Where Do K-Pop Idols Go in LA?
It's rare for American fans to travel half a world away to Seoul, the ultimate K-pop pilgrimage destination. Los Angeles, however, isn't. There is a sizeable Korean diaspora community in the famous City of Angels, which boasts the best Koreatown in the country. In addition, LA has hosted many visiting K-pop groups due to its role in domestic and international music industries. Idols have used restaurants, beaches, and Instagrammable alleyways as their backdrop to take selfies in the city. You can explore the city's many offerings as a K-pop fan living in LA or as a visitor if you've yet to explore the city's attractions.
Where to Stay in Koreatown
There are many beautiful hotels and apartments in Koreatown, Los Angeles, with one of the best being The Line Hotel found on Wilshire Boulevard. This swanky spot was originally opened in 2014 and has just short of 400 rooms, all boasting a minimalist design with chic, bare concrete walls, colourful lighting, and Mexican-style blankets for a color pop. The mini-bar is great for all, filled with Western and Korean snacks. A plenty, paying homage to the prime location where it is situated, K-town. If you find yourself wanting the taste of something a little bigger than a snack, the onsite restaurant offers a greenhouse-style room filled with plants and foliage. The diners here can feast on creative dishes such as mung beans latkes, house-made milk bread, and buttermilk fried quails.
K-Pop Music Stores
Although the Korean cultural phenomenon has been cascading through US shores for several decades, finding the type of shop that caters entirely to the K-pop fan community is still challenging. LA has a few K-pop-themed stores to make an exception to this statement, offering entire businesses dedicated to selling K-pop albums, posters, photo cards, keyrings, and more memorabilia. LA has many great options, such as Music Plaza, K-Pop Music Town, Choice Music, and KStar Music LA. These are all located in Koreatown, and you can visit them all in a single afternoon.
You can pick up purchases during your visit to a store if you plan ahead, and many of these shops have more expansive online stores.
Sing Noraebang
Noraebang is a lifestyle choice for teens and adults in Korea, literally meaning "song room." You will often find hordes of people trying to pile their way into what is often a closet-sized space to belt out their most impressive karaoke songs. Noraebang has made its way over to the States with people paying by the hour to sing their favorite K-pop songs in the privacy of their own rooms. If you're looking for the best vibes, you will be hard-pressed to find a better option than the Pharoah Karaoke Lounge, which uses LED strobes, lasers, and endless amounts of neon to set the party mood alight. With over 4,000 songs to choose from and 34 rooms of various sizes for groups no matter how big, although the alcohol packages are a bit higher on the budget scale. For a more budget-friendly option, try Rosen Karaoke, Young Dong Noraebang, or Akko Karaoke.
Find a Movie or Exhibition
For most K-pop fans, it's highly likely that you're also a fan of the culture that surrounds the music. If this is true, there are many spots around LA to see and do, even if they aren't directly connected to the K-pop scene. Korea's largest cinema chain is CJ CGV, which has a few branches dotted around the US, including one in LA's Koreatown and the other in Buena Park. Along with the latest Hollywood blockbusters, CGV Spaces shows the latest and greatest samplings of Korean releases.
In addition to holding events and exhibitions designed to educate the general public about Korean culture, the Korean Cultural Center of Los Angeles (KCCLA) also provides K-pop lessons to the general public. In addition to learning about K-pop, the KCCLA is a great place to learn about the culture it comes from.
Head to a Concert
There is no better way to enjoy the life of a K-pop idol than going to a K-pop show. There's nothing better than seeing your favorite acts perform up close on stage amongst other fans who all share the same love. It may sound like an easy thing to do, but getting tickets for K-pop concerts is not for the faint of heart. You need to be prepared and purchase them well in advance. Many online websites list complete calendars of upcoming K-pop shows, including those in LA.
Conclusion
To know where a K-pop star goes in LA, you must surround yourself with the culture. Hopefully, you will have a much better chance after trying out our tips for life in Koreatown, LA.
