[CLOSED] SMTOWN, a unique experience for Kpop lovers

This article goes for all my fellow KPOP lovers out there! Are you a fan of EXO or Red Velvet? What about NCT? Well this is especially made for you! Right in the middle of Seoul, in Gangnam district, you can easily find the COEX Mall. Near its southeast entrance the SM TOWN @coexartium is located. Inside you can find the SM TOWN & CAFE, SM TOWN MUSEUM, the THEATHRE, a VR experience and SM TOWN & STORE.

Things to do

If you want to get to know the recording studios, dance training rooms, and picture the original outfits worn by you idols, visiting the museum is a must. For this attraction, the entrance fee was 18000₩ and once you get your ticket you can also pick a plastic photocard from your favorite artists!  One of my favorite aspects of the museum were the AR video and photo attractions. After scanning the QR code in the entrance ticket, you can live a unique AR experience with your favorite singers.

One of the most distinctive attractions in the SM TOWN @coexartium is the theatre. Daily, they showcase concerts of your favorite artists. What makes this experience unique is the floating hologram performances which opened in early 2015. The vivid holograms make you feel like you are living an actual concert!

If what you are looking for is buying Kpop goods, then you must go to the SM TOWN & STORE. There, you can find a great variety of souvenirs, from albums and posters to Kpop inspired snacks and stationery. Right next to the souvenir store you can find the cafe. One of my favorite things to order are the Kpop themed cupcakes!

Celebrating your Kpop bias

I took the following pictures when I visited the SM TOWN @coexartium on February 9th, it was Johnny’s birthday (as you might have figured out already he is my NCT bias). The cushions spelled out 서윗 쟌 which translates to sweet John. A tip? If you visit the SM souvenir store whenever it is our bias’s birthday you can get one of these beautiful necklaces for 18000₩, for me it was a must getting Johnny’s. Additionally, you can get photocards in the souvenir store outside the SM TOWN MUSEUM. You can buy any photocard of your favorite SM artist starting from 3000₩. The prices of the photos will vary depending on the size of the photo!

But there is more!

20 minutes away by feet, you can find the SM Entertainment building itself. In the SM Entertainment Communication Center you can find the SUM Market and Celebrity SUM Café.

You can easily walk from SM TOWN @coexartium to SM Entertainment Communication Center!

In the building’s first floor you can find the café and the restaurant. Both have a great diversity of items in their menu. In the café you can find the same items as in the SM TOWN & CAFÉ in the Coex Mall; cupcakes, cake, coffee and ice cream. Their restaurant has a big variety of meals as well, from Korean options like bulgogi salad and kimchi friend rice, to more western meals like burgers. My personal favorite is the BLT sandwich. The prices are really affordable and the quality of the food is great!

If you go to the cafe, I totally recommend ordering an Exo Shake or their ice creams, you can thank me later!

If you go to the SM Entertainment building you might even run into your favorite idols if they happen to be in the coffee shop. I haven’t personally had that experience but hopefully when you visit you will be lucky enough to see them!

Additionally, the atmosphere is great. Whenever a group has a new comeback, the wall tapestry and the decorations will change according to the group and their new concept.

One last announcement

If you plan to visit SM Entertainment Communication Center, you can easily get there by subway. You need to take line 7 at exit in Cheongdam exit 6.

As for SM TOWN @coexartium, you need to take line 2, get off in Samseong and take the exit 6.

Before concluding I need to tell you that, sadly, right after I started writing this article I came across the news that the SM TOWN @coexartium had already initiated the process of closing its doors. After 6 years of activity the official statement about the closing was made in their official website… But there is nothing to worry about! In the statement they assure they will open their doors again in a new location in the near future, so once they do so, I promise I will keep you updated on the new location and the new attractions!

If you want to check out more information, here are the official Instagram profiles for SM Town:

• SMTOWN &STORE: @smtownandstore
• SM Entertainment Group: @smtown 
• SM Global Shop: @smglobalshop 

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