Loving the Korean Wave

My name is Chloe Pavlou, Im an 18 year old student from London, United Kingdom. I am the co-founder of KLUE, the UK's largest K-pop fanbase with approximately 3,000 members in the United Kingdom and co-founder and Manager of LondonOppa; a website dedicated to providing news on the latest Korean Culture and Music events in the UK. Currently on hiatus with plans of re-launching with a new concept and website. I was first introduced to K-pop by friends from Hong Kong, they had been exposed to it during their travels to Asian countries. At first I thought K-pop was bizarre, as was the Korean language at the time. They were not something that I had come across in the past, yet I approached them with an open mind. It didnt take me long to fall in love with the music, the overly embellished music video sets, their outstandingly flawless makeup, the thoughtlessly mismatched wardrobe and most importantly, with the idols themselves.

Im not ashamed to admit that I became a bit obsessed

How K-pop has given back to me

Being a fan of K-pop and playing a big role in the community in the UK has given me many opportunities that I am thankful to have been a part of.

1. K-pop Academy with the KCC

A 12 week programme where 30 chosen participants learn about different aspects of Korean Culture.
I now know so much more about Korean culture as a whole as opposed to just k-pop thanks to the K-pop Academy.

2. The K-pop Star Entertainment Workshops 2012 with the KTO

Helping run Dance and Singing workshops across 10 days for K-pop fans in the UK. Helping to organise and run the K-pop Star Entertainment workshops was probably one of the most exciting opportunities ever presented to me. Both Loren Hall and I were so excited to work with the KTO and had such a wonderful time doing them. Even now, around a year later participants from KLUE are still asking us if it will happen again

Seoul Travel Itinerary Timetable

Days
Day 1: Visiting Samcheongdong-gil

Activities

Cheongwadae (The Blue House) Samcheongdong-gil Road Bukcheon Hanok Village Buam- dong (Coffee Prince House)
Ehwa Womens University The Princess Cafe Lotte World Star Avenue Ice Skating Rink Folk Museum Sulwhasoo Spa and Seoul Leisure Sports Club (Jjimjilbang) KBS Music Bank KBS ON (Exhibition Hall) Hndel and Gretel Caf DMZ (The Demilitarized Zone) Landmarks Namsan Tower Gwang-An Bridge Banpo Bridge Korean Bangs Shopping

Day 2: Girls Day Out~ Day 3: Lotte Adventure

Day 4: The K-pop Day!

Day 5: Just SOME of the other places that you must visit in Korea!

DAY 1: Visiting Samcheongdong-gil.

Jump on the Seoul Subway, Line and stop at Gyeonbokgung.

Visit the Cheongwadae (The Blue House); home to the President of the Republic of Korea, Park Geun Hye.

This way you can truly get a taster of the nationalist side of Korea. While youre at it take a wonder around Samcheongdong-gil Road. This is a street that spans between Dongsipjajak and Samcheon tunnel. It is lined with Hanoks; traditional Korean buildings which have been adapted to meet the modern needs of society. Now many of them are cafes, restaurants and galleries.

Sticking to the traditional theme, take yourself down to the Bukcheon Hanok Village and recreate scenes from Personal Taste as it played a prominent part in the dramas set layout.

You can then board the 1020 or the 7022 bus for around half an hour towards Buam-dong, using your Tmoney or Korea pass travel card. The K-Drama addicts should stop at the Coffee Prince House there. Reward yourself with a nice hot coffee and reminisce about Han-gyuls realization of his love towards Eun Chan to end the day.

Coffee Prince House

Bukcheon Hanok Village

Day 3: Lotte Adventure

A trip to Lotte World will ensure a jam packed day out as they have so many activities to offer.

1. The Amusement Park

Around 10% of the 6 Million visitors Lotte World receives yearly are foreigners which are mainly drawn towards the amusement park. The overall aesthetics of Lotte World are spectacular! You are guaranteed a day of fun when you visit!

2. Lotte World Ice Skating Rink It may not be particularly appealing to those who cannot ice skate, but Lotte World also has an ice skating rink for people who can, it is known as one of the best ice skating rinks in Korea because of its outdoor feel thanks to the natural light provided by the glass ceiling. Maybe you can try showing off your moves like Olympic Figure skater Kim Yuna! 3. Star Avenue Star avenue features memorabilia previously used by Korean celebrities and have featured in films, dramas, tv shows etc. which visitors have the opportunity to view. You can even take photos in clothes that have appeared in Korean dramas.

4. Folk Museum

To take a break from all of the very physically demanding and energetic activities, the Korean Folk Museum is a good place to go and learn a little about Koreas rich 5000 year history. There are also daily traditional music and dance performances to get a taster of other cultural arts.

Take a stop at either Sulwhasoo Spa or Seoul Leisure Sports Club to end the day! Seoul Leisure Sports Club isnt far from Lotte World, however Sulwhasoo Spa is closer. It depends on how far you are willing to travel for an evening of relaxation.

Sulwhasoo Spa

Seoul Leisure Sports Club

Sulwhasoo Spa has an extremely contemporary atmosphere, everything is very clean cut and perfect which makes it seem luxurious and glamorous. Seoul Leisure Sports Club seems more traditional to Korea which gives it the charismatic charm that Sulwhasoo lacks. Both provide quite different services so dont let the looks sell you. Sulwhasoo provides traditional medicinal treatments such as dry cloth massages which was carried out in the palaces of the Joseon Dynasty in order to balance the body and the mind. Seoul Leisure Sports Club is a complex known as a Jjimjjilbang which provides fire-heated sweating rooms, saunas, mudpack baths and many more features. It is all down to personal preference as to which one you pick, also how far you are willing to travel after a tiring day at Lotte World!

Day 4: K-pop day!

Every k-pop fan would have heard of KBS music bank, before you visit you should sign up to KBS website and then you can apply for studio audience tickets! If you are blessed with a ticket you have the chance to see various famous k-pop artists and groups depending on who is promoting at the time. The KBS building also houses the KBS ON (Exhibition Hall) which shows how the Korean broadcasting industry has changed over the years. There is also a window that looks into a broadcasting studio so you can experience TV program production first hand.

KBS Music Bank

KBS Exhibition Hall

After screaming your heart out and fan-girling like no other you can drag yourself (with any energy you have left) down to Hndel and Gretel. A small caf owned by none other than the younger brother of Yesung from Super Junior, Jong Jin! If youre lucky, you might just get a glimpse of Yesung himself in the caf, it is definitely a good hangout for an ELF (Super Junior fanclub members).

Day 5: Just SOME of the other places that you must visit in Korea!
(if you have time)

During the last day in the travel itinerary there is a mixture of places to choose from as there is just TOO MUCH to see and do in South Korea! These are definitely places that should be visited if there is any spare time and places that I, myself would love to visit some day.

The DMZ (Demilitarised Zone)

Korea being the only divided country with the most heavily armed border in the world makes the DMZ a must see! DMZ guided tours are available through various organizations, it is probably the closest to North Korea that most people will get. The prospect of visiting the border and looking over into North Korean land is so exciting and interesting to me personally as here in the West, North Korea is seen as a very secretive and mysterious country. It is also a great opportunity to learn about the Korean war and how the country divided.

Gwang-An Bridge

Namsan Tower

Banpo Bridge

All of the above are just so spectacularly beautiful, especially at night. If youre going sight seeing in Seoul you should at least try to stop at one of these locations! I could only imagine the atmosphere making you feel as though you were staring in your very own Korean drama. Dongdaemun Market

Shopping
Hongdae Itaewon

Myeongdong

PC Bangs
Noraebang

Noraebang being amazingly popular amongst Korean society as well as gaming culture, the bangs in Korea are something I would love to experience. They truly are the epitome of Korean.