What to See, Eat and Do in Korea (and Beyond)
If Seoul Forest wasn’t already one of my favorite places in the city, the 2026 Seoul International Garden Show cemented it. Thanks to the months long event, there are shops, events, and 167 custom-designed garden spaces. That’s 167 more reasons to visit one of the most popular places in Seoul.
As if Seoul wasn’t already overloaded with pop-ups this spring, Pokémon just said “hold my Poké Ball.” The city has basically turned into one giant Pokémon playground thanks to Pokémon Mega Festa 2026, a massive city-wide event celebrating Pokémon’s 30th anniversary. And honestly? Even people who aren’t hardcore Pokémon fans are getting pulled in because the photo zones, merch, and nostalgia levels are ridiculously good right now.
If you somehow survived the original KPop Demon Hunters obsession last year, I regret to inform you that Seoul has decided to bring it back full circle. To celebrate the film’s first anniversary, the official KPop Demon Hunters One Year Anniversary POP-UP has just opened at The Hyundai Seoul, and it’s already becoming one of the busiest fandom events in the city right now.
Right now Seoul is hosting the Seoul International Garden Show. Last year it was held at Boramae Park and featured the adorable Metamong (Ditto) Garden. This year the show is being held at Seoul Forest and features 167 themed gardens, including the Pokémon Secret Forest.
Metamong Playground is basically a giant Ditto-themed universe hidden in Seongsu and the entire thing feels aggressively designed for social media in the best possible way (for the most part). Just picture purple everywhere, massive Ditto sculptures, Ditto walls, Ditto desserts, Ditto merch, Ditto chaos! In case you haven’t pieced it together, we’re pretty big on Ditto out here in Korea.
A complete guide to the Hirono pop-up in Seoul—learn about the character, the artist Lang, and what to expect at this immersive Seongsu event.
The Hangang Drone Light Show is back with 5 shows planned for the spring season starting with a BT21 themed show on April 10th. This will be kick off the Seoul Spring Festival and each session includes special performances and a mini drone show in addition to the main drone show. I’ve been to quite of few of these over the years and honestly they just keep getting better and better.
There’s a very specific moment every year in Seoul where the city blossoms. The air gets warmer. People stay outside longer. The Han River starts filling up again. And right now, that moment is happening. The Seoul Spring Festival isn’t just one event, it’s the whole city turning itself into a giant, ongoing experience. So, if you’re in Seoul right now, this is what you’re actually stepping into.
The BTS “Love Quarter” is part of the larger “BTS THE CITY: ARIRANG SEOUL” project, which has basically spread BTS related experiences across multiple locations in the city. Unlike other events in the city, the BTS “Love Quarter” exhibit isn’t loud or flashy. It’s not merch centric. It doesn’t try to overwhelm you.
And that’s exactly why it stands out.
There are moments in Seoul where you realize the city isn’t just hosting an event, it’s transforming into it. With the long awaited return of BTS, that’s exactly what’s happening in Seoul. Right now, the entire city seems to be shrouded in a hue of purple and the Dongdaemun Design Plaza in no exception. This is part of the larger “BTS THE CITY ARIRANG SEOUL” project, which is basically Seoul turning into a living stage. At night, the entire structure lights up with BTS visuals and, during the day, fans move through a quiet listening space filled with their music.
BTS has officially returned having had a successful and FREE, I might add, comeback concert in the center of Seoul for the world to see. And with the return of BTS come a whole bunch of BTS themed events including not one, but two merch pop-ups! The BTS ‘Arirang’ pop-up is currently being held at both HYBE headquarters and Shinsegae’s main branch in Myeongdong. And the experiences couldn’t be any more different.
If you’re in Seoul right now, it kind of feels like the city is quietly (or not so quietly) orbiting around one thing… BTS! The kings of K-pop have officially made their comeback with their FREE concert at central Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square. And with that, they have ushered in a whole itinerary of BTS-coded events all over Seoul.
