HYBE & BTS Yongsan Pilgrimage Guide: Things to See, RM's Favorite Museum & Yongridan-gil Food Spots

For K-pop travelers and ARMYs visiting Seoul, Line 4's Sinyongsan Station is often the very first stop on the itinerary. Towering along Hangang-daero Avenue is the sleek glass headquarters of HYBE, home to global icons BTS (Bangtan Sonyeondan). Beyond snapping a photo outside the HYBE building, the surrounding neighborhood of Yongsan is packed with world-class museums, red-brick heritage parks, fan-event cafes, and Seoul's hottest food alley, Yongridan-gil.

Visiting HYBE Headquarters on Hangang-daero and the Back-Alley ARMY Cafes

A seven-minute walk south from Exit 1 or Exit 2 of Sinyongsan Station brings you directly to HYBE Yongsan Headquarters (42 Hangang-daero, Yongsan-gu, Seoul). While the interior offices and practice studios are private workspace for artists and staff, the bus stop shelters in front of the building and the cafes tucked behind the headquarters turn into vibrant fan hubs year-round.

During member birthdays, album comebacks, or anniversary weeks, coffee shops in the back alleys behind HYBE hand out special cup sleeves, photo cards, and themed desserts. For the best architectural shot of the HYBE facade, cross the crosswalk to the opposite sidewalk on Hangang-daero and shoot with a wide-angle lens.

Exploring RM's Beloved Room of Quiet Contemplation at the National Museum of Korea and Yongsan Park

Just five minutes by taxi or one subway stop away at Ichon Station sits the National Museum of Korea, a cultural landmark frequently visited by BTS leader RM (Kim Nam-joon). Don't miss the second-floor Room of Quiet Contemplation (Sayu-ui Bang), a darkly lit, meditative gallery showcasing two 6th- and 7th-century gilt-bronze Pensive Bodhisattva statues—a space so beloved by RM that he kept a miniature replica in his studio at HYBE.

Step outside to the museum's Open Plaza to capture Namsan Seoul Tower framed perfectly between the grand stone wings of the museum. Admission to the permanent exhibition halls is completely free.

A short stroll from the museum toward Seobinggo Station leads to Yongsan Park Officer's Quarter 5, a former U.S. military housing complex transformed into a picturesque red-brick park. In the late afternoon, walk 12 minutes south from HYBE HQ onto Hangang Bridge to reach Nodeulseom Island, where locals gather on the grass to watch the sunset over the Han River.

Where to Eat Near HYBE from Yongridan-gil Cafes to Samgakji Korean BBQ

Stretching between Sinyongsan Station and Samgakji Station is Yongridan-gil, one of Seoul's most exciting culinary neighborhoods. BTS's eldest member Jin (Kim Seok-jin) and his bandmates are well known as passionate foodies, and the streets surrounding HYBE deliver everything from wood-fired beef ribs to artisan pastries.

For a memorable dinner, head to the Samgakji and Yongridan-gil barbecue alleys for straw-grilled beef short ribs (Udae-galbi at spots like Mongtan) or thick-cut aged pork belly (Samgyeopsal) served with scallion salad and bubbling soybean paste stew. For coffee and dessert, explore the brick-house bakeries along Yongridan-gil or the tranquil Osulloc 1979 tea lounge inside the nearby Amorepacific Headquarters.