TL;DR: As of this update (September 2026), the standout running pop-up is Olive Young x Sanrio’s “City Log” collab at Olive Young N Seongsu, open through September 30 — walk-in only, no reservation app needed. The Kentroyal x KPop Demon Hunters collab, the PEACEMINUSONE x Toy Story pop-up, and the Days Days x Volcom pop-up have all since closed. Because these rotate fast, treat the specific names below as a snapshot rather than a permanent list — check closer to your travel date for what’s actually open.
Seoul’s pop-up culture — especially in Seongsu-dong — moves faster than almost any other part of the city’s retail scene. Brands treat a Seongsu pop-up as a real marketing moment, not a side project, and the lineup genuinely changes month to month. This is meant to be a living snapshot rather than a fixed list.
Currently running (as of September 2026)
Olive Young x Sanrio “City Log” — Olive Young N Seongsu, through September 30. Olive Young’s biggest Sanrio collab yet (321 products across 81 brands), split into a retail zone and a separate experience zone with arcade games and a gacha machine. Free to enter, walk-in only. Read our full writeup: Olive Young x Sanrio City Log guide.
Recently closed
Kentroyal x KPop Demon Hunters — 29CM HOME Seongsu, closed September 3. Read our full writeup in the Seongsu-dong guide.
PEACEMINUSONE x Toy Story “The First Fan” — Seongsu, closed August 31. Read our recap.
Harry Potter’s Mahodokoro — Dopamine Station Yongsan, closed August 24. Read our recap.
Days Days x Volcom — Volcom Seongsu store, closed August 31.
These closures are a good reminder of how quickly the Seongsu pop-up scene turns over — often within a single month.
Why this list goes stale fast — and what to do about it
Seoul saw over 3,000 new pop-ups open across a recent year, and a large share land specifically in Seongsu. Most run anywhere from a week to a couple of months, which means a list like this one is really only reliable for a few weeks after it’s written.
To check what’s actually open when you’re planning your trip:
– Search “Seongsu pop-up” plus the current month on social media (Instagram and TikTok tend to surface the newest openings fastest)
– Check Seongsu-focused pop-up tracking sites, which some local guides maintain and update regularly
– If you have a specific brand or IP you’re hoping to catch, search that brand name plus “Seoul pop-up” directly rather than relying on a general list
How to actually plan a pop-up visit
- Most Seongsu pop-ups cluster within walking distance of each other, so a single afternoon can realistically cover 3–4 if you’re efficient about routing.
- High-demand pop-ups (especially IP collaborations tied to major fandoms) sometimes require an app download and QR code for entry — check the specific pop-up’s requirements before you go rather than assuming walk-in access.
- Weekday visits are noticeably calmer than weekends for the most popular pop-ups.
FAQ
Q: How do I know if a pop-up I read about online is still running?
A: Check the brand’s official Instagram — pop-up end dates are almost always confirmed there, and brands typically post a closing reminder in the final days.
Q: Are Seoul pop-ups free to enter?
A: Most are free entry, though purchases inside vary — some are purely retail, others include paid experiences like tastings or workshops.
Q: Is Seongsu the only neighborhood with pop-ups?
A: It’s the densest concentration, but Myeongdong and Gangnam also host pop-ups regularly, especially for beauty and larger fashion brands.
Q: Do I need to book pop-ups in advance?
A: Most don’t require advance booking, but high-demand ones occasionally do — check the specific pop-up’s Instagram or website close to your visit.
Q: What happens to this list after these pop-ups close?
A: This page gets updated periodically to reflect what’s currently running — if you’re reading this well after August 2026, treat the neighborhood recommendation (Seongsu) as the lasting takeaway even if the specific brand names have changed.
Bottom Line
The specific pop-ups will change by the time you read this — that’s the nature of the scene. What doesn’t change is that Seongsu-dong is where to look, and checking social media close to your travel date beats relying on any single list, including this one.
Last updated: September 2026.