Home / First day

Your first 24 hours in Korea as a STAY

The small things that decide whether your pilgrimage day goes smoothly.

Before the first stop

Use Naver Map or Kakao Map, not Google
  • Get data before you leave the airportBuy an eSIM or pick up a SIM at arrivals. Korean map apps and QR menus need data.
  • Use Naver Map or Kakao Map, not GoogleGoogle Maps can't give walking or driving directions in Korea. Every spot here has Naver and Kakao buttons that open the right place.
  • Your foreign card works on the subwaySince March 2026, you can tap many foreign credit cards at the gates on Seoul subway Lines 1–8. A T-money card still works everywhere, including buses.
  • Waiting lists often ask for a Korean phone numberIf a kiosk asks for a number, ask staff to add you. Show them: 대기 등록 부탁드려요 (please add me to the waiting list).
  • Some BBQ places need two peopleKorean BBQ restaurants may not seat solo diners. We only mark a spot as solo-friendly once we've confirmed it.
  • Always order somethingAt a pilgrimage spot, ordering is the thank-you. It's why owners keep the signatures on the wall for fans.

At the spots

At the spots
  • Order before you photographTake photos after you've ordered, and never of other customers.
  • Don't touch the signaturesSigned papers, cups and frames stay on the wall. Taking anything is theft.
  • Don't ask owners about the membersNo questions about where the members live, when they come, or who they came with.
  • JYP building: outside photos onlyTake your photo and move on. JYP treats waiting around the building or at private places as stalking.

Quick answers

Does Google Maps work in Korea?

It shows places, but it can't give walking or driving directions. Use Naver Map or Kakao Map — both have English menus.

Can I visit the JYP building?

You can take photos outside JYP Center in Gangdong-gu. You can't go in, and JYP treats waiting around the building as stalking.

Do I need a Korean phone number?

Not to eat or ride the subway. Some waiting-list kiosks and apps ask for one; staff can usually add you by hand.