K-Style Hub is an extremely useful attraction that may be unknown to many international tourists! This one-stop complex has information to meet all tourists’ needs, from a tourist information center to various experience zones, exhibition halls and even sales of local specialty products! The hub is spread out over four levels, with the Tourist Information Center found on the second floor, Korean Food Exhibition and Experience Halls on the third and fourth floors respectively, and the Cultural Product Hall on the fifth floor. Although each floor has its own range of fun experiences to enjoy, there are eight ways to K-Style Hub that you cannot miss! Following our guidance, you will lose yourself in the hidden charms of K-Style Hub!
1. Obtain travel info or simply have a rest!
The Tourist Information Center (TIC) found on the second floor offers a wide range of useful travel information and services to tourists visiting Korea, and it also serves as a great resting place for travelers who need a short break while sightseeing around the city. Visitors can ease their travel fatigue, or read up on Korea tourism through the broad selection of tour-related brochures, such as travel guide books and maps provided.
Not only are there travel brochures and maps on Seoul’s attractions, travel information on attractions and festivals in other regions is also widely available. For those unable to find their desired information from the brochures, the staff at the tourist information desk are ready to attend to all travel inquiries.
☆ You can also get a unique Concierge service from the staff of HaB Korea! (We have moved to KTO building recently)
TIP) Need help with accommodations or transportation?
If you need help in purchasing train tickets or making reservations for accommodations, simply head to the Travel Concierge desk. Professional travel agents are available to provide consultation and help in reserving train tickets, flight tickets, accommodations and processing payments on-site. In addition, the sale of SIM cards or transportation cards exclusively for international visitors, and even Wi-Fi devices or mobile phone rental services are offered here.
2. Experience Korea’s major attractions through advanced technology!
Instead of reading a typical brochure or guidebook, visitors can experience about 40 major tourist attractions around the nation through the 360-degree panorama gallery. The views are so real you might feel as if you have visited the attraction in person after viewing them. In addition to the panorama gallery, visitors can also enjoy the feeling of walking around popular sites like Gyeongbokgung Palace and Myeong-dong or even experience ski jumping at the upcoming 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics through the VR Experience Zone.
3. Take souvenir photos with hallyu stars!
For K-pop fans, the Hallyu Experience Zone is a section that you definitely should not miss! Visitors can take photos with K-pop singers including BIGBANG, PSY, 2NE1, Rainbow and many more through advanced technology. Fans may also find BIGBANG standing cutouts at the experience zone entryway. There are three types of photo-taking experiences available; ring the bell to visit the idol’s house, imitate top idols’ trademark gestures, or show your love for your favorite star and a variety of other concept photos can be taken here.
TIP) When taking photos at the hallyu experience zone
Photos taken with stars at the experience zone only stay on screen for about 3-4 seconds before being erased. Thus, it is recommended to take pictures with your own camera for photo keepsake purposes.
4. Get a better understanding of your body!
There are countless activities that international tourists may find at the K-Style Hub, including the Medical Tourism Information Center. Though the center may not seem that exciting at first glance, there are in fact several interesting experiences hidden here.
There are four experience programs that you can enjoy in the Medical Tourism Information Center! The programs range from a test to find out what is the most suitable medicinal tea for you, to facial analysis, and overall body check-up to even a program to check your stress level. These programs are open to all with no reservations required. Take this chance to learn more about your body and health!
TIP) Scented pouch making experience
Visitors to the Medical Tourism Information Center can take part in making a scented medicinal pouch, one of the center’s permanent experience programs. Visitors can pick the medicinal herbs with scents they like to create their very own herb pouch as a souvenir.
5. Dress-up in Korea’s traditional clothing, hanbok!
One of the most highly sought-after activities among international visitors to Korea is none other than trying on hanbok! Currently, a free hanbok fitting experience is available on the fifth floor of the K-Style Hub. Whether it is traditional hanbok like those worn by the royal or the recent trendy fusion-style hanbok, a diverse selection design is available for you to choose from. Not only are there pretty hanbok for the ladies, plenty of hanbok for men are also available. Each hanbok is available for one hour after rental unless visiting after 17:45, at which point the rental time is limited to fifteen minutes. The experience is available on a first-come, first-served basis, but groups of ten people or more can call (+82-2-729-9433 / English, Chinese) to make a reservation in advance.
TIP) Wearing the hanbok outside
You are allowed to wear the hanbok and go out of the building to take pictures. However, an identification card or passport is required for deposit in order to rent the hanbok.
6. Discover Korea’s Charm at the Korean Food Exhibition Hall!
The entrance to the Korean Food Exhibition Hall on the third floor has an eye-catching design. The long hallway is decorated in a way to allow visitors to feel an authentic traditional Korean atmosphere. A total of 24 windows with bars can be found, and each window exhibits a section on Korea’s seasonal food.
Beyond the entrance, visitors may also find a variety of Korean grains and seasonings, as well as a performance of video projections displaying on the top of various onggi (Korean pottery); the famous Korean folk song “Arirang” plays in the background. This performance was an exhibition held at the Milano EXPO in Italy and was given high praises for displaying the beauty of Korea’s traditional music and food.
TIP) Foreign language service at Korean Food Exhibition Hall
The Korean Food Exhibition Hall offers foreign language services for international visitors. The service is available upon request on-site and operating hours vary according to languages as follow: English (11:00, 15:00), Japanese (12:00, 17:00) and Chinese (10:30, 14:30, 16:30).
7. Cook your very own Korean food!
After learning about the Korean food culture through the exhibitions on the third floor, visitors may proceed to the fourth floor to have the experience of cooking their very own Korean food. The Korean Food Experience Hall is divided into three sections. You may choose to make a wide assortment of Korean foods at the Korean Food Learning Center, or have a taste of representative Korean foods at the Korean Food Experience Zone, or obtain valuable Korean food recipes at the Korean Food Sarangbang. Please kindly note that separate program fees are applicable to the first two sections.
The Korean Food Learning Center operates regularly, with various foods to prepare. Bulgogi, chiljeolpan (platter of seven delicacies), and bibimbap are some of the representative Korean foods on the menu. The meals prepared during these cooking lessons vary according to the time and day of the week. For those who are interested, reservations via phone have to be made at least three days prior to the visit, and lessons may be canceled if there are less than 10 people signed up for the program.
8. Browse representative products of Korea!
The last stop at K-Style Hub is the Cultural Product Hall located on the fifth floor. This large space has representative items from around the country gathered in one place. The area is divided into a marketing section, with products and images on display, and an event section. Visiting the marketing section will allow one to see outstanding products made by Korean designers and artists, as well as get a better understanding of the meaning and ideas behind the works. The event zone is an exciting way to experience major events in Korea such as top Korean cultural festivals.
More Information about K-Style Hub
☞ Address: KTO Seoul Office 2F-5F, 40, Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
☞ Directions: Jonggak Station (Seoul Subway Line 1), Exit 5. Walk approx. 4min. / Euljiro 1(il)-ga Station (Seoul Subway Line 2), Exit 2. Walk approx. 5min. /
Gwanghwamun Station (Seoul Subway Line 5), Exit 5. Walk approx. 8min.
☞ Operating hours
– 2F (Tourist Information Center): 09:00-20:00
– 3F-5F (Korean Food Culture Experience facilities): 10:00-20:00
※ 5F Hanbok Experience: 10:00-18:00
☞ Website: www.visitkorea.or.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, French, Spanish, German, Russian)
☞ Inquiries
– Korean Food Exhibition Hall: +82-2-6053-7176 (English, Japanese, Chinese), +82-2-6053-7179 (English, Japanese, Chinese)
– Korean Food Experience Hall: +82-2-6053-7177/7196 (English), +82-2-6053-7178 (Japanese), +82-2-6053-7179/7199 (Chinese)
☞ 1330 Korea Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
Source: KTO
