You From Another Star exhibition draws the masses
by awcoconuts
Ah, Korean capitalism at its best: Have you ever wanted to step into your favorite drama? Well, now’s your chance! Built at a cost of just over $2.9 million US, a special You From Another Star experience center opened a week ago at Dongdaemun Design Plaza, and it has already drawn over 6,000 visitors. As the nation’s first ever exhibition devoted to a modern drama, the attraction has lured visitors from abroad; roughly 85% of the attendees thus far have been foreigners, and, in a testament to the popularity of You From Another Star in China, of those visitors, 80% were Chinese.
A source related to the project said, “The You From Another Star experience center is something new to see and is proving to be a destination for the ever expanding group of Chinese visitors. It will provide a boost to domestic tourism revenues.” The source also noted, “Currently, many visitors from abroad have sought out the exhibition. As the summer holiday begins we expect even more foreign tourists, as well as domestic attendees.”
The You From Another Star exhibition houses accurately replicated sets from the show, of which the most popular has been Do Min-joon’s library. Attendees can also view Do Min-joon’s living room and Chun Song-yi’s bedroom. In other areas, visitors can snap realistic pictures with the two leads against a green screen background, take photos using the frozen moment/time slice effect (used in the show and in movies like The Matrix), and open the door that Do Min-joon used to teleport through. Also on display is one of the meteorites that fell during the Jinju meteor shower that actually occurred in Korea on March 9th, which has been christened Do Min-joon meteorite (LOL — anything with a remote connection).
An SBS executive acknowledged that this first attempt at a drama-based experience could be improved upon, but the company will continue to try to upgrade the exhibits. Various events have been scheduled for the space in front of the Plaza for this weekend, and starting this week, visitors will be able to operate a camera used in production and try their hand at acting on a production set. In another sign that these types of pop-up experiences could be an ongoing trend, SBS is considering building a similar exhibition for Doctor Stranger upon the program’s conclusion, as the show is proving popular in China.
The You From Another Star special exhibition runs from June 10th to August 15th for 67 days, from 10am to 10pm. For more information (in Korean), click here.
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Tags: You From Another Star
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1 Min
June 17, 2014 at 3:14 PM
I'd like to go! it's a pretty great idea.
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2 Akira
June 17, 2014 at 3:19 PM
I don't know about touring it, but I would certainly like to own that library. And that stargazing garden/platform. If only I had an extra $2.9 mil laying around.
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Dafy
June 17, 2014 at 3:33 PM
haha exactly my though! :) It's like a museum, but less interesting. The tree seems to be fake haha. But the library would be awesome to have!! geeky, practical AND pretty ^^
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ally
June 18, 2014 at 6:58 PM
I am all about the library too. I don't even have proper bookshelves, so own that library would be a dream come true. If anyone wants to donate to a good cause, I think I would be able to built in under 500k. lol
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3 kanz
June 17, 2014 at 3:22 PM
I'd like to go too!! But yes, SBS really capitalize the drama's success. YFAS' set looks great, but I don't think Dr.Stranger set needs to be replicated.
In YFAS, many sets are wonderful, CSY's room, DMJ's room, library, telescope, etc.
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4 fishnchips
June 17, 2014 at 3:25 PM
Well, considering London has a Sherlock Holmes and Harry Potter Museum...
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Kiara
June 17, 2014 at 5:08 PM
Is it of the old Sherlock only or does it also have my current crush, Benedict Cumberbatch...
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Elvira
June 17, 2014 at 6:20 PM
I think it's the old one.
I'd like to visit BBC Sherlock museum too, if they built it.
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Rachel
June 17, 2014 at 7:24 PM
It's the old one - just a replica house based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's descriptions of Sherlock's house in the books.
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Kiara
June 17, 2014 at 7:44 PM
Thank you :).
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5 Lin
June 17, 2014 at 3:50 PM
Sooo excited. As I'm ending my last two weeks of teaching in Korea, I will definitely be doing a K-Drama Tour which includes,but not limited to: Han River, Coffee Prince Cafe in Hongdae, ( Namsan) Seoul Tower, Gangnam, Dongdaemun for the YFAS exhibit, and of course Incheon Airport (where all last minute Dramatic Running and Confessions are done, instead of ya know, a phone call). If anyone else has any locations requests for photos or just for fellow squeeing, let me know! I'd be happy to oblige!
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theflibbet
June 17, 2014 at 5:09 PM
the coffee prince cafe was just renovated last spring and it's lovely now!! definitely recommend it for a lazy afternoon. it's obviously overpriced but so worth it for any fans.
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Lin
June 17, 2014 at 5:56 PM
Oh really? I went last October and it looked exactly like the drama. Even the baristas were dressed the same way, If only one of them looked like Gong Yoo...
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Samantha_xyooj
June 18, 2014 at 8:27 AM
@ Lin
I'm so jealous of you right now. I've always wanted to do that... Travel and take pictures of where all my favorite kdrama hot spot. Defiantly i would also add the tall stair way (My lovely Samsoon), coffee prince shop, the cafe where the foam kiss (Secret Garden), the path and snowman from (Winter Sonata) and visit jeju Island... and so many more. Please take plenty of picture. I will have to wait for my turn in the next 2+ years..lol
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6 Hugepuffball
June 17, 2014 at 4:20 PM
Really? An exhibit?! Awesome, let's go- oh wait. Checks google maps. Falls to ground and sobs. Dagnab being an international fan.... That's not in china....
I actually give major props to whoever came up with this. I mean, seriously milking the drama for all that it's worth, but clever. I mean, it's making money! Anthony would be proud. Er, wait, he probably would've thought of it first.
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Petmink
June 17, 2014 at 10:38 PM
Didn't he actually think of it first. I remember there was some trick land selling in one of the episodes which was going to contain a theme park based on the drama or something. Does anyone want to clarify?
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7 Muenchabench
June 17, 2014 at 4:54 PM
Considering opening a doctor Stranger exhibit?
BAHAHAHAHA. So many things wrong with that sentence.
First off, I know hospitals look much prettier than those in America, but how many people would pay money to tour around a facility that people tend to avoid visiting. And don't even get me started on attempting to build off this so called success of doc strange.
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8 Sissi O'Reilly
June 17, 2014 at 5:10 PM
This isn't very different from the attraction to Universal Studios... They need a ride. Maybe a spaceship.
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jyyjc
June 17, 2014 at 9:07 PM
Good idea, and maybe add another one of songyi's red car about to go off a cliff, virtually simulated of course.
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Mar
June 18, 2014 at 9:39 AM
That's what I was thinking too. Why not just do a drama theme park Maybe doing stuff like this is testing out ideas.
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9 Kiara
June 17, 2014 at 5:13 PM
I loved the drama but not enough to want to visit the museum. I'd love to go to Jeju Island and visit other historical sites.
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10 ilikemangos
June 17, 2014 at 6:06 PM
You can also lay on the beds. Also, we discovered that they included two graduation certificates from KSH's past characters in dramas Giant and Will it Snow for Christmas as part of DMJ's past lives on display at his library.
If you go to Jangsa island (the secluded island only accessed by ferry -- the one where CSY confesses her love for him after she gets drugged), there's a post at some sites about the drama and DMJ/CSY.
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awcoconuts
June 19, 2014 at 3:21 PM
Thanks for sharing your firsthand experience, fruit buddy. ;)
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11 blahbahbah
June 17, 2014 at 6:19 PM
I liked the drama, but this is going a bit overboard... crazy.
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Eren
June 18, 2014 at 7:17 AM
Agreed, I wonder why this hasn't happened when Secret Garden or Brilliant Legacy were around. Those were my all time favorite.
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Guerrero
June 18, 2014 at 7:22 PM
My favorites instead were A Gentleman's Dignity and Ugly Alert
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12 emily
June 17, 2014 at 8:04 PM
I'd go just to see that library. I think this is a fun idea. I mean I dont think the drama was so great to deserve this hype, but clearly china loves it so why not cash in on it. Pretty clever to think of this really.
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13 Aigoooo
June 17, 2014 at 8:48 PM
I think it's cool. I hope it gets added on to some kdrama packaged tours out there (Winter Sonata, Coffee Prince, Full House, etc.). I'd definitely get that tour if I ever decide to go to S. Korea. It would be nice to see all those sets and sceneries then top it off with watching them film Running Man or watching a kdrama live shoot.
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14 shisuisen
June 17, 2014 at 9:08 PM
I'm only interested in the library, other than that, nah~
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15 iamdeb
June 17, 2014 at 9:13 PM
This is silly to me but then again I wasn't gung ho over the drama. From a financial standpoint, it makes complete sense. Strike the iron while it's hot!
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16 Chhavi
June 17, 2014 at 9:25 PM
I wanna go,I wanna go....
But I am damn sure nobody's gonna take me to Korea just to see that...*pouts*
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17 redfox
June 17, 2014 at 10:13 PM
are there real books in the library?
all I say, I feel for whoever has to work with these masses, after my Titanic experience I know what it takes to get people OUT on time.
and in YFAS case it makes sense but Doctor Stranger? Really? What is there to LOOK at? Torture camps in North Korea?
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18 Angélina Eang
June 17, 2014 at 10:29 PM
It's amazing how much YFAS is successful. Everyone knew it was going to be a hit but it exceeded expectations.
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19 Aya
June 18, 2014 at 12:26 AM
Omo! I missed CSY-DMJ so much.. Might consider making a visit there once I have time to travel :)
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20 PL
June 18, 2014 at 2:36 AM
The library!!!
Just when I added DMJ to the nascent list of geeky k-drama heroes at 3.3.3 here:
http://www.dramabeans.com/2014/06/odds-and-ends-imaginary-money/
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21 lee hye ae
June 18, 2014 at 7:09 AM
I would love to go there! For me, it is the perfect place for someone like me who still has not moved on after watching the drama. It would be a pleasure to visit Do Min Joon's library! And I would also like to lie down on the couch where he reads books and stares out at the night sky. ^^
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22 p3rk3le
June 18, 2014 at 11:24 AM
can i just comment on the fifth foot in that first photo? cos I saw it and couldnt stop laughing xD
anyways, in all honesty i'd be interested to see that set. Just not interested enough to pay entrance fee....
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Lemons
June 18, 2014 at 11:26 AM
I saw it too. The disembodied foot...
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23 Lemons
June 18, 2014 at 11:25 AM
I would probably go just for the library.
Quick note: in the first picture, there is an extra foot in the door, right?
Am I imagining that?
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24 Lulu
June 18, 2014 at 12:39 PM
I went last week !! So much more fun than expected and you can get a 20% off coupon on the website !!!
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25 soomp
June 18, 2014 at 9:27 PM
I had no idea what to expect, but the exhibit, and the new building that houses it, was totally worth the visit. I went last weekend with my friend/Soompi staffer melkimx, who captured our experience here (am I allowed to post out links? ^^;;) http://www.soompi.com/2014/06/14/man-from-the-stars-revisited-inside-koreas-best-drama-exhibition/
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awcoconuts
June 19, 2014 at 3:22 PM
That's a great link - love the additional pictures. Thanks for sharing!
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26 Selina
June 18, 2014 at 10:20 PM
one of my friends who's in Korea for the summer went, she love it. i just want to be in the presence of that awesome library once if i can.
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27 Sho
June 19, 2014 at 7:49 AM
I know it's not from SBS but didn't MBC have an exhibition made strictly with materials and information for Dae Jang Geum a decade or so ago?
Seems like it used to run for a few years until I think the interest died down. These things seem like it can work out for the first few years but later if there isn't anything (sequel or such) it'll close down eventually.
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Kiara
June 19, 2014 at 8:43 AM
I think it was the Dae Jang Geum theme park but its already close.
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28 Zee Eee
June 26, 2014 at 4:44 AM
Do they explain why Song Yi's and Min Joon's balconies seem to be on the wrong side based on their apartment locations? Because I'm rewatching and it's driving me crazy! Had anyone else noticed that??
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