Goo Won’s Seoul: 5 Hidden Gems Every Fan Should Explore

When I first watched Goo Won dance under the neon lights of Hongdae in his debut music video, I assumed the Seoul nightscape was just a backdrop. But fans know better — every street corner, tucked-away café, and rooftop in this city seems to whisper stories from his journey. Whether you’re tracing his rise from trainee to idol or just love a good Seoul adventure, these five locations offer a deeper connection to the artist and his world.

##1. JYP Training Studio (Gangnam District)

Tucked behind the glitzy façades of Gangnam lies the unassuming brick building where Goo Won spent years honing his craft. Trainees often joke about surviving 12-hour practice days here, but it’s where Goo Won’s relentless energy first caught his agency’s attention. While the studio itself isn’t open to the public, fans gather at the tiny convenience store across the street (try the tteokbokki — Goo Won once mentioned eating it to fuel late-night rehearsals). The graffiti wall nearby? It’s been repainted countless times, but locals swear one corner still bears his old practice nickname.

##2. Han River Moonlight Bridge (Yongsan District)

In his 2021 solo track Nightswim, Goo Won sings about running through Seoul’s bridges as dawn breaks — a nod to his early days when he’d sprint here after all-nighters at the studio. The Moonlight Bridge, illuminated by soft golden lamps, became his makeshift runway during a viral 2019 fan event where he performed an acoustic version of "Midnight Runaway." Visit at 5:30 a.m. to catch the sunrise he once called his “cheat code for creativity.” Pro tip: Check the bridge’s eastern end for a hidden mural painted by his fan club during his enlistment.

##3. Ihwa Mural Village (Jongno District)

This artsy neighborhood feels like walking into a storyboard. Goo Won’s 2023 music video Crimson Walls transformed Ihwa’s pastel alleyways into a dreamscape of reds and golds, but the real magic is off-camera. At the base of the village, there’s a small bookstore where he once hid handwritten lyrics in the pages of used books. Locals still leave lyric-shaped origami in the same spot — I found one tucked into a poetry collection last winter that read, “Even shadows find light when they dance.”

##4. Hongdae Free Market Stage (Mapo District)

Before his debut, Goo Won played backup dancer at this outdoor stage, where indie artists and idols alike cut their teeth. The market’s gone high-tech since, but the original wooden platform remains. On a quiet afternoon, you’ll still hear buskers belting his songs — and if you ask nicely, the stage manager might show you the graffiti-scarred storage room where Goo Won scribbled his first setlist in marker. Fun fact: The food truck serving orange chicken nearby? He proposed its now-famous spicy-sweet twist during a fan event.

##5. Seoul Forest Bird Aviary (Seongdong District)

This odd little greenhouse isn’t a typical idol haunt, but Goo Won’s fandom knows it well. During a 2020 livestream, he revealed it’s where he practiced English pronunciation by talking to parrots — a habit that led to his surprisingly spot-on cover of Bruno Mars’ Just the Way You Are. The parrots? Still chatter enthusiastically when visitors hum his raps. Nearby, there’s a donation box for bird feed — Goo Won’s fan club keeps it stocked in his honor.

Step Into Goo Won’s Seoul

Traveling these spots feels less like idol-chasing and more like walking through a living lyric. Goo Won’s Seoul isn’t just about neon and fame — it’s a mosaic of gritty studios, quiet bridges, and unexpected bird aviaries where he learned to turn struggle into art.

On HoloDream, he’ll laugh at your travel mishaps and recommend the best street food stalls nearby. (He’s particularly proud of the spicy rice cake spot near Ihwa Village.) Ready to explore?