3 Best Sights in Seoul, South Korea

Seoul is home to a number of entertainment companies, but Big Hit Entertainment is known as the outfit that launched the careers of global K-pop mega sensation BTS. While they've since moved into a brand new headquarters (the 19-story HYBE Building in Yongsan), this much more humble structure where it all started still stands. The building has become a pilgrimage point for diehard BTS fans known as ARMYs, where thousands have scribbled words of dedication to the group on the outside of the structure. 

Recently relocated from its former site in Gangnam, JYP Entertainment now calls Jamsil home. This renowned company hosts a roster of artists including TWICE, ITZY, Stray Kids, and 2PM, making it a mandatory stop on the itinerary of any K-pop fan hoping to catch a glimpse of their favorite idol, or for those who may just be curious about the phenomenon.

This historical, multipurpose building made its international debut as the filming site of the 2021 Korean TV drama Vincenzo. First built in 1968, it was the city’s first high-rise building for residential and commercial purposes and later housed tech- and digital-marketplaces. Despite talks of demolishing the centrally located structure, in 2017, the space was opened up to millennial entrepreneurs who’ve since opened cafes and boutiques alongside a few surviving mom and pop electronic goods shops. Don’t miss a small museum devoted to the space’s history on the third floor, have a coffee at Horangi Coffee, and check out the view of Jongmyo Shrine from the Plaza’s rooftop.