K-pop photo cards
K-culture & fandom

Where to buy albums and photo cards in Seoul, and where to make your own. 5 stores checked against their operators' own pages, 3 photo-booth chains, two suggested one-day routes.

Where to buy — filter + sort + search

5 results

KTOWN4U COEX

케이타운포유 코엑스 · Gangnam-gu (COEX)
Merch store
Address
coex Artium 2F–4F, 513 Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Samseong Station (Line 2)
Hours
2F & 4F 11:00–20:00 · 3F 12:00–22:00
Stocks:
  • • Albums and merchandise across labels

Three floors inside COEX Artium — one of the two stores KTOWN4U lists in Seoul.

Tip: Floors keep different hours — the 3F stays open latest.

KTOWN4U Insa-dong

케이타운포유 인사동 · Jongno-gu (Insa-dong)
Merch store
Address
3F, 49 Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Anguk Station (Line 3) · Exit 6
Hours
12:00–20:00
Stocks:
  • • Albums and merchandise across labels

The other KTOWN4U store in Seoul, on Insadong-gil — easy to pair with the palaces.

KWANGYA@SEOUL (SM flagship store)

광야@서울 · Seongdong-gu (Seongsu-dong)
Agency HQ
Address
B1, Acro Seoul Forest D Tower (SM Entertainment HQ), Seongsu-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul
Hours
Not published by SM — check SM's official channels before going
Stocks:
  • • SM artists' albums and official merchandise

SM Entertainment's flagship store, opened November 2022 in the basement of its Seongsu headquarters building.

Music Korea Myeongdong Branch 2

뮤직코리아 명동2호점 · Jung-gu (Myeongdong)
Merch store
Address
1F, 134 Toegye-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
Hours
Daily 10:00–22:00
Stocks:
  • • K-pop albums and music merchandise

Record shop; its site describes it as a Hanteo Family member (a chart-reporting shop).

Music Plant Hongdae

뮤직플랜트 홍대점 · Mapo-gu (Hongdae)
Merch store
Address
3F, 140 Eoulmadang-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Hours
11:00–22:00 · closed on public holidays
Stocks:
  • • CDs, LPs, KiT albums, photo books, official merch

Store of the Music Plant online shop, which also runs English, Chinese and Japanese sites.

Make your own — photo-booth chains

Four-cut self-photo booths are everywhere in Seoul, and many fans make their own cards in them. Prices vary by store and frame — the kiosk shows the price before you pay.

3 results

LIFE4CUTS

인생네컷

The chain whose name means "life four cuts" — a four-frame photo strip.

Format
Four-cut strip

Signature: Classic four-frame strip.

Price depends on the store and the frame you pick — the kiosk shows it before you pay.

PHOTOGRAY

포토그레이

Self-photo booth chain.

Format
Varies by frame

Signature: Four-cut and other frame options.

Price depends on the store and the frame — shown on the kiosk.

Photoism

포토이즘

Self-photo booth chain with many frame layouts.

Format
Varies by frame

Signature: Choice of frame designs, which change over time.

Price depends on the store and the frame — shown on the kiosk.

Two ready-made days

Insa-dong → Myeongdong → Hongdae

Jongno-gu / Jung-gu / Mapo-gu
  1. 12:00
    KTOWN4U Insa-dong (opens 12:00)
    Cab card →
  2. 14:00
    Music Korea Myeongdong Branch 2
    Cab card →
  3. 16:30
    Any four-cut photo booth nearby — make your own card
  4. 18:00
    Music Plant Hongdae (open until 22:00)
    Cab card →

COEX → Seongsu

Gangnam-gu / Seongdong-gu
  1. 11:00
    KTOWN4U COEX (2F and 4F open 11:00)
    Cab card →
  2. 13:00
    Lunch inside COEX Mall
  3. 15:00
    KWANGYA@SEOUL, SM's flagship store — check its hours first
    Cab card →
  4. 17:00
    Any four-cut photo booth in Seongsu

Trading etiquette (do this once and you’re fine)

  • Handle by the edgesFingerprints and scratches show on glossy cards — many fans handle them only in sleeves.
  • Sleeve + top-loaderA soft sleeve inside a rigid top-loader protects against bends.
  • No modsDon't laminate, cut or write on cards — condition matters when you trade.
  • Agree on the swap firstFans usually trade like-for-like (a benefit card for a benefit card). Agree before anyone mails anything.
  • Sealed vs. opened albumsA sealed album's inclusion card is unknown; an opened one is known. Say which you are selling.
  • Check before payingAsk for a photo of the actual card with your name and the date written beside it.
  • Long-distance tradesFans often arrange trades on X (Twitter) with proof photos before mailing.

See also