Local guide
Things to do in Jamsil & Songpa
17 places in Jamsil & Songpa — mainly culture, outdoors and experiences, plus premium experiences and spots where K-celebs have eaten. Pick a few, then book a salon nearby in your own language.
Culture· 1
Seoul Book Bogo
An old warehouse turned book space for a calm local afternoon.
A Seoul city book space made from an old warehouse near Jamsilnaru Station. A May 2025 renewal turned the former used-book hall into a mix of curated shelves, pop-up shelves, a handwriting space and a cafe.
- Why go
- It is a neighborhood book space outside the tourist circuit, so you see how Koreans spend an afternoon with books and coffee. The Han River park is nearby.
- Good to know
- Closed on Mondays, with closing times that vary by day. It is a walk of a bit over 600 m from the station. The books are mostly Korean, so if you cannot read them you will mainly enjoy the exhibitions, cafe and handwriting corner.
Sources: mediahub.seoul.go.kr · english.visitseoul.net
Outdoors· 1
Olympic Park
A big park where nearby workers walk at lunch and families picnic.
A park in Songpa-gu built for the 1988 Seoul Olympics, with the Baekje-era Mongchon Earthen Fortress and moat, outdoor sculptures, the 88 Lake, a rose garden and the Lone Tree. Admission is free per the official guide, and five walking and jogging courses are marked out.
- Why go
- Office workers nearby take lunchtime walks, runners use the loops and families bring lunch boxes for picnics, so it works as an everyday park. The concert venues inside also make the surroundings crowded around show times, as the official FAQ notes.
- Good to know
- The official guide bans cooking and shade tents inside and points visitors to lunch boxes, in-park stalls and a delivery food zone. Parts of Peace Square and the lakeside stage may be closed for works, so check notices before going.
Sources: ksponco.or.kr · ko.wikipedia.org
Experiences· 2
Jamsil Baseball Stadium
A baseball park where fans sing chants and share chicken and beer.
A baseball stadium inside the Seoul Sports Complex in Songpa, shared as the home park of the LG Twins and the Doosan Bears. It is within walking distance of Sports Complex Station on Lines 2 and 9.
- Why go
- Koreans watch baseball by singing a separate chant for each batter and pairing the game with fried chicken and beer, known as chimaek. In the cheering sections you stand and join the cheer squad, so the table seats or regular seats are the better pick if you want to sit quietly.
- Good to know
- The pro baseball season usually runs from late March to early October; check the official KBO schedule for game days. LG home games are sold on Ticketlink and Doosan home games on NOL Ticket, and the stadium also runs a ticket office on the day, so confirm which team is at home first.
Sources: eng.koreabaseball.com
Jamsil Students' Gymnasium (KBL Basketball)
A pro basketball arena where cheer squads lead the whole crowd.
An indoor arena in the Jamsil sports complex, where Seoul SK Knights and Seoul Samsung Thunders play their home games. It seats about 7,500.
- Why go
- Each team has a cheer squad, and performances and group cheering fill the breaks in play, which is the Korean way of watching indoor sports. It combines easily with the baseball stadium and other sights in the same complex.
- Good to know
- The KBL basketball season usually runs from early October to mid-April. Tickets are sold on the official KBL site and app (in Korean); home arenas can change during a season, so confirm the venue in the schedule.
Sources: kbl.or.kr · en.wikipedia.org
Night out· 1
Bangi-dong Eating Alley (Bangimatgol)
A food alley where locals do dinner, drinks and karaoke in one place.
A neighborhood eating alley in Bangi-dong near Olympic Park, mixing restaurants, bars and karaoke rooms. Songpa-gu has worked on this stretch under the name 'Bangimatgol', upgrading walkways and night lighting.
- Why go
- Locals and office workers come for group dinners, so you can see the Korean pattern of a first-round meal, a second-round drink and a third-round karaoke session all in one neighborhood. It is close to the Jamsil sights, yet mostly used by people who live nearby.
- Good to know
- The lanes are narrow with no separate sidewalks, and cars and scooters pass close, so watch your step. Restaurants, bars and karaoke rooms keep different hours, so check before planning a late night.
Sources: english.visitseoul.net
Premium experiences· 4
Fine dining, art, hanok stays, concert halls
Seoul Sky (Lotte World Tower Observatory)
An observatory on the upper floors of Lotte World Tower.
An observatory on floors 117 to 123 of Lotte World Tower, reached by a fast elevator with screens on its walls. It has a glass-floored sky deck, an open-air sky terrace, a dessert cafe and an exhibition zone, all looking over the city.
- Why go
- It stands over Jamsil, so it combines easily with Lotte World Mall below it or a concert in the same complex. Visit Seoul, the city tourism site, describes a 360-degree view that changes from daytime scenery to night lights, so a dusk visit can show both.
- Good to know
- Tickets can be bought on the official site. VisitKorea lists no regular closing day, but check the site for any weather-related changes. Lotte World Mall, Lotte Concert Hall and the hotel lounge in the same tower are all in the complex.
Sources: english.visitkorea.or.kr · english.visitseoul.net
LOTTE Concert Hall
A classical concert hall inside the Lotte World Tower complex.
A classical music hall in the Lotte World Tower complex, with vineyard-style seating that puts the audience around the stage and a pipe organ. It stages concerts from solo recitals to full orchestras.
- Why go
- It makes an evening concert easy to pair with dinner or shopping in the same complex. Seating that surrounds the stage keeps listeners close to the musicians.
- Good to know
- Concert dates, start times and tickets are on the official site, which has an English page. Plan your meal around the start time rather than leaving it to the last minute.
Sources: english.visitseoul.net
The Lounge at Signiel Seoul (79th floor)
A hotel lounge on the 79th floor serving tea and light meals.
A lounge on the 79th floor of Signiel Seoul, the hotel inside Lotte World Tower. It serves tea and coffee, a French-style afternoon tea set, desserts and light dishes such as sandwiches, salads and pasta, with a view over the city.
- Why go
- It offers a seated way to see the city from high up, as an addition to the observatory or as a quieter alternative. Afternoon tea here fits the Jamsil afternoon between shopping and an evening concert.
- Good to know
- The hotel recommends booking at least a day ahead, especially for afternoon tea, and takes reservations by phone. Menu and hours change, so check the hotel's page before you go.
Sources: english.visitseoul.net
Lotte World Mall (Avenuel)
A large mall beside Lotte World Tower with a luxury department store wing.
A shopping complex next to Lotte World Tower in Jamsil. Its Avenuel wing is a luxury and designer department store, and the complex also holds a duty-free store, an aquarium, a cinema and a concert hall.
- Why go
- It keeps shopping, a concert, an aquarium and the Seoul Sky observatory within one building group, so a rainy day or a long evening can be planned without leaving the complex.
- Good to know
- Take Line 2 or 8 to Jamsil Station. Hours differ by floor and brand, so check the official site. The observatory, the concert hall and the hotel lounge are in the neighboring tower.
Sources: english.visitkorea.or.kr · english.visitseoul.net
Where K-celebs eat· 8
Spots stars and well-known people have visited
Bonga Jinmi Ganjang Gejang
Soy-marinated crab restaurant in Songpa-dong where Nell's Kim Jong-wan ate
A soy-marinated crab (ganjang gejang) restaurant in Songpa-dong.
- Who’s been
- Kim Jong-wan of Nell
- Why go
- In a March 2026 episode of Sung Si-kyung's official YouTube show Meogeultende, Kim Jong-wan of the band Nell appeared as a guest and ate the soy-marinated crab here with him.
Sources: mukzip.club
Byeolmi Gopchang Main Branch
A gopchang restaurant in Bangi-dong, Jamsil, featured on Sung Si-kyung's YouTube
A restaurant specializing in gopchang (grilled small intestines) in Bangi-dong, Jamsil.
- Who’s been
- BIBI · Sung Si-kyung
- Why go
- It appears on Sung Si-kyung's official YouTube channel, Meogeultende, and is listed with both BIBI and Sung Si-kyung.
Sources: mukzip.club
Gyeongbokgung Bangi Branch
Korean BBQ restaurant where Tom Cruise had his first dinner in Korea
A Korean restaurant in the Jamsil area specializing in hanwoo (Korean beef) barbecue.
- Who’s been
- Tom Cruise
- Why go
- Tom Cruise, in Korea to promote Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, reportedly had his first dinner here on June 28, 2023, and posed for photos with the staff. At the next day's press conference he said he had enjoyed Korean barbecue the night before.
Sources: mukzip.club
Haebong Jeongyuk Main Branch
Samseong Station meat restaurant where John K ate on Sung Si-kyung's YouTube
The main branch of a meat restaurant near Samseong Station.
- Who’s been
- John K
- Why go
- In a December 2024 episode of Sung Si-kyung's official YouTube show Meogeultende, singer John K appeared as a guest and ate meat here with him.
Sources: mukzip.club
Hamgyeongdo Chapssal Sundae
Sundae soup restaurant seen in photos posted by BTS's Jin and Jungkook
A sundae (Korean blood sausage) restaurant serving sundae gukbap and an assorted platter of sundae and suyuk.
- Who’s been
- Jin of BTS · Jungkook of BTS
- Why go
- According to an April 2020 report, photos that Jin and Jungkook posted on BTS's official Twitter showed this restaurant's sundae gukbap and assorted platter. Seoul's official tourism portal, Visit Seoul, also lists it as a restaurant the two often visit.
Sources: mukzip.club
Jongno Gopchang
Gopchang restaurant said to have been visited by Yoo Jae-suk and Jo Se-ho
A restaurant serving gopchang and makchang, both grilled intestine dishes.
- Who’s been
- Yoo Jae-suk
- Why go
- According to a magazine article, Yoo Jae-suk visited with Jo Se-ho during the early days of tvN's You Quiz on the Block.
Sources: mukzip.club
Kkanbu Chicken Samseong Branch
Chicken-and-beer restaurant where Jensen Huang met Korean business leaders
Kkanbu Chicken's Samseong branch in Gangnam is a fried chicken restaurant for chicken and beer.
- Who’s been
- Jensen Huang · Lee Jae-yong · Chung Euisun · Chey Tae-won
- Why go
- Jensen Huang (NVIDIA), Lee Jae-yong (Samsung) and Chung Euisun (Hyundai Motor) had chicken and beer here together on October 30, 2025. In June 2026, Jensen Huang and SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won reportedly held a second meeting at the same branch.
Sources: mukzip.club
Puerco Samseong Branch
Iberico specialist near Samseong Station where Tom Cruise's party of 30 dined
An Iberico pork specialist near Samseong Station, where hanwoo beef and Iberico pluma appear in press reports.
- Who’s been
- Tom Cruise
- Why go
- On the night of June 29, 2023, Tom Cruise reportedly came here with the director, cast and bodyguards, about 30 people in all, and stayed until the early hours. He ate two bowls of spicy hanwoo jjapaghetti for dessert and called it “Korean spaghetti.”
Sources: mukzip.club
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