The short version
A one-minute caricature booth, a convenience store with 200-plus ramen flavors on the wall, a workshop where you blend your own perfume, a free art park, and a Harry Potter-themed cafe. Five very different moods, all within walking distance of Hongik University Station.
Last verified:
Right now
- 1943 King's Cross and RETTRE are popular enough that waits can run long or slots can fill up. Check the official site before you go.
- 2Acorn Caricature takes a break every day from 16:00 to 17:00. No drawing happens during that window.
- 3To cook your own ramen at CU's Ramyun Library, you need a separate cooking cup (900 won) on top of the ramen itself.
What to have ready
- A little cash: Useful for the caricature booth and small convenience-store purchases.
- Comfortable shoes: All five spots are near Hongik University Station, but covering all of them adds up to real walking.
- Half a day or more, unhurried: Doing all five without rushing takes time. Picking two or three is plenty.
Phrases you can copy and paste
Step by step
The route on a map
- 1
943 King's Cross
- Where:
- Near Hongik University Station (Line 2), Exit 9, next to A-Land
- Cost:
- Around 15,000 won per person for drinks and desserts
A cafe that turns an entire building, basement to fourth floor, into a wizarding-world set. It is known as one of Asia's largest Harry Potter-themed cafes. From the broom rack by the door to a recreation of Platform 9¾ and a long Hogwarts-style dining table, the details are pulled straight from the films, and guests can put on capes for photos. Signature items include butterbeer, matcha latte, and desserts shaped like a mandrake and a dragon egg. Reported hours vary between sources (weekday and weekend hours clearly differ, but the exact times don't agree), so it's worth checking the official site for that day's schedule before you go.
24 Yanghwa-ro 16-gil, Mapo District, Seoul, South Korea
- 2
Acorn Caricature
- Where:
- Near Hongik University Station (Line 2), on Hongik-ro 3-gil
- Cost:
- One-minute caricature from 7,000 won, couple canvas caricature 19,000 won, large size 35,000 won
An artist sketches your face in about a minute while you watch. The shop's mascot is a squirrel holding an acorn, and word of mouth among travelers has pushed its Instagram following past 170,000. Popularity in Hongdae led the shop to open branches in other cities, including Gyeongju. Open daily 12:00-21:00, with a break from 16:00 to 17:00.
29 Hongik-ro 3-gil, Mapo District, Seoul, South Korea
- 3
CU Hongdae Sangsang Store (Ramyun Library)
- Where:
- Near Hongik University Station (Line 2), on Jandari-ro
- Cost:
- Packaged ramen 480-3,500 won, plus a 900 won cooking cup if you eat on the spot
A convenience store known as the 'Ramyun Library' for the wall of over 200 domestic and imported instant ramen flavors. A row of smart cookers lets you prepare and eat ramen right there, and the store reportedly sells more than 500 packets a day. Several reports note a notably high share of foreign visitors, though the exact figure varies by source and date, so no single percentage is pinned down here.
25 Jandari-ro, Mapo District, Seoul, South Korea
- 4
RETTRE Hongdae (perfume workshop)
- Where:
- Near Hongik University Station (Line 2), on Sinchon-ro 4-gil
- How long:
- About 1 hour 10 minutes
- Cost:
- My Own Perfume class: 50ml 33,000 won / 100ml 43,000 won (Niche and Vegan classes cost more)
A one-day class where you blend a perfume from scents that match your own taste. A distinctive touch is the 'Love Letter' program: write a letter alongside your finished perfume, and it comes back to you a year later. It runs by reservation, so plan to arrive about 10 minutes early.
2F, 22-8 Sinchon-ro 4-gil, Mapo District, Seoul, South Korea
- 5
Hongik Culture Park (Drawing Village)
- Where:
- Near Hongik University Station (Line 2), in front of Hongik University's main gate
- Cost:
- Free to walk through and view exhibits (one-day classes cost extra)
A once-empty lot rebuilt into an art-experience space. Its 'Drawing Village Creative Center' houses several shared studios where resident artists run participatory exhibits and regular one-day classes. On Sundays, the 'Hongdae Hope Market' sets up here. It's a way to soak up Hongdae's art-district feel without spending anything.
19-3 Wausan-ro 21-gil, Mapo District, Seoul, South Korea
Easy to miss
- 943 King's Cross can have a long line. Showing up without checking reservations first often means a long wait.
- Some visitors show up at Acorn Caricature during the 16:00-17:00 break and have to come back later.
- CU's Ramyun Library is not just a regular convenience store aisle: the cook-and-eat corner is separate, and you can't use the cooking station without buying the dedicated cup.
- Hongik Children's Park used to host a Saturday 'Free Market' too, but that has since been discontinued: only the Sunday 'Hope Market' still runs. Showing up on a Saturday expecting both markets is a common letdown.
You can skip this if
- Looking for palaces or traditional markets instead? §Seoul's top sights and §Eating at Seoul's traditional markets are a better fit.
Where this comes from
Rules, fees and deadlines change and depend on your exact case. Please confirm the details with the official sources before you act.