Day Tour in Mangwon: A Simple Itinerary with Visit to Kpop Agencies

Only got a day to spend on a tour within Seoul? Do you want to have an uncomplicated itinerary to explore less touristy place? How about a day where you can just relax and eat while getting to know Korea’s day-to-day culture? If your answer to these questions is yes, then I recommend you to take a day tour in Mangwon.

Discover the neighborhood of Mangwon

Mangwon is a neighborhood in the district of Mapo in Seoul. Unlike it’s hippie neighbor Hongdae, it is more relaxed and is mixed with modern and traditional vibes. Nowadays, Mangwon is a home to numerous Instagram-worthy coffee shops and restaurants. Aside from that, they also take their pride for having an amazing view of the Han River at Mangwon Han River Park and a traditional market that offers wide array of products.

Here are some places where you can spend your day tour in Mangwon:

WM Entertainment

If you are a Kpop fan and you know Kpop groups B1A4, ONF and OhMyGirl, you may commence your day tour by visiting the building of their entertainment agency – WM Entertainment.

Fans are not allowed to enter the WM building but they can give gifts and letters though sending of application via email (form available on B1A4 fancafé). Go to WM building on the specified date on the form and a staff will receive the gifts and letters. I have personally handed gifts and letters in the past on behalf of my fellow fans and the staff is very accommodating.

There used to be a restaurant in front of it where WM artists used to eat but the last time I went there, it’s already gone. But don’t worry as there are still a lot of food establishments to eat from. And you’ll never know, you might bump into any of the Kpop idols there.

kdramas filmed at wm entertainment

Spring Turns To Spring (2019)

How to get there

Get off at Mangwon station exit 2. Turn left from exit 2 then turn left again on the first street (KEB Hana Bank)

Mangwon Traditional Market

A day tour in Mangwon wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Mangwon Traditional Market. Visiting a Korean traditional market will give you a glimpse of how the locals live and what are the food they they usually buy. You will surely feel the local vibes here.

You can choose to buy from raw, fresh or cooked food to eat in this market. Several Korean shows have even featured a lot of food stall options in the market.

Mangwon Traditional Market offers food options cheaper than the mega supermarkets in Seoul. From staple Korean street foods to famous Korean chicken to different types of bread to herbs and spices.

How to get there

From Mangwon station exit 2, Mangwon traditional market is just a walking distance. 

You can take out food such as chicken, fruits or bread from the market which you can eat when you go to the next destination – the Mangwon Han River Park.

Mangwon Han River Park

Han River or Hangang is the major river that flows through Seoul. The river can be best viewed in different parks around the city like the Mangwon Hangang Park. It is located between Seongsandaegyo Bridge and Yanghwadaegyo Bridge. The park offers scenic walking and relaxing area with various recreational facilitaties like swimming pool, basketball court, volleyball and soccer field, etc. It also best for those who want to ride a bike with friends, families or during “me” time.

Kdramas filmed at seonsang bridge

How to get there

From Mangwon traditional market, you can walk your way to the park. But you can also take the village bus No. 09 from Mangwon station exit 1 (just across exit 2) and drop off at Mangwon Suyuji Bus Stop.

My friend and I actually lost our way a little bit while walking but because of that, we appreciated the neighborhood of Mangwon even more. We saw the side of Mangwon with residential houses and we even accidentally saw the YG building in Hapjeong.

YG Entertainment

YG is the entertainment agency that manages several Kpop groups such as BLACKPINK, iKON, BIGBANG, 2NE1, WINNER and many more. There were a lot of celebrity cars outside the building but we weren’t able to see any of their artists. But who knows if you can coincidentally see any of them?

Nearby subway: Hapjeong Station, exit 8.

There are still definitely a lot of places to visit and activities to try in Mangwon. This place is also known for its artsy coffee shops that I have yet to give a visit. If you haven’t been to nor heard of Mangwon, make sure to include it in your itinerary when come to Seoul!

If you find this article helpful, share it with your friends. For more Korea travel tips like this, subscribe to KoreabyMe and read my other published articles on the site. You can follow me on Instagram too!