13 replies to this topic

[itsakyo]

Seoul, land of the Soshi

 

Hi~ I made a trip to Seoul in June to see Soshi in concert. I will put up an account of my concert experience (both nights) as well as other places I travelled to.

 

The directions to those SONE places of interest will also be stated as clearly as I can. I hope to share my unforgettable experience with you and perhaps, render some help to those who would also like to make a trip to Seoul and the various Soshi related places.

 

 

Index

 

2013.06.07 Pre-concert

2013.06.08 Soshi concert

2013.06.09 Soshi concert

2013.06.13 SM, Superbow, Cofioca

2013.06.18 Yuchiri (Invincible Youth)

2013.06.19 Jeonju (IBIS)

2013.06.23 Yuldong bungee jump (TY's WGM)

[itsakyo]

2013.06.07-08 Soshi concert with SM Travel

 

• I went to the first concert with the SM travel package. I will describe what the package entails. I had no idea what the package included and there wasn't much information about it so I hope that this will help others in future.

What the package included:

• 2 nights of accommodation (I lucked out and had to go for the reeeally expensive Gangnam accommodation T_T but the hotel (IBIS) was nice. YOLO.)
   
• The night before (7 June) SM Travel set up a booth in the hotel lobby. We were given a package (tag, vouchers, soshi concert poster, etc.)
  We then drew our seat numbers.I had bought a floor seat ticket (mosh pit equivalent) and they set up chairs in the mosh pit area unlike in SG where it's pretty much free for all X_X).
  
  
   
• We also got to pre-order merchandise (MD) but the downside was that we could only pre-order certain items (eg. lightstick, photocard set, towel...) so we still had to line up for other MD on the concert day. (Note: We were only allowed to pre-order 1 per item.)
   
• Pick-up provided from hotel and back for the concert day (8 June)
   
• Then, we were give a backstage tour of the concert venue. (Note: This was scheduled before the rehearsal so we didn't get to sneak any peek at the girls.)
  On the up side, we got to walk on the stage, take a group picture on it, head down the stairs to backstage and the changing/makeup room of Soshi. No pictures were allowed.
  There were LOADS of snacks (potato chips, cup noodles, you name it, they got it) and a refrigerator for chilling the bottles of Cola and get this, Red Bull. HAHAHA.
  The only awesome part of this was imagining what it would be like with Soshi in there. Otherwise, it's really just another backstage. Just another room.
   
• We were also given blank papers with the concert logo to write messages to Soshi. We dropped them into a box while we were in the changing/makeup room.
   
• They then led us to the area where Soshi would hold their press conference. Again, if it weren't for Soshi imaginations...=\
  
  
   
• We were then dropped at Lotte Duty Free (obviously a tourist thing) but the good thing was that it was at COEX (a mega mall) that had Everysing (SM MD shop). I picked up some Soshi IGAB badges and a postcard set from there. Yay ^^
   
• After lunch, they dropped us at the concert venue and I joined some group mates in the line to purchase the concert MD.
  ​
  Link to my instavid of some concert MD
  • http://instagram.com/p/bEB2bntMNS/
     
  • http://instagram.com/p/bENpCytMKm/
    
     

[itsakyo]

2013.06.08 Soshi concert

 

• I was seated in the mosh pit area (C1). Pretty good seats. They reserved the central left and right seats (C1 & C3) for SM Travel.
  
  
   
• Entry to the concert venue began 1.5 hours before the starting time of the concert. (Wow.)
   
• They disallowed cameras and there were tons of crew/security people around us on the floor so I didn't take any pictures during the show.
   
• The set list, awesome fan service moments and tons of fancams are all out there so I shall not talk about those.
  • The feeling you get when you're in the mosh pit area is really intense. Everyone stands whenever the girls are on stage. You almost never stop screaming. Your arms don't seem to tire so you can swing your little pink light sabre to the beat of every song.
     
  • Downside. If you're too far behind or too short, you probably can't see them properly when they're on the main stage. But when they come up to the extension or the middle part of that Y, you get a pretty good view.
     
  • I got a pretty good dose of Taeyeon, Jessica, Sunny, Yuri and Yoona up close because they stood on the Y extension in front of the C1 area for lengthier moments.
    It was there that Taeyeon bumped butts with Sunny during Himnae  Jessica stood there for quite a while as well.
    But pretty much every girl covered every part of the stage so you got to see all nine up close by the end of the night.
    And by close, I mean like...probably less than 10metres (at the closest point).
     
  • Most importantly, if you're tall and strong and can jump really high, you may have a chance to grab yourself a soshi-autographed ball thrown by the girls during OT9 Twinkle.
    
    Picture taken as I left the place.
    

[itsakyo]

2013.06.09 Soshi concert

 

• Day 2: It wasn't in the plan but I went back to the concert venue with some friends that I made the day before. Turned out that many people who went the first night were back for the second too. I guess the mentality was to make the plane ticket to Seoul worth every cent.
   
• I was seated in the elevated seats section this time and my seat turned out to be dead center seats! I was very pleased with my seat. After a night of standing and crazed fan-girling, I was all ready to sit back, relax and enjoy the show.
  
  
   
• Sitting further back and being dead center had it's perks. Yes, I didn't get the fan service I got the night before but in exchange, I got the full blast of the laser light effects and it was a good vantage point to observe the stage as a whole.
  
  Another perk. It's a good spot for fancams if you have epic zoom. Too far to see Soshi up close but the performance as a whole was pretty awesome. The laser and spot lights worked really well with the performance and it's mind-boggling to think about how much work went into designing those stage effects.
  
  Some fancams I took:
  
  Concert opening snippet 
  
  
  Snippet of Paparazzi's ending
  
  
  Awesome fanchants of The Boys snippet
  

[itsakyo]

2013.06.13 SM (new&old), Superbow, Cofioca

 

• After the second concert, I moved out of the frikkin' expensive IBIS and headed to more affordable accommodation across the Hangang. For those who plan to visit Seoul, I would recommend choosing accommodation near to places that are busy at night (eg. Hongdae). For one, it's safer. Not only that, it's also a lot more fun (if you're looking for late night activities like food/clubs/ktv). Then again, if you can afford it (willing to splurge) hotels in Gangnam are good too.
   
• Gangnam-gu is where all of the above are located. More specifically, Apgujeong-dong.
   
• The thing about getting around and finding places in Seoul is this: Them maps don't do road names. So landmarks are key.
  
   
• The following route is the one taken by me. It is not necessarily the shortest route.
  
  
                                                      Map 1                                                                                                                    Map 2
  • Subway Line 7 - Cheongdam Station Exit 9 (All subway stations have many exits, follow the signs.)
     
  • Exit and walk down the road. Not far from here is a cafe called De Chocolate Coffee Cafe. (Landmark 1)
    This cafe also happens to be a film site for the drama, That Winter, The Wind Blows which Taeyeon did the OST 'The One' for.
    I went to the cafe after finishing my visits and they were playing her song in it.
    
    
     
  • It's a straight road so walk down till you see LODING (Landmark 2) on your right. It's at a corner and a small road turns to the right.
     
  • Follow that small road ALL THE WAY. Along the way you will see PAB (Landmark 3) across the main road. Cross the junction and continue down the same small road. It is straight so you do not have to turn at all.
     
  • Finally, you will see Landmarks 4 and 5, Cube Ent and JYP Ent.
    Opposite Cube Cafe (a cafe in Cube Ent) is an underground eating place. I can't recall the name but it's directly opposite and down the stairs.
    You will find 2PM's signatures in there. I guess it may be frequented by Cube and JYP artistes?
    
    
     
  • If you follow that diagonal small road all the way to the end and turn left, you will see the new SM building. Just one left turn before that leads you to SuperBow, the pet shop that TaeNy visited and left signatures at. Also where Ginger was allegedly bought from. There are many celebrities' autographs in the shop as well. It is the only pet shop located in the midst of entertainment companies so...heh. And SM's car park is just behind it too.
    
    
    
    Check out the cute cute video I took of a little puppy in SuperBow. :3 I think it wanted to get out of there...I hope somebody bought it and is loving it right now.
    
    
     
  • TBC...

[itsakyo]

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[itsakyo]

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[itsakyo]

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[itsakyo]

I deliberately saved the posts so that I can put up the accounts of each place and event I experienced.

Taking some time to organize it properly XD

[Bushido KOTO]

You have a very cute pic, but I don't understand what you need. Did you have the problem of double-posting?

[klaumat]

oh!! thanks for the info, i was planning go to Seul, but u give me a better idea, can u tell me details od the SM travel package sound very interesting.

i really want to go for a concert.

thanks for shared ur experience

write me!!!

[RickachuSNSD]

Yep, those fancams are really getting me pumped up for their concert here in Taiwan in a couple of weeks. I am getting so excited. Ok... wow, that's a ton of stuff to put in. Getting things organized after going through the euphoria of an SNSD solocon is tough.

[-Yiix-]

Wow i actually didn't imagine that the company would bring you to the backstage for a tour. Even though the girls are not there, its actually an honour to get in!. Maybe i should consider purchasing the package next time? It sounds really interesting

And about the ticket part, it's like a lucky draw? Sounds cool XD

Edited by lastlong9irl, 08 July 2013 - 12:36 AM.

[Taengo932]

Wow, backstage. Very nice. You're a lucky SONE. You got the best seats. The first night you're up close, than the second night you get the middle upper view, totally awesome! I can see you had fun. Looking forward to reading more of your stories. ^^