Goyang, Seoul’s Neighbor — RM’s Hometown, Royal Tombs, and the Han River at Dusk
Korea Travel
BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’ opens on April 9 at Goyang Stadium. It’s the first large-scale concert since all seven members completed their mandatory military service — the start of 82 shows across 23 countries. The choice of Goyang is no coincidence. Goyang is RM’s hometown. In “Ma City,” he raps: “I love Ilsan Lake Park more than the Han River / Even though it’s smaller, it holds you so much warmer.” As someone who lives near here, I can tell you — watching the Han River from Goyang at dusk is something else entirely. This city deserves more than a one-day concert visit. Here’s what to know.
BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’ IN GOYANG — Official Info →
Goyang Stadium — The Basics
Goyang Stadium sits in Ilsanseo-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. It holds over 40,000 seated and 10,000 standing. BTS, BLACKPINK, and Coldplay have all played here.
Getting There Line 3 subway to Daehwa Station, then a 10–15 minute walk. GTX-A to Kintex Station gets you there in 7 minutes on foot. By car from Gimpo Airport, allow about 20 minutes.
The Day Before — Take It Easy in Goyang
Seooreung Royal Tombs (西五陵)
Fifteen minutes by car from the stadium. Five Joseon royal tombs sit quietly inside a pine forest. Almost no tourists. Wide, calm, and perfect for a slow walk the day before the concert. One of the most accessible — and least visited — UNESCO World Heritage sites in Korea.
Janghang Wetlands
A Ramsar-designated ecological wetland where the Han River meets Goyang’s edge. Known as a migratory bird habitat, it’s all reed fields and riverside walking paths. The kind of landscape you won’t find anywhere near central Seoul.
One more option: Hongdae isn’t far from Goyang. If you want a night out, the option is there. That said — the concert is long, the energy is real, and your legs will thank you if you save them. Hongdae can wait.
Concert Day — Around the Stadium
Ilsan Lake Park
Walking distance from the stadium. Korea’s largest artificial lake, ringed by well-maintained paths. Exactly the right place to decompress before showtime. The musical fountain show is worth catching if the timing works.
Starfield Goyang
Right next to Ilsan Lake Park. Shopping, food, cafes — all in one place. A solid option for pre-show meals or killing time if you arrive early. Don’t burn too much energy here though. The concert is long and it takes everything you’ve got.
Concert Day — Where to Eat
Todamgol
2.4km from the stadium. Korean table d’hôte (hanjeongsik) — the kind of spread where you feel healthier just looking at it. The base set runs ₩14,000, genuinely good value. If you’re going with someone, consider splitting: one orders the base set, the other goes for the Sweet Beef Bulgogi set at ₩24,000. Between the two, you get a proper introduction to Korean food.
View menu and reserve at Todamgol →
The Day After — Cross Into Paju
Goyang to Paju is 20–30 minutes by car. If you have one more day, these two are worth it.
Heyri Art Valley
A cultural community built by around 380 artists — painters, architects, writers, filmmakers. The village is full of distinctive buildings housing galleries, museums, cafes, and workshops. Every direction you walk, something is worth photographing. Weekend afternoons are when it’s most alive.
Paju Book City
Over half of Korea’s publishers are based here, which sounds industrial until you see it. The buildings were designed by serious architects, and tucked between them are bookshops and cafes. The centerpiece is the Forest of Wisdom — a 24-hour book cafe where hundreds of thousands of volumes are stacked floor to ceiling. Spending an hour there alone makes the detour worthwhile.
Fair warning: after a BTS concert, finding the energy for either of these is ambitious. But if you’re in Korea, they’re genuinely worth the effort.
Where to Stay
Sono Calm Goyang — The only five-star hotel in Goyang, directly across from KINTEX. Walking distance to the stadium, airport bus stop right outside. Books out fast during concert season.
If Goyang hotels are already gone — and they may be — staying near Hapjeong or Hongdae in Seoul and taking the subway is a perfectly workable plan.
Practical Tips
The most important tip first: Download the Naver app before you arrive. It supports multiple languages and covers restaurant reservations, navigation, and search. According to the Korea Tourism Organization, 56% of foreign visitors to Korea use Naver Maps. There’s a reason for that.
- Daehwa Station gets extremely crowded after the show. Budget at least 30 minutes of wait time
- Get a T-money card before you go — it makes every transit connection easier
- Seooreung and Janghang Wetlands are free or nearly free to enter
- Heyri Art Valley and Paju Book City are not within walking distance of each other — use a taxi or public transit
Goyang and Paju can’t be done in a single day. Pick what fits your pace and go from there. Wherever you end up, you’ll find something Seoul doesn’t have.
Planning to catch BTS at Goyang Stadium? Before the show, it’s worth understanding what ARIRANG is really about — the album title, the folk song, and what it meant for seven members coming home after four years apart. We broke it all down here.
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