🚇 How to see K-pop birthday ads in the Seoul subway
Seoul's subway ran 12,433 idol ads in 2025 and 8,012 in the first eight months of 2026, a Korean news report says. They're a popular stop for visiting fans, but they don't run for long. This guide shows how to find one; it isn't a list of Stray Kids ads, because those depend on what fan hosts announce.
Step by step
- Know when to lookFans time these ads to birthdays and anniversaries. One 2026 project for another idol ran for the week ending on the birthday, so start looking about a week ahead. Next for Stray Kids: I.N on February 8, Hyunjin on March 20 and the debut anniversary on March 25.
- Find the station and datesFan hosts usually announce their projects on X, so search the member's Korean name with 생일 광고 (birthday ad) or 지하철 광고 (subway ad), for example 아이엔 생일 광고. Look for the host's own post with the station and dates, and check it again the morning you go.
- Learn the usual stationsReports on fan ads name Hongik Univ., Gangnam, Jamsil, Express Bus Terminal, Konkuk Univ., Gwanghwamun and Yangjae. A large project can spread out: the 2026 example used 54 digital screens across 24 stations. Treat these names as a starting point, not proof that an ad is there.
- Wait for it to come upMany of these ads play on digital wall screens, so yours may not be showing when you arrive. One Japanese visitor at Hongik Univ. Station checked the schedule first, waited for the video to appear and then filmed it. Have your camera ready before it starts.
- Film without blocking anyoneStand to the side of the walkway, away from stairs, escalators and ticket gates, and keep your bag in front of you. Stations are busiest at rush hour, so go outside those times. Try not to catch strangers' faces in the shot if you plan to post it.
- Build a day around itIf the ad is at Hongik Univ., pair it with birthday cafés or album shopping nearby. Our station exit guide helps you get out at the right side of a very large station.
Show these in Korean
Before you go
- If the host's post names an exit or floor, follow it. Big stations can have screens far apart.
- Don't stick anything up or leave gifts near the ad, and take any rubbish with you.
- Save the host's post to your phone in case you lose signal underground.
Quick answers
Do Stray Kids have birthday ads in the Seoul subway?
It depends on what fan hosts arrange each year, so check their posts on X from about a week before a birthday. We don't list an ad until its host has announced it.
Which Seoul subway stations show K-pop birthday ads?
Recent reports name Hongik Univ., Gangnam, Jamsil, Express Bus Terminal, Konkuk Univ., Gwanghwamun and Yangjae, but each project picks its own stations.
Can I film a subway ad?
Visiting fans do film them. Stay out of the walkway and away from stairs, escalators and gates while you do.
Checked Nov 5 · Sources: www.dailian.co.kr · www.koreaherald.com
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