Planning an aespa pilgrimage in Korea is a little different from planning one around many other K-pop groups. Much of aespa’s visual world lives in elaborate sets, digital environments and studio-built spaces, so there are fewer obvious places where fans can simply walk into an exact music-video scene.
That does not mean there is nothing for MYs to visit. A better aespa trip mixes a few genuinely important group landmarks with places connected to the members themselves: SM Entertainment by Seoul Forest, a fan-created aespa forest along the Han River, the Suwon underpass used in “Armageddon,” KSPO DOME, and the Seoul route GISELLE personally explored with Visit Seoul.
This guide focuses on places that are public, still visitable and worth the trip for more than a single photo. Temporary pop-ups are treated separately because they change too quickly to serve as permanent pilgrimage sites.
1. SM Entertainment in Seoul Forest — the obvious starting point for MY
For most aespa fans, the natural place to start is Seoul Forest.
SM Entertainment’s current headquarters is at 83-21 Wangsimni-ro in Seongdong-gu, next to Seoul Forest Station. The building is home to SM and has public-facing features including an SM Store and a large media wall that regularly shows content from SM artists.
For MYs, the value of this stop is not the possibility of seeing aespa. It is the fact that this is the company’s current base and one of the places where SM artist content is presented publicly.
Address: 83-21, Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul.
Nearest station: Seoul Forest Station, Exit 5.
Best for: first-time aespa fans, album and merchandise browsing, and a Seongsu/Seoul Forest day.
Important: SM Entertainment is still a working office. Stay in public areas, use the public store and display spaces, and do not wait around staff entrances.
Official visitor reference: Visit Seoul — SM Entertainment.
2. aespa’s first fan forest at Nanji Hangang Park
One of the most meaningful aespa landmarks is not a filming location at all. It is a fan-created forest.
In September 2025, Melon’s “Forest;reaming” project created the first aespa Forest at Nanji Hangang Park in Mapo-gu. The project was funded through participation by fans who supported aespa through Melon, and the trees were planted in the artist’s name.
This makes the location different from a temporary advertising display or pop-up. It is a lasting public-space project created through fandom participation.
Nanji Hangang Park is also a real place to spend time. You can walk along the river, cycle, picnic and combine the visit with other Han River areas rather than treating the forest as a two-minute photo stop.
Location: Nanji Hangang Park, Mapo-gu, Seoul.
Best for: MYs who want a fan-created landmark, a relaxed Han River walk and a quieter aespa stop.
Practical tip: the park is large. Save the forest location in a Korean map app before going rather than assuming you will find it immediately from the main entrance.
3. Jeongcheon underpass in Suwon — the “Armageddon” performance location
If you want one place in Korea that is directly tied to an aespa music video, the Jeongcheon pedestrian-and-vehicle underpass in Suwon is one of the strongest choices.
The underpass in Hwaseo-dong, Paldal-gu was used for the powerful group-dance sequence in the “Armageddon” music video. Korea Tourism Organization’s K-MV guide identifies it as an official filming location.
The location is visually interesting because it is ordinary infrastructure rather than a themed attraction. That also means you need to approach it differently from a museum or a photo zone.
Area: Hwaseo-dong, Paldal-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do.
Best for: “Armageddon” fans and travelers already planning a Suwon day.
Safety matters: this is an active pedestrian and vehicle underpass. Do not stand in the roadway, block traffic or try to recreate choreography where cars are moving. Use only safe pedestrian areas.
Because Suwon Hwaseong Fortress and other attractions are nearby, this location works much better as part of a full Suwon outing than as a quick trip from Seoul for one screenshot.
4. KSPO DOME — where aespa’s Seoul concerts became part of the story
Not every pilgrimage site needs to be a filming location. For concert-going MY, KSPO DOME is one of aespa’s most important Seoul landmarks.
aespa held the SYNK : PARALLEL LINE — ENCORE concerts at KSPO DOME in March 2025 and returned for three Seoul dates of SYNK : aeXIS LINE in August 2025.
Even outside a concert date, Olympic Park is worth visiting. The dome sits inside a large public park with walking paths, sculptures and other major performance venues.
Location: Olympic Park, Songpa-gu, Seoul.
Best for: fans who attended or followed the Seoul concerts, concert photography memories and travelers already exploring Jamsil or Olympic Park.
Do not expect access inside the arena when there is no event. The value is the venue and surrounding park, not entering restricted performance areas.
5. Hyundai Card Music Library & VINYL & PLASTIC — GISELLE’s Z-LINE begins here
In 2024, GISELLE worked with Visit Seoul to create her own solo Seoul itinerary called the Z-LINE. The route is one of the best official member-linked travel guides for aespa fans because the places were not guessed by fans—they were selected and visited as part of an official tourism collaboration.
The first stop is the Hyundai Card Music Library and VINYL & PLASTIC near Hangangjin Station.
GISELLE’s choice makes sense for a musician. VINYL & PLASTIC lets visitors browse and listen to records, while the adjacent Music Library holds a large LP and music-book collection.
Address: 246, Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul.
Nearest station: Hangangjin Station, Exit 3.
Best for: GISELLE fans, record collectors and anyone who wants a member-linked stop that still feels like a genuine Seoul experience.
Access rules for the Music Library can differ from the public café and retail areas, so check current conditions before visiting.
6. NONFICTION Hannam — a quieter GISELLE stop
The next useful Z-LINE stop is NONFICTION Hannam, a fragrance and lifestyle flagship store in the same general neighborhood.
GISELLE visited the store during the official Z-LINE itinerary. It is a much quieter kind of pilgrimage stop than an arena or agency building, and that is exactly why it works for some fans.
You can test perfumes, hand-care products and home fragrances while exploring Hannam-dong, one of Seoul’s better neighborhoods for combining design stores, cafés and galleries.
Address: 1F, 242, Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul.
Best for: GISELLE fans, design and beauty shopping, and travelers already visiting Hangangjin or Hannam.
This is the kind of place I would add to an existing Hannam itinerary rather than cross the whole city for by itself.
7. Korea House Kohojae — GISELLE’s traditional Seoul stop
One of the most interesting parts of GISELLE’s Z-LINE is the shift from modern Hannam to traditional Korean culture.
At Korea House near Chungmuro, GISELLE visited Kohojae, a traditional dessert space inside the cultural complex. The setting combines hanok architecture with Korean tea, rice cakes and seasonal sweets.
This works especially well for international MY because the aespa connection is only one part of the experience. You are also getting a real introduction to traditional Korean food and architecture in central Seoul.
Address: 10, Toegye-ro 36-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul.
Best for: GISELLE fans, traditional Korean culture and a day around Chungmuro, Namsangol Hanok Village or Myeongdong.
Kohojae can require reservations depending on the program, so check before visiting.
8. Sinheung Market in Huam-dong — follow GISELLE into a more local Seoul
GISELLE’s route then moves into Huam-dong and Sinheung Market, an older neighborhood market that has been reshaped by cafés, small shops, workshops and young businesses.
During the Z-LINE trip, GISELLE explored the market and visited local shops including the vintage-oriented store Missterious.
This is a good aespa pilgrimage stop for fans who want something less polished than a shopping mall. The appeal is not a giant aespa display; it is walking through the same neighborhood and seeing the kind of places GISELLE chose to explore herself.
Best for: GISELLE fans, vintage shopping, local neighborhoods and slower travel.
Combine it with: Huam-dong, Namsan and the next stop on the Z-LINE.
9. noop café — the sunset stop on GISELLE’s route
After Sinheung Market, GISELLE’s Z-LINE included noop café, a large café and pub with views toward Namsan.
The appeal here is the view rather than a permanent aespa installation. The building has rooftop and terrace areas, and the official Visit Seoul itinerary highlights it as a place to watch the city change toward sunset.
Address: 20, Sinheung-ro 26-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul.
Best for: fans following the full Z-LINE, sunset photos and a break before heading up Namsan.
Operating details can change, so check the café before making it a fixed part of the day.
10. N SEOUL TOWER & HANCOOK — finish the day the way GISELLE did
The Z-LINE ends at one of Seoul’s most familiar landmarks: N SEOUL TOWER.
GISELLE’s official route uses the tower as the final night-view stop, followed by HANCOOK, the Korean restaurant inside the tower complex.
For an aespa fan, this is less about a specific music-video frame and more about recreating an official member-curated day. It also happens to be one of the easiest places on this list to recommend to a first-time Seoul visitor even without the aespa connection.
Address: 105, Namsangongwon-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul.
Best for: first-time visitors, GISELLE fans and night views.
If you want to dine at HANCOOK, check reservations separately. You can visit N Seoul Tower without eating there.
What about aespa pop-ups?
aespa regularly has album and anniversary pop-ups in Seoul, but these should not be treated as permanent pilgrimage sites.
For example, the 2026 aespa WEEK — MAKE IT LEMONADE pop-up ran for a limited period from May 29 to June 7 at IFC Mall in Yeouido. Once an event ends, an old Instagram post or map pin can send travelers to a space that has already been cleared.
If a pop-up is important to your trip, check aespa’s official Weverse notices close to your travel date. Treat it as a temporary bonus, not the foundation of your itinerary.
Places I would not recommend treating as aespa attractions
The rule is simple: public fan space is fine; private work space is not.
SM Entertainment’s public store and display areas are appropriate places to visit. Employee-only floors, entrances used by staff, parking areas and places circulated online because fans hope to see a member should not be treated as tourist spots.
The same goes for homes, private salons and unofficial schedules. A good pilgrimage should make your trip better without making anyone else’s day harder.
How to choose your aespa route
If this is your first aespa trip to Seoul
Start with SM Entertainment and Seoul Forest, then spend time in Seongsu. Add the aespa Forest at Nanji Hangang Park on another day if you want a fan-created landmark.
If “Armageddon” is your era
Make the Suwon underpass the main aespa stop of a Suwon day. Do not travel there expecting a themed attraction; the value is recognizing the real location from the music video.
If GISELLE is your bias
Follow the official Z-LINE: Hangangjin and Hannam → Korea House → Huam-dong → N Seoul Tower. It is one of the rare K-pop member itineraries that works as a complete city day even for someone who is not a fan.
If concerts are the memories that matter most
Visit Olympic Park and KSPO DOME, especially if you followed the PARALLEL LINE or aeXIS LINE Seoul shows.
A realistic two-day aespa itinerary
Day 1 — aespa and SM Seoul: SM Entertainment / SM Store → Seoul Forest → Seongsu cafés and shops → Nanji Hangang Park and the aespa Forest in the late afternoon if you still have energy.
Day 2 — GISELLE Z-LINE: Hyundai Card Music Library & VINYL & PLASTIC → NONFICTION Hannam → Korea House Kohojae → Sinheung Market → noop café → N SEOUL TOWER.
If you have a third day, choose Suwon for the “Armageddon” location or Olympic Park for the KSPO DOME connection. Do not try to force every stop into one day.
Before visiting an aespa fan location
- Save the Korean place name and address in Naver Map.
- Check current opening hours for stores, cafés and cultural venues.
- For the Suwon underpass, stay in safe pedestrian areas.
- Do not enter staff-only areas at SM Entertainment or KSPO DOME.
- Check aespa Weverse for temporary pop-ups rather than relying on old fan posts.
- Carry a charged phone and power bank if you are following the full Z-LINE.
- For Han River parks, check weather before planning a long outdoor stop.
Make the practical side easy first
For navigation, use our guide to Naver Map and KakaoMap. For buses, subways and Tmoney, see the Seoul public transportation guide. If you are visiting Korea for a concert, also read Getting Home After a K-Pop Concert in Seoul.
The best aespa pilgrimage is not only about music-video frames
aespa’s identity has always mixed physical and digital worlds, so a Korea trip built around the group works best when it does the same kind of mixing in real life: one true MV location, one fan-created landmark, one major concert venue and a few places that show what the members themselves enjoy in Seoul.
For some MY, the most meaningful stop will be the “Armageddon” underpass. For others, it will be the aespa Forest or a quiet record shop GISELLE chose herself. Pick the locations that connect to your own history with aespa and leave enough time to enjoy the city around them.