K-Star Road, Gangnam

Full transcript

Annyeong, yeoreobun! It's Yul from KVIBE IDOLS. Quick quiz: what do you get when you mix the word Gangnam with the word idol? GangnamDol! Welcome to Apgujeong Rodeo and K-Star Road, the K-pop heart of Gangnam.

First, a little history. Gangnam simply means south of the river. And here's the twist: not so long ago, this super-fancy district was mostly farmland, full of mulberry fields. Seoul only started developing it in earnest in the 1970s. From mulberry fields to luxury boutiques in about fifty years. Daebak!

Then, in July 2012, a singer named PSY uploaded a music video with a silly horse-riding dance. Gangnam Style! That December, it became the first video in YouTube history to reach one billion views. Suddenly, the whole planet knew the word Gangnam.

So the Gangnam District Office had an idea: a K-pop walk of fame, inspired by Hollywood. The first phase started in 2014, and then came the GangnamDols, giant art toys about three meters tall, each one dedicated to a K-pop group. There are seventeen, for groups like BTS, EXO, Girls' Generation, SHINee and Super Junior. And over at COEX, a five-meter bronze statue of the Gangnam Style hands even plays the song when it senses you moving!

Yul's tip! Take the Suin-Bundang Line to Apgujeong Rodeo Station, Exit 2, and walk toward Cheongdam. The street is free and open any time, and seeing all the statues takes about thirty minutes. Hunting for your bias is half the fun!

Next, let's dress up like Joseon royalty. Kaja!