Gangnam — Korea's Luxury District

Gangnam (강남) — yes, the district from PSY's global hit (2012). Located south of the Han River, Gangnam is Seoul's wealthiest and most modern district: designer boutiques, Michelin restaurants, beauty clinics, and the headquarters of Samsung, Hyundai, and major K-Pop labels.

For K-Pop fans, the K-Star Road in Apgujeong is a must — a street with bear sculptures, each representing a K-Pop group (BTS, BLACKPINK, EXO, etc.). Nearby is HYBE Insight, the interactive museum of the label behind BTS — with original studio equipment, choreography workshops, and immersive installations (tickets from ₩22,000, often sold out weeks in advance).

The Garosugil (Ginkgo Avenue) in Sinsa-dong is Seoul's most elegant promenade: a tree-lined street with designer stores, concept shops, upscale restaurants, and Instagram-worthy cafes. In autumn, when the ginkgo trees glow golden yellow, the street is especially beautiful.

The Starfield COEX Mall houses the famous Starfield Library — a photogenic, open library with 13-meter-high bookshelves in the middle of a shopping center. Next to it: the COEX Aquarium and the Bongeunsa Temple, a 1,200-year-old Buddhist temple that stands surreal among the skyscrapers.