Updated with pictures on March 26th 2008
(God that 10 day waiting period went slowly.) I'm new here so please excuse me if I make any mistakes. I'm currently living in Korea (about 2.5 hours from Seoul.) and it's become my habit to travel to see matches at COEX whenever possible. So I come bearing an faq for anyone who wants to visit matches in the future. I recommend coming if you get the chance - the MBC Game Hero Centre is tiny, but the atmosphere is usually good
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COEX Match FAQ: Where/how to go and view Korean progaming matches.
1) How do I get there? : Get on the Green line (costs about 1,200won from central stations in Seoul.) and get off at Samsung – head for exit number 6 (which is marked COEX in English.) When you come out you will be directly infront of COEX. Go through the main doors and walk straight – past the large food court (on your left.) until you are facing Bani & Lumi Bookstore. Turn left and keep walking round the slightly curved corridor. The MBC Game Hero Centre is on the left.
[Edit]
Here are the photos I promised (sorry they took so long!)
View after Exiting Samsung's COEX Exit:
![[image loading]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/akane01/gamers/coexfaq/DSC_0001.jpg)
Coex main Entrance:
![[image loading]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/akane01/gamers/coexfaq/DSC_0002.jpg)
Keep going straight here:
![[image loading]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/akane01/gamers/coexfaq/DSC_0003.jpg)
Lake Food Court should be to your left:
![[image loading]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/akane01/gamers/coexfaq/DSC_0004.jpg)
Turn left here:
![[image loading]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/akane01/gamers/coexfaq/DSC_0005.jpg)
Keep walking to the 'Link' Store:
![[image loading]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/akane01/gamers/coexfaq/DSC_0006.jpg)
And you're there:
![[image loading]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/akane01/gamers/coexfaq/DSC_0007.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/akane01/gamers/coexfaq/DSC_0009.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/akane01/gamers/coexfaq/DSC_0011.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/akane01/gamers/coexfaq/DSC_0013.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/akane01/gamers/coexfaq/DSC_0012.jpg)
2) When is the best time to go? : I usually arrive for 12noon which is around when the doors are opened. You can save your seats by piling bags etc onto them and then leave to find food etc.
3) Do I need to pay? : No. You don’t need passes or tickets of any kind. You can also leave whenever you feel like it. (Although crowds build up quickly so sometimes it’s hard to get out during matches.)
**I went to the S3 MSL final and tickets were also free - you just picked them up at a booth on site (DOM Arthall at Children's Grand Park.) and then queued up. **
4) Is it worth staying after matches? : Yes. Usually the winners will have their photos taken inside the main booth for Fomos/Fighter Forum and then go backstage to be interviewed. It varies between teams, but some (like MBC) even give fan-meetings about 30 minutes after they have finished. The losers will usually leave immediately so if you’re after autographs or want to give the players any gifts then you need to go outside and hang around the door just to the right of the entrance which leads directly backstage.
5) What can you get there? : At the moment they are selling the 2008 diaries inside the Hero Centre – also before each match there is a stand outside which hands out those white inflatable signs (one design for each team.) and also blank papers for making signs. (Sometimes there will also be leaflets and booklets containing the month’s new map lists.)
6) Any other tips for visiting pro-matches at COEX? :
Arrive early for matches between influential players. Lim Yohwan matches are always packed out with fanclub members. (Lim Yohwan vs Min Chanki hosted 61 ACE fans alone.)
Take plenty of bottles of water – the Hero Centre is a very enclosed (and small) room so it gets hot pretty quickly. Same goes for buying food – it’s 2.5 hours with only 5 minute breaks between matches so snacks are an essential.
Don’t be afraid to approach the players. They’re usually very kind when it comes to signing autographs or posing for pictures. Having a basic knowledge of Korean helps, but you can easily muddle your way through (even with players like Kim Taekyong who doesn’t know *any* English.)
I hope this helps anyone who takes a trip to COEX in the future. I’ll update it if anything significant changes and hopefully I can do a similar guide for Yongsan matches soon.
Feel free to PM me if you have any questions/suggestions or if you just fancy meeting up to watch a match