Visiting the HYBE Building in 2025? The Ultimate Local’s Guide (Yes, the Museum is Closed)

Visiting the HYBE Building?

Welcome to Seoul, friends! Or as we say, Eoseo-wa (어서와).

If you are reading this, you are likely an ARMY, a CARAT, or a MOA making the pilgrimage to the holy land: The HYBE Headquarters in Yongsan.

But before you rush to the subway, I need to be your honest Korean “Hyung” (older brother) and drop some hard truth that most generic travel blogs fail to mention.

The “HYBE Insight” Museum in the basement of the Yongsan building is CLOSED. It ceased operations in January 2023. The building is now 100% office space for the artists and staff. You cannot enter the lobby. You cannot buy tickets.

“So… should I still go?”

Absolutely.

While you can’t go inside, the culture surrounding the building is more alive than ever. The back alleys have transformed into a K-Pop ecosystem of fan cafes, birthday events, and the trendy “Yongridan-gil” food street where idols themselves often sneak out to eat.

Put away Google Maps (it doesn’t work well here). Download Naver Map. Here is your ultimate strategy for surviving and thriving in Yongsan.

The “HYBE Pilgrim” Cheat Sheet

Save this table. These are the locations you will need to copy-paste into Naver Map.

1. The “Holy Trinity” of Fan Cafes

Since you can’t enter the corporate fortress, the fan experience happens in the cafes immediately behind the building. This is where you trade photocards, get cup holders, and soak in the vibe.

Marine Coffee (마린커피)

Located literally right behind HYBE. This is Ground Zero.

• The Vibe: The walls are usually covered in the face of whichever member has a birthday or anniversary that month. They play HYBE artist music 24/7.

• The “Pro Tip”: During “Birthday Events,” buying a set menu often gets you free goodies (cup holders, stickers, postcards).

• Local Warning: It is small. If you have huge luggage, leave it at the station lockers or your hotel.

Black Drum (블랙드럼)

A few steps away from Marine Coffee.

• Why go here: It’s slightly larger and often serves as a meeting point for international fans. It feels like a mini-community center.

• The Drink: Their ades (lemonade/grapefruit) are refreshing during the humid Korean summer.

Insider Note: Don’t just stand in front of the HYBE main entrance blocking the driveway. Security is strict because cars (and idols) enter and exit there. The respectful thing to do is take your photo from the sidewalk across the street, then head to the cafes behind.

2. Eat Like a Local: “Yongridan-gil” (용리단길)

Walk just 3-5 minutes from the HYBE building towards Sinyongsan Station, and you enter Yongridan-gil. This is currently one of the hottest neighborhoods in Seoul for young locals.

Superstar Tteokbokki (슈퍼스타 떡볶이)

If you want the “fan experience” for lunch, go here.

• The Draw: The walls are plastered with BTS posters and messages from fans. It is chaotic, loud, and full of love.

• The Food: Classic Korean instant Tteokbokki (Spicy Rice Cakes) cooked at your table.

• How to Order: It can be spicy. If you can’t handle heat, tell them “An-mae-wo-yo” (Not spicy, please).

Teddy Beurre House (테디뵈르하우스)

If you want the “Aesthetic Instagram” experience.

• The Reality: This place is viral. There will be a line. It is a French-style bakery cafe that looks like it was ripped out of Paris and dropped in Seoul.

• The Menu: The Pistachio Croissant is the bestseller.

• Platform Arbitrage: If there is a waiting machine (tablet) at the front, you might need a Korean phone number to register. If you don’t have one, catch a staff member’s eye and ask nicely if you can wait manually.

3. Where to Stay: The “Room With a View” Strategy

This is the biggest secret for high-budget fans.

Seoul Dragon City (Novotel / Ibis Styles / Grand Mercure)

Located at Yongsan Station, this massive hotel complex towers over the district.

• The Strategy: When booking, you must explicitly request a “Han River View” or “City View facing Wonhyoro.”

• The Payoff: From many of these rooms, you have a direct line of sight to the HYBE building. You can literally sit in your bathrobe, drink wine, and watch the lights in the practice rooms turn on and off.

• Convenience: It connects directly to Yongsan Station (KTX trains) and I-Park Mall, so you never have to go outside if it rains.

Search on Naver Map: ‘서울드래곤시티’ to find the best walking path from the hotel to the agency (approx. 10-15 min walk).

4. How to Get There (Don’t Get Lost!)

Tourists often get confused between “Yongsan Station” and “Sinyongsan Station.” They are close, but different.

The Best Route:

1. Take the Subway Line 4 (Light Blue Line).

2. Get off at Sinyongsan Station (신용산역).

3. Go out Exit 2.

4. Walk straight for about 150 meters until you see the massive HYBE building on your right. You cannot miss it.

Why not Yongsan Station?

Yongsan Station (Line 1 / KTX) is huge and confusing (like a maze). If you exit the wrong way, you’ll end up walking 20 minutes around construction sites. Stick to Sinyongsan Exit 2.

5. Other “Non-Kpop” Things to Do Nearby

If your non-fan friend is dragged along, take them here to apologize:

• Amorepacific Museum of Art: The building designed by David Chipperfield is an architectural masterpiece. It’s connected to Sinyongsan Station. The basement food court here is also very high-end and clean.

• Yongsan Park (Partially Open US Base): Search for ‘용산공원 부분개방부지’. This is a former US military housing area turned into a park. It looks like an American suburb from the 1980s. It is extremely trendy for Koreans to take photos here right now.

A Final Note from Your Local Hyung

Korea moves fast. Restaurants that were here yesterday might be gone tomorrow. Always check the “Recent Reviews” on Naver Map before you walk there.

Enjoy the pilgrimage. Even without the museum, standing in the shadow of the building where history was made is a feeling you won’t forget.

KoreaPlus-Lifes

Hi, I’m [jeybee]. As a long-time resident of Seoul, I’m passionate about uncovering the authentic, everyday magic of Korea. This blog is my way of sharing my favorite spots, tips, and cultural insights with you, beyond the usual tourist traps.