem and bothers residents. At concert venues check what filming is allowed and take care not to block other audience members' view. Tracking down or following artists' or staff's personal information must never be done.
Tips for K-beauty shopping
Cosmetics stores cluster around Myeongdong, Hongdae and Gangnam, and large drugstore-type stores let you compare and buy many brands at once. Promotional products and bundled sets are common, and stores sometimes give out samples. If your skin is sensitive, do not buy a large size at first but try a small size or sample. Checking the ingredient list with a translation app lowers the risk of allergic reaction. Also ask the store whether you can get a VAT refund on your purchase amount.
What to watch for when flying with it
Liquid and gel cosmetics have carry-on volume limits, usually 100 ml or less per container. Large-size products need to go in checked baggage; check your airline's rules. Pack them separately in a zip bag so products do not leak.
When you get a beauty treatment
Dermatology, plastic surgery and beauty treatments are popular even among foreign tourists in Korea, but they are medical procedures and call for care. Check whether the facility is a licensed medical institution, what the practitioner's qualifications and experience are, and whether you can get follow-up care if side effects occur. Do not decide impulsively without a consultation, and discuss with a doctor any plan to fly right after a treatment. Be careful of places that are unusually cheap or that use touting.
How to fit it in your itinerary
If you combine K-pop and K-beauty in one day, a straightforward plan is cosmetics shopping in Myeongdong in the morning, pop-ups and cafes in Hongdae or Seongsu-dong in the afternoon, and a concert or karaoke in the evening. Popular experiences may need advance booking, so check first once your dates are set.
Official sources
Rules, fares and opening hours change often. Check the latest details on the official sites below.