➹ running man fan - seoul itinerary

A friend has recently succumbed to being an avid fan of the hit variety-reality show, Running Man 런닝맨. She did a marathon on ALL the past episodes and is now able to catch up to the latest subbed releases (Ep 82 as of writing). Now, she wants to visit a lot of the popular places featured on the show on her upcoming Seoul vacation with friends. It will be their first time in Korea so I'll be helping build her itinerary.

Fortunately, wiki has an ULTRA COMPREHENSIVE database of NEAR-EVERYTHING you can think of about Running Man. Just check out their List of Running Man episodes . Die-hard Running Man addicts can certainly revel on all the details compiled on wiki… PD-nim's must be so proud to have created this cult following!

Anyway, I spot a couple of landmarks which would be easy to visit as a first-timer in Korea.
[Episode 01] Times Square (Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul) [Guests: Hwang Jung-eum, Lee Hyo-ri]
[Episode 06] N Seoul Tower (Jung-gu, Seoul) [Guests: Kim Shin-young, Se7en, Son Dam-bi]
[Episode 07] Sejong Center for the Performing Arts (Jongno-gu, Seoul) [Guests: Eun-jeong (T-ara), Jo Kwon (2AM), Jung Yong-hwa (CN Blue)]
[Episode 08] Seoul Museum of History, Gyeonghui Palace (Jongno-gu, Seoul) [Guests: Lee Joon (MBLAQ), Park Jun-gyu, Victoria (f(x))]
[Episode 09] Lotte World (Sincheon-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul) [Guests: Lee Hong-ki (FT Island), Kim Soo-ro, Shin Bong-sun]
[Episode 11] Seoul Central Post Office (Jung-gu, Seoul) [Guests: Jung Yong-hwa (CN Blue), Kim Je-dong]
[Episode 16] I'Park Mall (Yongsan-gu, Seoul) [Guests: Yuri (Girls' Generation)]
[Episode 19] Namsangol Hanok Village(Jung-gu, Seoul) [Guests: Nichkhun (2PM)]
[Episode 29] COEX Aquarium(Gangnam-gu, Seoul) [Guests: - ]
[Episode 33] Incheon International Airport (Jung-gu, Incheon) [Guests: Oh Ji-ho]
[Episode 34] Hongdae area (Hongdae, Mapo-gu, Seoul) [Guests: Park Jun-gyu, Uee (After School)]
[Episode 39] Seoul Folk Flea Market (Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul) [Guests: Sunny, Yoona (Girls' Generation)]
[Episode 46] Kyobo Book Centre (Jongno-gu, Seoul) [Guests: Kim Hyun-joong (SS501)]
[Episode 49] Dream Forest (Gangbuk-gu, Seoul) [Guests: Goo Ha-ra (Kara), Noh Sa-yeon]
[Episode 54] 63 Building (Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul) [Guests: Choi Kang-hee, Ji Sung]
[Episode 66] Everland [Guests: Kim Sun-ah, Song Joong-ki]

Funny how I've only been to 6 of my easy picks! There's just so much to visit in Korea ~ and even just in Seoul.

[Episode 01] Times Square (Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul) [Guests: Hwang Jung-eum, Lee Hyo-ri]


[Episode 06] N Seoul Tower (Jung-gu, Seoul) [Guests: Kim Shin-young, Se7en, Son Dam-bi]


[Episode 09] Lotte World (Sincheon-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul) [Guests: Lee Hong-ki (FT Island), Kim Soo-ro, Shin Bong-sun]


[Episode 33] Incheon International Airport (Jung-gu, Incheon) [Guests: Oh Ji-ho]


[Episode 34] Hongdae area (Hongdae, Mapo-gu, Seoul) [Guests: Park Jun-gyu, Uee (After School)]


[Episode 66] Everland [Guests: Kim Sun-ah, Song Joong-ki]

I've seen the Sejong Center for Performing Arts from across the street at Gwanghwamun Plaza. And I think I've seen the Post Office while strolling around Jong-no before ... both landmarks feel a bit more special because of the Running Man episodes shot in them ^^.

How fun would it be to have Running Man film in these heavily touristy areas?
Myeongdong!!!
Namdaemun
Ssamziegiel
Cheonggyecheon

Such a day shall come ^^.

➹ lotte world star avenue

No words are needed … REALLY.













I should say that we didn't know we could go inside the Star Café with our Lotte World tickets (a friend told me about this afterwards). So in fact, we missed some more picture-taking opportunities ㅜㅜ. But since we didn't know this when we were there, we walked away feeling pretty good with the eye candies above. No major heartaches though since my main biases are not Lotte endorsers, whew.

Not shown in the pictures are Bi, Choi JiWoo & Song SeungHyun.

➹ happy christmas parade at lotte world

The most wonderful time of the year is not yet over! Winter is just halfway through in most parts of the world … and the happy season gets even longer when you are inside amusement parks!




We went to Lotte World some months ago and spent an early Christmas in the theme park ㅋㅋㅋ. If Christmas + amusement parks could NOT bring out the kid in you, I believe there's something really off, my friend. That's my logical excuse for wearing a hood with kitty ears and playing like a kid on that day ~ all in the spirit of timeless fun!!!

There were too many people at the park even though we made it a point to visit on a weekday. The long line at the ticket counter was astonishing! Good thing there was a guard who directed us to the Folk Museum entrance at the 3rd floor where the ticket line was MUCH shorter. We used the KRW20,000 Korea Pass and a discount voucher so we only had to cash out about KRW10,000.

So we started the day marveling at the Christmas decorations at the indoor park. Because we took the elevator from the Folk Museum down to the ground floor, the entire indoor arena felt so small. Little did we know how many hidden attractions were tucked into the multiple levels of the indoor park ~

We didn't have a general plan nor direction so we just walked around until we found ourselves going out into the outdoor section - Magic Island. It was there that we found the rides we wanted to try out!!! AND, the HUGE crowd of teenagers waiting in line for each of the attractions. We felt a bit out of place walking amidst group after group of students excitedly and loudly chattering and running around. We didn't want to wait in line for a long time in the cold weather so we dejectedly decided to return to the cozy indoor park.





Once inside, we thought we could try some rides but the lines indoor were incredibly long too! Aside from the teens, there were also pre-schoolers walking around in groups ~ holding hands with their buddies … ahhh, toooo cute!!! My Korean friend suspects that the throng of high school and pre-school kids at the park were there for their semi-annual "picnic" (once during spring, and then again during fall). We did manage to try 2 rides ~ (1) the train from Magic Island to the indoor park and (2) Sinbad Adventure. The train ride was ok as it gave us a good view of the park … but the Sinbad one was perhaps a bit too long ㅋㅋㅋ. Or maybe I just expected everything to be cute and pretty and this one was not the least bit ~

Not to lose out, we just decided to eat as it was past noon. But then all the dining facilities were also full ~ oh yeah we had the worst timing that day. So instead of a proper meal, we went for fun amusement park food and sat on one of the benches in front of Marco's Kitchen. And that was when the highlight of my Lotte World visit happened ~ the Happy Christmas parade!!









I'm such a KID when it comes to parades ㅋㅋ. I enjoy the fun music, the colorful floats and the fun costumes! I like greeting and waving at the mascots too. Ahh, the Christmas parade was really enjoyable!






Our spot was just perfect too! We got to watch the parade while comfortably sitting at the benches ㅋㅋ. The parade also passed by twice so we had twice the amount of pictures, yay! After the parade, we figured we're pretty much done with the park. It was nice to end the visit while our spirits were really high! So we decided to head out. We passed by this indoor floral exhibit and enjoyed admiring the colorful flowers.





And then off to Star Avenue … which was another world (and another post) altogether!!