HiKR Ground: Immersive Tourism Space In Seoul, Korea
Welcome to the ultimate Hallyu playground in Seoul, Korea. HiKR Ground (하이커 그라운드) is an immersive tourism space opened by the Korea Tourism Organization, oh and I should mention it’s one cool and FREE thing to do in Seoul. It is a vibrant fusion of K-Pop, K-Drama, and Korean culture, designed especially for the younger generation to have a blast and learn more about Korean tourism.
Walk in and find the right floor and you’ll literally see everyone dancing to their favorite BTS or New Jeans song and creating their own K-pop videos for TikTok. Step onto the wellness tourism floor and find out which Korean tea is right for you. See some art, take a seat, enjoy your visit to Seoul with this cool stop.
Let’s break down what you can explore on each floor of HiKR Ground in Seoul:
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How To Get There
Address: 40 Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 중구 청계천로 40 한국관광공사 서울센터)
Directions: Walk straight out of Jonggak Subway Station, exit 5 and after crossing over the Cheonggyecheon Stream, turn right and you’ll see HiKR Ground on your left.
Basic Info
Hours: 1F, 5F: 09:00-20:00; 2F – 4F: Tuesday – Sunday 10:00-19:00 (Last admission 20 minutes before closing)
Admission: Free (Separate fees may apply)
Parking: W2,000 for 30 minutes, W1,000 for every 10 minutes thereafter, max. W30,000 per day)
Website: hikr.visitkorea.or.kr
What To See: Floor By Floor
Launched in July of 2022, this state-of-the-art experience center is meant to appeal to the younger generation of travelers in Seoul. Here’s what you can expect floor by floor.
1st Floor: HiKR Wall and More
As you step into HiKR Ground, you’re greeted by a warm “Hi” with a touch of purple – perfect for group photos, or if you’re like us and looking for a place to take a break from the summer heat, you can take a seat.
The first floor is home to the iconic “HiKR Wall,” a massive media mural (31 x 5 meters) showcasing digital art and video clips of Korea’s top tourist spots. Be sure to check out “Landscape of the New City” by media artist Lee Lee-nam, and keep an eye out for Korean tourism videos submitted by global Hallyu fans that play. You can also find brochures for the entire building.
Pro Tip: There’s a staircase that leads up to the 2nd floor at the entrance, but instead of walking up up up, take the elevator just inside and to the right up to the top floor. It’s a lot easier to walk down than up in my opinion.
2nd Floor: K-Pop Dreams Come True
If you’ve ever dreamed of becoming a K-Pop superstar, the second floor is where your dreams take flight. While it wasn’t my particular dream, my daughter sure enjoyed it. The K-Pop Ground boasts interactive K-Pop experience zones, like the coin laundry room seen in BTS’s “Permission to Dance” music video and the spaceship set from Aespa’s “Next Level” music video. But that’s not all – you can even create your own K-Pop music video using the XR Live Studio, featuring over 100 virtual backgrounds. It’s a K-Pop fan’s dream come true!
Basically, computer screens near each background and you can choose the lighting, you can choose the song, you can choose it all. Maybe one of your friends prefers to be a producer, well this will be your jam. Oh, and there’s a wall of accessories you can put on too.
3rd Floor: Art and Dramatic Trips
The third floor at HiKR Ground is one for the Korean art lovers. The HiKr Artrium showcases the works of Korean artists like Kim Hong Shik, Do Ho Suh, and Lee Lee Nam. Above you can see Do Ho Suh’s piece called “North Wall” which hangs along the staircase and Lee Lee Nam’s “New Urban Landscape”.
Additionally, the Dramatic Trip exhibit highlights the global impact of K-Drama and K-Cinema, showing you where your favorite Hallyu content was filmed. Get ready to take notes so you can visit those spots too.
4th Floor: Wellness and Festivals
On the fourth floor, immerse yourself in Korean wellness tourism at the HiKr Cave. Wellness Tourism has been my jam for awhile and I worked with the Korea Tourism Organization to promote some amazing wellness opportunities in Korea like Busan’s Spa Land Centum City, Donghae’s Mureung Health Forest, Jeju Island’s Chuidasun, and more.
Here at HiKR Ground, experience beauty and spa, nature and forest healing, traditional medicine, and meditation through video, sound, lighting, and scent. We did a survey to see what Korean tea was best for each of us and then we got a free cup of tea and indeed, we all felt they hit the spot.
You can also feel tranquility in the forests and the scent of blooming flowers as you explore recreated scenes from tourism hub cities like Wonju, Suncheon, Sancheong, Taean-gun, and Seogwipo. There’s also the Fest Cube, a digital and analog space where you can dive into various local festivals through interactive color-changing art.
5th Floor: Relax and Learn
After an exciting journey through HiKR Ground, take a well-deserved break on the fifth floor, or start with a break up here like we did. HiKr Lounge offers a peaceful retreat with a view of the beautiful Cheonggyecheon Stream.
Here, you can find a Tourist Information Center to plan adventures in Korea with the helpful staff who are on hand. You can even grab some free books and reading materials as unique souvenirs. There is also a Knotted Donut where you can purchase drinks and a snack.
FAQ
What does HiKR Ground stand for?
HiKR was taken from Hi from KoRea!
Is HiKR Ground worth it?
Well, it’s free first of all so it’s a bit of an odd question. But maybe, you’re wondering if it’s worth your time in a busy Seoul itinerary. Being right downtown and just steps from the iconic Cheonggyecheon Stream, it wouldn’t be difficult to squeeze in. The entire space takes an hour or less to enjoy in my opinion.
If you have kids and are doing a lot of walking, this is a great space to take a seat, rest a bit, just enjoy the surroundings, have a drink, or let them do some dancing. Of course, all of those things are good for adults as well.
So, what are you waiting for? Dive into the world of Hallyu and Korean culture at HiKR Ground in the heart of Seoul. Whether you’re a K-Pop fanatic, a K-Drama enthusiast, or just curious about Korean art and tourism, there’s something here to entertain and inspire everyone. Make your visit to Seoul unforgettable with a trip to this unique and exciting destination!
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