Seoul (South Korea) Day 4: Starfield COEX Mall + Vanner's Fansign Event + Starfield Library

We took a cab to Starfield COEX Mall which was quite a distance from our hotel (an hour journey if we take train). We alighted at the Gangnam Style Sculpture at 6.45pm, a popular photo spot to celebrate the global success of PSY's hit song 'Gangnam Style'.

After snapping a quick photo, we noticed a group of tourists came to crowd the spot. Not wanting to queue in the cold, especially since I left my jacket at the hotel, we quickly made our way into the mall.

As we walked around the mall, we noticed a crowd gathering around the railings. We peeked down and saw a stage set up for a fan sign event for Vanner's 3rd mini album. I decided to join in and wait around to catch a glimpse of the K-pop group.

After 15 minutes of waiting, Vanner finally arrived at 7.05pm, greeted by cheers from their fans. They are a boy group that debuted in 2019 consisting of five members. They are currently promoting as a four member group as Sungkook is enlisted in the army. They are now back with their third mini album 'Burn'.

From left to right: Taehwan (leader), Gon, Hyesung and Yeongkwang (maknae). Taehwan and Gon were looking at our direction.

After the greeting, the fan signing event straight away began. Gon was still waving at us.

I like how the setup allowed for a more personal interaction between the idols and their fans. Seats were arranged for fans to sit down and have one-on-one moments with the boys, making the experience more memorable for the fans.

After staying for several minutes, we left to look for dinner. We passed by an eatery selling lunch box and rice bowl, it caught our attention and decided to settle for it.

I had Pork Bulgogi with Rice at ₩10,900 (or S$10.72). The pork bulgogi was quite flavourful and the accompanying kimchi carried a hint of spice that added a kick to the meal. Our dinner was settled in half an hour time.

SPAO is a well know Korean fashion brand often endorsed by K-pop idols, I got my bro a brown sweater at ₩39,000 (or S$38.35) as his souvenir.

One of the reasons for visiting Starfield COEX Mall was the iconic Starfield Library, a two level library featuring 13 meter tall floor-to-ceiling bookshelves that draws countless visitors.

The Starfield Library is more than just a library, it is the blend of literature and architecture. Many visitors came here to immerse themselves in a good book or enjoy a peaceful moment in the serene atmosphere.

It brought back memories of my younger days when I loved borrowing books from the school library. One of them was reading the entire Harry Potter series. As technology evolved and eBooks released, I stopped visiting the library and opt for the convenience of eBooks.

It was nearly 9.30pm and the fan sign was coming to an end, we managed to catch one last glimpse of Vanner as they bid farewell to their fans. 

We took a cab back to the hotel, a 30 minute journey for about ₩18,000. We reached hotel at 10.10pm, ready to rest after another fulfilling day.

Seoul (South Korea) Day 4: Hongdae Fashion Street + 943 King's Cross Cafe + Ewha Womans University

We arrived at Hongdae Fashion Street at 11.50am, ready to start shopping. After a few days of sightseeing, it was finally time to kickstart in retail therapy.

It was a long stretch of street lined with boutiques offering a variety of items. From trendy clothes and beauty products to unique souvenirs, there was many things to explore. Most of the clothing were thick pieces, preparing for the winter season.

I managed to get a short sleeve top from this boutique, 'From D' at ₩15,000 (or S$14.75). While the clothing in this area leaned towards the pricier side, the quality was quite not bad.

Hongdae is a bustling area filled with boutique shops, trendy cafes and eateries, making it a popular spot to hang out especially for the younger crowd. After an hour of shopping, we completed the stretch and decided it was time for lunch.

Being a Potterhead, a huge fan of Harry Potter, visiting 943 King's Cross Cafe was a must for me. It was only 10 minutes walk from Hongdae, we reached the cafe around 1.15pm.

I took a magical journey on a broomstick straight to King's Cross Station. Outside the cafe, there was a broom parking photo spot area, inviting everyone to capture a bit of magic before stepping inside.

As we stepped inside, we spotted on the right of level 1 was Ollivanders' wand shop in Diagon Alley. Known as the finest wandmaker, Ollivanders' shop was brought to life with shelves stacked with wand boxes.

On the left was the ordering counter where we placed our order before exploring the cafe further. Each person was required to order at least one drink, which seemed quite reasonable. The menu offered a decent selection of drinks, light bites and cakes.

Each floor had different themes for seating area. We went up to level 2 which was Wizard Cafe with ordinary setup. We chose to sit here for its convenience, as we needed to carry the trays of food up ourselves.

Since we were not feeling hungry for a full lunch, we ordered a few items to spend our afternoon away. We had French Fries at ₩16,500 (or S$16.22). The fries were decent but the spicy sauce caused them to become soggy quickly. As expected from a themed cafe, the prices were on the higher side.

I had Wizard Green Tea (Hot) at ₩11,800 (or S$11.60). What made this drink special was the chocolate made in the shape of the Sorting Hat, which is used to determine the school house for every new Hogwarts student. The drink was actually matcha latte, I sipped it slowly, savouring the earthy flavour.

Last but not least was Mandrake Cake at ₩14,000 (or S$13.77). Mandrake is a magical plant that resembling a crying baby with leaves growing from their head, have restorative powers in their mature form, it is used to cure petrification. The Mandrake biscuit was quite hard to bite.

The Mandrake Cake was filled with crushed Oreo bits on top acting as the soil. Inside was a moist chocolate cake. As this was full of cocoa flavour, it can get a bit too rich.

After finishing the meal, we went around to explore the cafe. Level 4 was in the theme of Gryffindor Common Room, a place where Gryffindor students could relax after school. This floor was the most hot selling area where all the seats were fully taken, the bed seating (tatami style) was the most popular.

Level 3 was in a theme of Great Hall, a grand hall with long tables where students gathered for meals and celebrations. Every corner of the cafe was brimming with character and designed elements that stayed true to the Harry Potter theme. I was impressed by the details.

The basement level had a mysterious atmosphere for the theme of Wizard Bar. The dim lighting set the mood with the eerie presence of demon figures. It was quieter here, with fewer people choosing to sit here.

943 King's Cross Cafe

24 Yanghwa-ro 16-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Operating hours: 11.30am to 9.30pm from Mon to Thu, 10am to 9.30pm from Fri to Sun

We ended our magical experience at 3pm. On our way to Hongik Univ. Station, I spotted Harmony Mart and stepped inside, ended up buying two pack of masks and two packs of potato chips at ₩17,400 (or S$17.11).

We took two train stops to Ehwa Womans Univ. Station to visit their university since it was along the same train line. As we walked toward the campus, we passed by some shops lining the street, offering a mix of items.

It was already 3.50pm when we reached Ewha Womans University, I was first greeted by the lush greenery before entering the campus. The grassland made it perfect for a stroll as we made our way further in.

The bright afternoon sun made us want to seek shelter but the surrounding area was entirely open. Thankfully, the gentle breeze provided a refreshing wind, making the heat more bearable as we continued to explore.

Even on a Saturday, the campus was bustling with visitors like us, exploring the ground. The architecture made it a good spot to visit.

Ewha Womans University was founded in 1886, being the first and largest university for women in South Korea. The grandeur of the 19th century was preserved in its buildings, showcasing their history.

We spent about 40 minutes exploring the campus. By 4.30pm, we had completed our plans for the day. We took a cab back to the hotel to drop odd our shopping bags and have a rest while deciding on our next destination.

We were back in hotel at 5.05pm, it was so comforting to be back after a day out. I took the time to pack my loots from Hongdae. The masks were so much cheaper, within S$5 for a pack of 10 masks. We had a 50 minutes recharge before we head out for the evening.