BTS Tour - Exploring RM's Hometown Of Ilsan

Today we're going to take you guys on a tour around Ilsan, the birthplace of RM's.

Located in the province of Gyeonggi-do, Ilsan is easily accessible by Seoul Metro, so you can definitely plan a day around the city.

We're also going to include a healing spot Jimin visited in the blog, so keep reeading!

We took the geography of Ilsan into consideration as well, so following our itinerary in order is probably the most efficient way to get around Ilsan.

SQUIRREL TOWN MUKJIP
다람쥐마을 누룽지백숙

First, let's stop by RM's beloved restaurant that serves up delicious dotori-muk ·도토리묵 (acorn jelly) and baeksuk · 백숙 (chicken soup).

You can reach Pungsan Station in 30 minutes by taking the Gyeongui Jungang Line from Hongik University Station (Hongdae).

Address: 경기고양시 일산동구 애니골길43번길 48
48 Aenigol-gil 43beon-gil, Pung-dongIlsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do

Hours: 11:00-22：00
Last Order: 20：30

Public Transit: Pungsan Station exit 2

This restaurant is famous for its acorn dishes that apparently squirrels also love!

Squirrel Town Mukjip is a famous eatery that often shows up in bloggers' must-eat restaurants and popular search engine sites like Naver.

We read online that the restaurant is quite large with plenty of parking space, but it's somehow always still packed with patrons.

We visited before opening time and managed to comfortable get a table right away.

The menu consists of baeksuk and dishes made with acorn. Acorn may be a strange ingredient depending on where you're from, but it's used quite widely all around Korea!

Humble Meal (소박한 밥상) is 11,900 won per person and a minimum order of 2 portions is required. Healthy Meal (건강한 밥상) is 14,900 won per person and a minimum order of 2 portions is also required.

Baeksuk is 46,000 won and serves around 2-3 people.

In addition to these, you can order side menus like bossam (poiled pork) and injeolmi (rice cake with bean powder) pizza on top of your main orders.

We settled on Healthy Meal for two! Each item is served one by one, kind of like a course meal.

Look at all the banchan! From acorn salad and acorn jeon (pancake) to acorn soup and bibimbap, you can a load of food. All this food for the price is definitely worth it.

The jjuggumi (octopus) was plump and delicious, too.

Dishes made with acorn don't come with distinct smells so even if it's your first time trying, it shouldn't taste super foreign or strange.

One more amazing thing about this place?

You can enjoy coffee and tea for free in the upstairs area after your meal!

If there are a lot of people waiting for tables, they will escort you upstairs first until a table opens up.

Another great thing about the upstairs area? You'll find RM's autograph on the wall!

This one wall tells us that many celebrities including RM have visited the restaurant and enjoyed their time here! 

We personally also think the food and atmosphere of the restaurant made the trip worthwhile.

RM'S ALMA MATER

Shinil Middle School
(신일중학교)

*Entry to school properties is not permitted in Korea. Photos are only permitted outside school properties.

Address: 경기 고양시 일산서구 고봉로 177
177 Gobong-ro, Ilsan 3(sam)-dong, Ilsanseo-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do

How To Get There: From the restaurant, it takes 30 minutes by foot as well as by bus. Taxis may be the fastest option, but looking out at the scenery from the bus is also something worth experiencing!

Take bus #81 at the stop in front of emart. After 7 stops, get off at Bamgashi-Maeul (밤가시마을 정류장). Turn around and cross diagonally at the next intersection and you'll find the middle school.

You'll also find a building named Shinil Sports Center. It seems to be a center connected to the school.

So we all know RM was quite the intelligent student and is regarded as one of the smartest idols.

In middle school, his TOEIC score was a whooping 850 and his grades were in the top 1%. This is the middle school where he trains his potentials!

We could also see his middle school photo on a TV show (photo below). So cute!

Source: 뇌섹시대-문제적 남자

We can all tell he surely was a smart kid just from the photo.

Oma Elementary School
(오마초등학교)

Address: 경기도 고양시 일산서구 주엽로 214
214 Juyeop-ro Ilsanseo-gu, Goyang-si Gyeonggi-do.

Directions: Make a right from Shinil Middle School and walk straight.
When you see Baskin Robbins 31 and KFC on the other side of the street, turn left.
Walk straight from there and you'll see it on your left after about 20 minutes.

As the name O (五 meaning five) and ma (馬 meaning horse) indicates, you'll see horses at the gate!

It is said that RM started gaining interest in hip hop when he was in 6th grade of elementary school.

We all know that he was inspired when he listened to Epik High's "Fly".

Source: Naver Blog

Ilsan Daejin High School
(일산대진고등학교)

Address: 경기도 고양시 일산서구 대산로 246
246 Daesan-ro, Daehwa-dong, Ilsanseo-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do

Directions: On the left of Oma Elementary School, you'll see an intersection. Turn right and walk straight until you see the next intersection.
From there, walk straight for about 20 minutes and you'll reach the high school.

We all heard that RM studied hard in high school but also held onto his dream of becoming a musician and an artist!

He was an underground rapper when he was attending this high school and he caught the attention of a rapper who connected him to a producer at BIG HIT. That's how he auditioned and joined BIG HIT!

After that, RM moved to Seoul and started attending Apgujeong High School.

BTS Schools Tour Around Seoul

ILSAN LAKE PARK
일산호수공원

Address: 경기 고양시 일산동구 호수로 731
731 Hosu-ro, Janghang-dong,Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do

Hours: 8:00-20:00

How To Get There: Take a taxi from the high school and it should get you there in 8 minutes.

Ilsan Lake Park, quite large in size, is considered a landmark in the city. Just how large? It take about an hour and a half to two hours to go around the park once!

Locals enjoy the walking course by the lake for exercise and it is also the place Jimin visited aside from RM who lived nearby.

We tried to follow BTS' footsteps with the photos we found of them.

Source: BTSTwitter

You'll find lyrics dedicated to the place in RM's part of "Ma City":

'한강보다 호수공원이 더 좋아 난
I like Lake Park more than Hangang

작아도 훨씬 포근히 안아준다고 널
It may be small but its embrace is cozy

내가 나를 잃는 것 같을 때
When I feel like I'm losing myself

그 곳에서 빛바래 오래된 날 찾네'
I find my old, faded self there

We can tell from the lyrics that the place is very special to RM.

We found the bench where Nam-joon found the squirrel!

The season in which he photographed was more lush and shiny.

We also found the place where Jimin visited with Ha Sung-woon!

Source: 하성운인스타그램

It wasn't the easiest to find because the photo was inverted but we managed!

You'll find a summary map of the lake park below so be sure to refer back to it when you visit.

Source: 하성운인스타그램

Source: 하성운인스타그램

The colourful building is an exhibition hall with a book cafe. It's a good place to take a break inside after a long walk along the park.

Source: 하성운인스타그램

This photo was taken in front of the Aesugyo, a bridge where cars pass.

Jimin surely knows cool spots! Remember to take your photo here.

Ilsan Lake Park Map Summary:

That was it for our tour of the park following RM and Jimin!

While doing the tour, I got to enjoy a stunning scenery that RM must have enjoyed growing up.

Why don't you guys take a short trip away from Seoul and explore RM's hometown?

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