Things to Do in Gangnam: COEX Mall, Bongeunsa Temple and More

Thanks to Psy's "Gangnam Style", everyone knows the name, but few visitors know what Gangnam actually is: Seoul's wealthy district south of the Han River, full of glass towers, luxury boutiques, plastic surgery clinics, K-pop agencies, giant malls and, surprisingly, one of the city's most beautiful Buddhist temples.

We explored Gangnam twice while living in Seoul, once for the mall and once for the temple across the street, and the contrast between the two was the best part.

Quick answer: In Gangnam, visit COEX Mall and its huge Starfield Library, the 1,200-year-old Bongeunsa Temple right opposite, the luxury shopping streets of Apgujeong and Cheongdam (with the K-pop "K-Star Road"), and Gangnam Station's shopping and food streets. The nearest stations are Samseong (COEX) and Bongeunsa (Line 9).

COEX Mall and the Starfield Library

COEX is one of Asia's largest underground malls, linked to a convention centre, hotels, an aquarium and a cinema. When we visited, it was being renovated and felt like an endless empty tunnel. Today it is completely different, and its centrepiece is the Starfield Library: two storeys of towering bookshelves around a public reading space, one of Seoul's most photographed interiors. It is free.

Also at COEX: the COEX Aquarium, the giant LED screens of K-pop Square outside, and plenty of restaurants.

Bongeunsa Temple

Right across the road from COEX, Bongeunsa is a Buddhist temple founded in the 8th century, around 1,200 years ago, surrounded by the skyscrapers of Gangnam. Its walkways are hung with colourful paper lanterns, there is a 23-metre standing Buddha statue, and you may hear monks chanting during a ceremony. We were lucky to come across a sermon. It is one of the most peaceful places in the city, and it offers a temple stay programme for visitors.

Visit around Buddha's Birthday (April or May) for the lantern festival.

Apgujeong, Cheongdam and K-Star Road

North Gangnam is Seoul's luxury quarter: designer boutiques in Cheongdam, the trendy Garosu-gil in Sinsa, and K-Star Road in Apgujeong, a street lined with "GangnamDol" bear statues representing K-pop groups, near several entertainment agencies.

Gangnam Station area

The streets around Gangnam Station are packed with shops, cafés, restaurants, karaoke rooms and bars, busy late into the night. There is also an underground shopping arcade.

A note on kimchi

When we visited, a Kimchi Museum was hidden in the basement of COEX. It has since moved to Insadong, where it reopened as Museum Kimchikan. Read our Insadong guide.

Tips

• Subway: Line 2 for Samseong and Gangnam stations; Line 9 for Bongeunsa.
• Combine Bongeunsa with the royal tombs of Seonjeongneung, a green escape nearby.
• Dress respectfully at the temple and keep quiet during ceremonies.

More Seoul: N Seoul Tower and Namdaemun Market · Hongdae guide