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The ARMYs’ dream home in Seoul

Nikko Dizon

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The ARMYs’ dream home in Seoul

Nikko Dizon

That RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook had visited the House of BTS themselves makes the experience more exciting for their fans, collectively known as ARMY. The pop-up store is open until January 5, 2020.

 

SEOUL, South Korea – ARMYs, as fans of global sensation, BTS, are called, have two weeks left to visit the House of BTS in Gangnam. Big Hit Entertainment had announced it will be open until January 5 next year. But we are all hoping BH decides to add a few more weeks for this pop-up store.

We visited the House of BTS a day after we watched the BTS’ concert, Love Yourself: Speak Yourself [The Final] in October but the line snaked around the neighborhood that we ended up going back a week later. This time, the line was short and we even got to go inside twice that pretty Monday morning. We presumed it was because most ARMYs, many of whom came from different parts of the world, had gone back home, too, after the three-day concert.

You’ll likely spend two hours inside the pink, three-storey house, the biggest among the pop-up stores BTS have had in their 2019 Love Yourself world tour. 

Welcome to the ARMYs' dream home. Photo by Nikko Dizon/Rappler

That RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook had visited the pop-up store themselves makes the experience more exciting for the ARMYs. BTS were in the same place, breathed the same air, bought the same stuff, and touched the same things as their fans— like the giant ARMY bombs where the maknaes, Jimin, V, and Jungkook famously photobombed their eldest hyung, Jin.

There are different showrooms that are beautifully and creatively designed with themes based on the boys’ hit songs like Boy with Luv, MIC Drop, Fake Love, Idol, and DNA, you just can’t have enough pictures.

There are interactive areas, like the DNA room and a replica of the bus stop in “The Most Beautiful Moment in Life: The Notes” where you can leave notes for BTS as the members themselves had written messages to the ARMYs.

You can also watch their music videos, and the character trailer for the pop-up store on the huge flat screen TV on the ground floor, right by the mirror where took their groufie. 

As Big Hit promised, the pop-up store will be constantly updated, from its merchandise to themes. When Big Hit came up with this Christmas teaser, it made us want to go back to Seoul. Really.

At the second floor, you’ll find the adorable life-sized character figures for each of the boys with their autographs and are now all Christmassy, too. Our friend, @fallin_jkk, was there recently and shared with us these lovable photos.

A red-nosed V at the House of BTS this Christmas. Photo by @fallin_jkk  The red cape fits golden maknae, Jungkook. Photo by @fallin_jkk

Dance leader, J-Hope, gets a stocking and glove-themed scarf. Photo by @fallin_jkk

There’s also a café where you can get some BTS cookies and pastries, juices, Paul Bassett coffee, and BTS reusable tumblers which we think we got for 6,000 KRW (roughly P300), if memory serves us right.

Have some BTS cookies and pastries, and refreshments at the House of BTS cafe. Photo by Nikko Dizon/Rappler

At the heart of the store is a wide array of merchandise to choose from which are also based on the BTS songs mentioned above. To help you decide which items to buy, you’ll be given a merchandise catalogue while you’re in line.

ARMYs check out the House of BTS catalogue while waiting in line. Photo by Nikko Dizon/Rappler

Admittedly, the items are quite pricey. The pillow featuring BTS’ concept photo for Map of the Soul: Persona costs 69,000 KRW (or roughly P3,300). But you’ll be happy with the quality of the items that you’re assured you’re getting your money’s worth.

Dream sweet with these BTS pillows. Photo by Nikko Dizon/Rappler

DNA airpods case sell for 16,000 KRW each or roughly P762. Photo by Nikko Dizon/Rappler

Seoul notebooks, an ode to RM's "Seoul" produced with Honne, the English electro-pop duo, costs 3,000 KRW each, or roughly P145. Photo by Nikko Dizon/Rappler Photo by Nikko Dizon/Rappler

These cute character mugs, selling for 15,000 KRW each or roughly P715, are always sold-out. Photo by Nikko Dizon/Rappler

This MIC Drop plaid long-sleeved men’s buttoned down shirt worn by Jimin costs 129,000 KRW or roughly P6,143. Photo by Nikko Dizon/Rappler

To get to the House of BTS, we took the direction recommended by the Korea Tourism Organization, which made it easy for us to find it at 34, Gangnam-daro 102-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

Directions: Walk for approx. 5 min from Sinnonhyeon Station (Seoul Subway Line 9), Exit 4.

The House of BTS is also in Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka from November 23 to December 29, and in Mexico from December 13 to January 26. – Rappler.com

Planning to visit BTS’ pop up store in Seoul? Book your accommodations with this Oyo rooms promo code. 

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Nikko Dizon

Nikko Dizon is a freelance journalist specializing in security and political reporting. She has extensively covered issues involving the military, the West Philippine Sea maritime dispute, human rights, and the peace process.
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