K-Star Road (GangnamDol Statues)Photo: Korea Tourism Organization PhoKo · IR 스튜디오 (KOGL Type 1)
한류스타거리 (K-스타 로드·강남돌)
Seventeen person-sized bear statues honoring K-pop groups line this street, and fans come to pose with the one painted for their favorite group, from TVXQ! to BTS.
Gangnam-gu created K-Star Road in 2014 along the roughly one-kilometer stretch of Apgujeong-ro between Apgujeong Rodeo Station and Cheongdam Crossroads, a neighborhood where many entertainment agencies, stylists and idol-favorite shops have long been based. The stars of the walk are the GangnamDols, a name made from Gangnam, idol and doll: bear-shaped art toys about the height of a person, each decorated for one K-pop act. Starting from the station, they appear in this order: 4minute, Super Junior, 2PM, FTISLAND, SHINee, Miss A, CNBLUE, TVXQ!, Girls' Generation, EXO, AOA, BTS, B1A4, VIXX, INFINITE, KARA and Block B. Most are second- and third-generation groups, which makes the street a small history lesson in Hallyu as well as a photo stop. The road also passes luxury boutiques and the Galleria department store, and agencies such as Starship Entertainment and FNC Entertainment have offices in the surrounding blocks. Plan around 30 to 40 minutes to walk the full line at an easy pace.
Photos: Korea Tourism Organization PhoKo · IR 스튜디오 (KOGL Type 1)
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