2. Sister act

Lotte Department Store’s Bundang branch, located just south of Seoul, is where Krystal of f(x) and her older sister Jessica, former member of Girls’ Generation, were discovered by a casting manager of SM Entertainment. In 2000, Krystal, barely six at the time, and Jessica, then 11, were living in the US and on holiday. Krystal was too young and waited until she turned 13 to join her sister to train with SM.

3. Good eats

K-pop fanaticism extends to the production companies themselves, and SM Entertainment is one of the big ones that practically invented the local music scene. The powerhouse behind Girls’ Generation, Super Junior and countless other acts, SM Entertainment also runs some of the most popular restaurants along K-Star Road. SMT Seoul (closed) serves diverse small plates and pours modern versions of Korean rice wine. SUM Cafe (closed), located a block away, welcomes visitors with a pink entrance, which has become an Instagram hotspot. Inside you’ll find merchandise, blown-up photos of the stars on the walls – and even food.

4. Complete packaging‭ ‬

If your favourite K-pop band were branded as food, what would it taste like? You can find out at E-Mart, South Korea’s ubiquitous discount store chain. In collaboration with SM Entertainment, E-Mart has launched products including instant noodles, bottled sodas, crisps and boxed cupcakes named after K-pop acts like EXO, SHINee and Red Velvet. These snacks can also be purchased at SUM Market (closed), located below SUM Cafe.