Devoted BTS fans make pilgrimage to Korea
The Min's cafe, where a visitor can try BTS' favorite drinks
By Kwak Yeon-soo
For Shawn Marie, 47, and her daughter Stelfi Klug, flying from Germany to Korea on the last day of August was like a dream come true.
As part of the BTS ARMY, they were more than happy to be able to watch K-pop concerts live and follow in the footsteps of their favorite band.
The day after they arrived in Korea, the two booked tickets for a K-pop concert in Incheon. A day later, they embarked on the “BTS tour.”
“Thanks to BTS, we've come to love everything about Korea, not just K-pop,” Marie said.
In the wake of BTS making the Billboard top 200 and the Hot 100 charts, more and more international fans are flying to Korea to visit the BTS “holy sites” in Seoul.
Wanting to know everything about BTS, foreign fans come to explore the places where BTS members spent most of their time before their debut and witness their popularity.
A Korean travel company has launched a “BTS tour” targeting international fans wanting to visit some of the places featured on the BTS YouTube channel BANGTANTV and trace the history of the international superstars.
“It all started with a simple question, where would BTS foreign fans want to go in Seoul if they are visiting the city for the first time?” Oh Ha-na, the BTS tour creator at travel company Trazy, told The Korea Times. “Unlike any other idol bands BTS is more famous overseas than in Korea, which is why I created a BTS tour.”
The company conducted a test run of the BTS tour early February and launched a full-fledged service at the end of that month.
Trazy features English-speaking BTS fan tour staff who are usually foreigners. They are not professional tour guides, but they offer assistance and comments for a fee ($26). However, as they are foreigners with minimal training, they may not be able to give answers to questions about certain places in Korea.
The 20-something Klug, who is originally from the United States but resides in Germany, said she joined the BTS tour to have a better understanding of how the members of BTS started from scratch to become top musicians.
She recalls that she first discovered the K-pop act on YouTube in 2016 and introduced the band to her mother, who, at that time, was indifferent toward their music in general.
“Somehow I made my way to watching BTS' I Need U and other videos, and I was really attracted to their music,” Klug said. “Since then, I've bought all their albums and BTS apparel, and I recently ordered their light stick on eBay. I'm also learning Korean to understand the lyrics of their songs.”
Marie agrees there is something special about BTS. “They're different from other artists. Their music is so authentic. It's not something like ah, they're okay. I have to admit that BTS fans, be it K-ARMY or international fans, are crazy about them,” she said.
BTS' story _ rising from an obscure band to superstardom _ especially appeals to her, according to Marie.
The mother and daughter purchased tickets recently for BTS concerts in October in Berlin, Germany.
“We set up six computers and practiced clicking the mouse button before the actual ticket-opening time. The tickets were all sold out in two minutes, but luckily we secured two tickets to Berlin!” Klug said.
The old home where BTS used to live
On Sept. 2, the two met with a tour guide named Titi Wakawata, a Nigeria-born U.S. citizen who is part of the BTS ARMY, at exit 1 of Sinsa Station on Line 3 to embark on a BTS pilgrimage through Gangnam, southern Seoul.
Together they departed for the nearby home where BTS used to live together as trainees and even after their debut. A tiny one-room apartment (56 square meters) is where they dreamed of becoming singers, according to Wakawata. The septet not only practiced and worked together, but lived together and spent much of their days with one another, boasting their familial-like ties.
“We're not allowed to go inside the building or look inside the apartment because there's a tenant living in the unit,” she said.
After taking a few photographs, the group walked up a few blocks to Hakdong Park. “This was BTS' go-to place whenever they had free time or had little quarrels,” the 27-year-old guide explained.
Illy Coffee Korea HQ office, where BTS celebrated their 1,000-day anniversary
Next stop was Illy Coffee Korea HQ office, where BTS celebrated their 1,000-day anniversary. They carried out interviews and filmed a video of themselves to celebrate their anniversary with fellow fans. But, Illy Coffee is not a cafe, so visitors are strictly prohibited from entering the building.
The old Big Hit Entertainment office is located close by.
Not to mention, Big Hit Entertainment and its founder Bang Si-hyuk is the foundation of BTS. Bang, a former JYP Entertainment songwriter, was an integral player in the early days of K-pop idol groups. Under Bang's guidance as chief producer, BTS entered into the U.S. mainstream and vaulted to the highest tier of pop superstardom.
But the management agency moved to another location following the band's success. Now the building is covered with fan scribbles. “This has already become a popular spot for ARMY fans, as the building is where BTS started to dream,” Wakawata commented.
BTS' former dance studio and their all-time favorite restaurant Yoojeong Sikdang
Then the tour group visited the old dance studio and Yoojeong Sikdang (or restaurant). The BTS members came to the restaurant often when they were rookies. Since the restaurant is located in the same building as their previous dance studio, the seven-piece act came down to dine after their practice sessions.
The BTS members usually order the grilled black pork belly with gojuchang (chili paste) sauce and dolsot (hot stone pot) bibimbap, according to the restaurant owner.
More than half of its menu items cost 9,000 won ($8). As can be seen from their autographs displayed on the front door, the place is already popular among BTS ARMY fans.
After feasting at BTS's all-time favorite restaurant, a coin karaoke time awaits international fans. It doesn't matter if you don't read or sing Korean: you can sing along to whatever songs you know or remember.
K-Star Road and BTS teddy bear statue
The trio then departed for K-Star Road near Apgujeong Rodeo Station on the Bundang line, where one may find numerous K-pop idols' names on teddy bear statues. The mission given to BTS fans was to find a BTS-signed teddy bear statue.
Walking through the district for over three hours, Wakawata brought the group to The Min's cafe, which is run by 2AM member Changmin. BTS and Changmin are close friends as they had been part of the same record label until recently. Changmin left the company in February.
Inside the cafe, visitors can find a wide array of pictures and autographs of BTS, as well as handwritten letters from its members. Some of the pictures show BTS members drinking freshly-squeezed lemonade and juice, the most popular drink items on the menu.
Klug sat in the same chair Jungkook was spotted at in the photograph and took selfies so her “You Got Me Jungshook” T-shirt could be seen in her photos.
Finishing up the BTS tour, both expressed their wishes to go to Myeong-dong Shopping District to buy more BTS goods so they can take them to their first encounter with BTS in the upcoming concert tour. “During the stay, we plan on visiting Daegu and Busan after Seoul because Suga is from Daegu, and Jimin and Jungkook are from Busan,” Marie said. “We don't want to miss a thing.”
The BTS tour of Gangnam is available every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.