[WEEKEND GETAWAY] Get in touch with your inner ARMY at these BTS-linked attractions

Here are some places to visit for fans who want to trace BTS's history in Seoul, as recommended by the Seoul Tourism Organization.

HyuGa Cafe & Bakery [BAEK JONG-HYUN]

"When your journey begins, I hope it begins in Seoul," the members of BTS said in a video filmed with the city government last year.

International travel is rebounding as the world recovers from the pandemic, and one thing K-pop fans love to do in Korea is explore the places where their favorite singers have been. Ranging from favorite places to eat, where they lived and where they like to shop, many fans head out on so-called K-pop tours and explore Seoul through the eyes of their favorite star.

Many ARMYs have been visiting Korea to try and get a deeper understanding of where the BTS boys come from and where they like to spend their time. Here are some places to visit for fans who want to trace BTS's history in Seoul, as recommended by the Seoul Tourism Organization.

HyuGa Cafe & Bakery

BTS' old dorms appeared quite frequently on "Run BTS!" shows and in behind-the-scene footage, and there is a special way for fans to visit one of them.

HyuGa Cafe & Bakery used to be a house where BTS lived until 2018. It was turned into a cozy-looking bakery cafe in March this year.

Fans can go to the cafe and look at various photos and fan art of BTS. A big wall on the first floor of the cafe is covered with Post-it messages of love and support written by fans, and you can also write your own. The cafe is also a great place to meet with other ARMY. According to the cafe, around 80 percent of its customers are foreigners.

The cafe sells various coffees, juices and teas, but one of the most popular items on the menu is the shio pan, or salted butter rolls. HyuGa Cafe & Bakery sells the classic golden brown-colored butter roll, priced at 1,900 won ($1.50), but also sells a black-colored option, priced at 2,000 won, using squid ink as food coloring. Both tend to sell out around 1 to 2 p.m., so those who want to try it may want to go a little early.

Apart from BTS-related photos, the cafe also displays work from various artists for fans to enjoy. Most of them have traditional Korean themes, with an exhibition held in December displaying jogakbo, or traditional Korean patchwork.

Post-it notes with messages written by fans are stuck on the wall of HyuGa Cafe & Bakery. [BAEK JONG-HYUN]

@hyuga153116 Nonhyeon-ro 119-gil, Gangnam District, southern SeoulBusiness hours: 10 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. (Closed on Chuseok holidays)Phone number: 02) 3444-2022

Whanki Museum

The Whanki Museum [KIM SUNG RYONG]

RM often uploads photos of places he visits on his Instagram, and one of the places he loves to go is art museums. He's been to various art museums and galleries such as the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Leeum Musuem of Art and PKM Gallery, with the list going on and on. One of the galleries on the list is Whanki Museum, which RM visited back in April.

The museum was established by the Whanki Foundation in 1992 and mostly displays art by abstract painter Kim Whanki. His early works depict traditional Korean ceramics and nature, while his more recent works focused on abstract art using geometrical shapes.

Taking photos inside the museum is not allowed, but fans shouldn't miss a famous photo spot located outside. Next to the museum's entrance on the second floor, there is a white brick wall covered with ivy where RM took a photo and uploaded it to his Instagram. Take a look around while you are taking photos, as you can also find art installations around the museum's garden.

RM poses for a photo at the Whanki Museum [SCREEN CAPTURE]

@whankimuseum63 Jahamun-ro 40-gil, Jongno District, central SeoulBusiness hours: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. (Last entrance 5 p.m., closed every Monday.) Admission fee: 13,000 won for adults, 6,500 won for students (ages 19 and under) and eldery (ages 65 and over) Phone number: 02) 391-7701Website: https://whankimuseum.org

Yujeong Sikdang

Yujeong Sikdang [BAEK JONG-HYUN]

Yujeong Sikdang is a restaurant that BTS members used to go often during their trainee days because it was located near their dance practice room. It's very easy to spot because the entrance, walls and ceilings of the restaurant are covered with BTS posters and stickers.

BTS members loved to have the pork bibimbap, priced at 10,000 won, and you can even order the dish by simply asking for a "BTS bibimbap." Lots of spicy pork is included in the bibimbap, which comes in a dolsot, or a heated stone bowl that can keep the food warm for a long period of time.

According to the restaurant, half of their customers are foreign ARMY and the menu is available in both English and Chinese for those struggling with Korean.

[BAEK JONG-HYUN]

14 Dosan-daero 28-gil, Gangnam District, southern Seoul Business hours: 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. (Closed Jan. 1)

National Museum of Korea

BTS members during "Dear Class of 2020," a virtual commencement ceremony held by YouTube [NATIONAL MUSEUM OF KOREA]

In 2020, BTS participated in "Dear Class of 2020," a virtual commencement ceremony held by YouTube during the pandemic. The members gave a speech to those who graduated in 2020 at the National Museum of Korea, and the museum has been a popular place for fans to visit ever since.

The speech was given on the first floor of the museum, and for those who might struggle to find where the members stood, the museum has placed floor stickers to indicate the exact spot.

The museum has a huge collection of artifacts and paintings that range from the paleolithic age to the early 20th Century. The Room of Quiet Contemplation is another place to visit. It is a huge dark room that feels calm and grand, with two pensive bodhisattva statues placed at the end under a dimly lit light. Many quietly stand there for a long time, looking at the statues and immersing themselves in deep thougts.

Once you finish looking around inside, you can go outside to see more BTS-related spots. BTS performed popular songs such as "Mikrokosmos," "Spring Day" and "Boy With Luv" in a large square in front of the museum entrance for the "Dear Class of 2020" ceremony.

The museum also has a scenic walkway for fans to look around, which leads you to a large pond and a beautiful waterfall. Walking along the path, you can see artifacts such as the Stone Lantern from Hyeonhwasa Temple and other stone pagodas placed nearby.

The Room of Quiet Contemplation [YONHAP]

@nationalmuseumofkorea137 Seobinggo-ro, Yongsan District, central Seoul

Business hours: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays. (Closed on Jan. 1, Lunar New Year and Chuseok.) Admission: free of chargePhone number: 02) 2077-9000Website: https://www.museum.go.kr/

BY BAEK JONG-HYUN, LEE TAE-HEE [lee.taehee2@joongang.co.kr]