A cafe and a nearby restaurant in Seoul that once housed BTS members as trainees have become pilgrimage sites as international fans arrive ahead of the group's Netflix-streamed comeback concert. Visitors from the Philippines, Colombia, Mexico and elsewhere described emotional bonds with the band, while the eateries' owner recalled BTS's early training and humility. The concert, streaming Saturday at 8 p.m. KST (7 a.m. ET), follows the release of BTS's fifth studio album ARIRANG and a four-year hiatus after the members completed mandatory military service.
Fans Flock To Seoul Cafe And Restaurant Tied To BTS Ahead Of Netflix-Streamed Comeback
Jang Young Kun, owner of Yoojung Sikdang, poses for a photo at his restaurant in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Juwon Park)
A modest cafe and a nearby restaurant in Seoul that once served as informal bases for BTS members during their trainee years have become international pilgrimage sites as fans converge ahead of the group's comeback concert.
Cafe Hyuga, which formerly doubled as a dormitory for trainees, drew a steady stream of visitors on Friday. Among them was Evelyn Florntino, a Hawaii resident who had been visiting family in the Philippines and was unable to secure U.S. tour tickets. She traveled to Seoul to see the site and to attend the free comeback concert a day after the release of BTS's fifth studio album, ARIRANG.
“Unfortunately I was not lucky to get a ticket. So now I’m here in Korea to at least watch the free concert they’re doing tomorrow night,” Florntino told reporters, calling the narrow, modest building in Gangnam “humbling.”
Alejandra Valencia traveled from Colombia, saying BTS helped her through a period of depression: “They saved me. And the time flies, and now I am an ARMY,” she said, using the fandom’s name.
Just a short walk away, Yoojung Sikdang welcomed visitors. Owner Jang Young Kun, 78, greeted fans in a purple BTS hoodie gifted by an Australian supporter. His restaurant sits in the same building that once housed the band’s dance practice room.
“BTS was with us here in this building for about three to four years,” Jang said. “The basement was their practice room — they trained down there and really shared their everyday lives with us.” He recalled the members eating between rehearsals, practicing late into the night, washing up in the restaurant’s bathroom and even dyeing their hair there.
Jang also remembers RM and Suga coming upstairs one morning with some news. “Namjoon (RM) told me the group had settled on a name — Bangtan Sonyeondan,” Jang said. “I told them, ‘You’re going to blow up with that name. It’s Korean, it’s unique.’”
Fans traveling from afar underscored the band's global reach. Two visitors from Monterrey, Mexico — Diana Meza and Claudia Leal — said they were drawn both by the music’s meaning and the members’ appeal. “Their songs aren’t shallow — they all have an important meaning,” Leal said.
The comeback concert streams live on Netflix on Saturday at 8 p.m. KST (7 a.m. ET) and follows a four-year hiatus for the group. The free public performance in Gwanghwamun Square is expected to draw tens of thousands of fans. The event coincides with the release of the album ARIRANG and comes after all seven members recently completed their mandatory military service.
Why It Matters
The small cafe and restaurant are tangible reminders of BTS’s early years and the intensive trainee system that shapes K-pop acts. For many fans, visiting these locations is a way to connect with the band’s humble beginnings and the personal stories that have fostered a global community.
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