At home with Kpop
HOME AWAY FROM HOME
For those who enjoy watching Korean Pop (K-pop) concerts in Korea, it is common knowledge that going home after the show is difficult because a huge number of audience would flood the subway and buses together with the usual commuters—most especially if the concert ends at the peak hours of 7 or 8 p.m.
Even hailing a cab is hard, except if you opt to pay extra. So concert goers would sometimes need to pass the time in the venue first and wait for the crowd to subside.
Exo, one of the biggest Kpop groups today, made another history last May when they held a two-day concert in one of Korea’s biggest venues, the Jamsil Olympic Stadium.
So when we decided to watch the concert, we opted to rent a place nearer to the concert venue because we realized getting to and from the venue will be a nightmare if we stay in our usual place in Hongdae.
We searched through Airbnb for an affordable place near the concert venue that can fit six of us and will be accessible to the subway.
We found a lovely big room in Gangdong-gu in Seoul that is both modern and comfortable. The whole room includes a solo bathroom, a small kitchen, and a wide space for people to move around. The room has two beds, one that can fit four people and another one that can fit two.
The neighborhood was friendly and less busier than Hongdae or Myeongdong. We passed by a market on the way to our accommodation, but it was not a noisy one. Visiting Korean marketplaces is always an exciting experience because of the authentic cuisine available.
There were also several Kore- an restaurants, famous fast food chains and convenience stores.
Another major plus of the place was that it was near the Han River. Our Airbnb host offered bicycles for rent at $5 so on the days after the concerts, we were able to enjoy the beauty of spring by the riverside.
The experience was exciting, living in an area far from the usual places where foreigners often stay. We felt more at home and comfortable.
It was also a good decision to live nearer the concert venue because we were able to line up early to buy the concert merchandise, and go home quickly to rest after an exciting show from our favorite artists.