How to Experience K‑Pop Demon Hunters in Seoul

Seoul is the South Korean capital city where K‑Pop Demon Hunters comes to life. Tradition and modernity collide in the film, mirrored in the temples, shopping streets, cool cafes and high-rises of real life Seoul.

Here are five ways to experience K‑Pop Demon Hunters for yourself on your South Korea holiday. From fortress walls and royal palaces to K‑pop dance floors and late‑night snacks.

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1. See Seoul from above: fortress walls, towers and penthouse views

To get a real feel for Seoul, you need to see it from above – just as the characters do.

Begin with a hike up to Naksan Park, where a section of the old Seoul Fortress Wall snakes along the hillside. The view here takes in Seoul old and new, urban centre and beyond: tiled rooftops, high‑rise apartments and distant mountains. Head towards Namsan, the N Seoul Tower for panoramic views that could be straight out of the film's action sequences.

For a more futuristic take, head to Lotte World Tower. It's Korea’s tallest building and feels like the set of HUNTR/X’s sleek penthouse. If you're feeling brave, step out and across the city, 541 metres above the ground, on the Skybridge Tour . If anything is going to give you main character energy, this is!

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2. Go back in time: palaces, hanok villages and hidden corners

The film’s quieter, more intimate moments are rooted in Korea’s past; and Seoul preserves it beautifully.

At Gyeongbokgung Palace, step into the Joseon era shown in the film’s time-slip scenes. Look closely at the palace roofs and you’ll spot dancheong – the intricate, colourful patterns feature on Rumi’s yellow jacket. It’s just a subtle detail, but one that cleverly weaves Seoul's past into the characters' reality.

Nearby, wander through Bukchon Hanok Village, where traditional hanok homes sit between modern neighbourhoods: the setting used for Rumi and Jinu’s secret meetings. Families may also enjoy Namsangol Hanok Village, where hands‑on cultural activities make history feel alive for younger travellers.

Read Next: Architecture in Seoul: 15 buildings worth seeing

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3. The Hallyu Wave: K‑Pop energy in the heart of the city

K-pop is a core part of Seoul's modern-day feel – you'll experience it across the city.

At COEX, the giant digital screen in K‑Pop Square celebrates the stars of the Hallyu Wave, much like the Saja Boys’ larger‑than‑life presence in the film. Inside the complex, you’ll find a stylish mix of fashion, art spaces and the spectacular Starfield Library, where towering bookshelves create one of Seoul’s most photographed interiors.

For a more grassroots experience, head to Hongdae, where buskers dance, sing and rehearse on the streets. Join a K‑pop dance class to learn the moves yourself, or simply watch the next generation of idols perfecting their routines in public.

This is Seoul at its most creative, youthful and endlessly entertaining.

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4. Street food and snack culture: eating like the characters

Food plays a starring role in K‑Pop Demon Hunters and Seoul is heaven for food lovers.

Start in Myeongdong, where the Saja Boys’ ‘Soda Pop’ performance comes alive amid neon lights, fashion stores and sizzling street food stalls. Try gyeran‑ppang (egg bread), tornado potatoes, Korean corn dogs (locally just called hotdogs), and browse for K‑pop merchandise between bites.

Convenience stores are another must‑visit. Like the characters eating Shin Ramyun on the jet, you’ll find instant noodles, kimbap rice rolls, hotteok sweet pancakes, ketchup‑flavoured crisps and late‑night snacks that are very much part of everyday Korean life.

For comfort food, seek out a steaming bowl of seollangtang soup, served with banchan side dishes – it's the kind of meal that warms both body and spirit. And when it’s time for dessert nothing beats strawberry bingsu, a mountain of shaved ice crowned with fruit.

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5. Korea's cultural roots: music, dance and museums

Beneath the pop beats, the film is deeply connected to South Korea’s cultural heritage.

Jinu’s story is linked to traditional music, including the bipa, an instrument played during the Joseon period. You can hear this in Seoul today, attend a pansori performance (traditional storytelling through song) or pungmul dance, where drums and movement create an infectious energy. The Korean Folk Village just outside Seoul is a great place to catch a show.

Museums like the National Museum of Korea offer insight into these traditions and are also great places to pick up beautifully designed souvenirs that blend old and new; they even have K-pop Demon Hunters merch!

Experience it for yourself

K‑Pop Demon Hunters captures what Seoul does best: balancing tradition with trend‑setting modernity, all fuelled by creativity, food and music. Our Korean Wave itinerary is designed to help you experience both sides of the city and beyond, from royal palaces to K‑pop and K-drama hot spots, at a pace that lets the stories unfold naturally.