In the heart of Seongsu-dong Village, Korea¡¯s hippest location today, is a gray building with an eye-catching facade that rolls like the waves. This is the 1Million main office, which draws members of Generation Z from around the world. Once inside the threshold, you¡¯re greeted by a flashy LED wall running all the way up to the fifth floor, displaying Korea¡¯s best-known dancers doing moves often seen on TV. Visitors¡¯ excitement is piqued by the thought of taking lessons from such dancing legends.

Going further inside the building, you soon reach a wide-open space. There are tables and chairs here for relaxing as people wait for their classes, along with 1Million merchandise stands, walls covered with mirrors and full-length mirrors emblazoned with the 1Million logo. The area is bustling with some people practicing in front of the mirrors with earbuds blasting, while others memorizing moves they just learned and groups of friends snapping selfies. Before joining the fun, be sure to deposit your stuff in one of the big (and free) storage lockers so you can dance to your heart¡¯s content.

If you¡¯re planning to take a dance lesson, consider dropping off a personal item to hold your place in line. Items such as water bottles and lip balm tubes are lined up in front of the classrooms, indicating the order of students¡¯ arrival, a practice that appears to be unique to 1Million. When students check in to class, they enter the classroom in order of their belongings. That¡¯s one way to ensure you get the right seat.

The second floor has a range of areas similar to the first floor. There are classrooms for lessons, comfortable seats available for dance students taking a break and wide mirrors where people can check on their dancing skills. One difference with the first floor is that there are vending machines selling water bottles here, as well as a media wall plastered with the 1Million logo. It¡¯s a perfect place for shooting short-form videos for social media.

Don¡¯t miss out on the rest area on the fourth floor. Head up to the rooftop garden to enjoy some peace and quiet as a gentle breeze wafts among the chairs and tables dotting a wide artificial lawn. This spot is particularly appealing given the contrast with the jostling pedestrians and wall-to-wall shops lining the busy streets below.

Now it¡¯s time to personally experience the dance studios in the videos that fire up the 26.3 million subscribers on 1Million¡¯s YouTube channel. To attend a 1Million class, you need to first install the 1Milion app, which is the fastest way to see the overall schedule, including each class¡¯s teacher, difficulty and topic. When selecting which class to take, be sure to check on the difficulty level. The levels run through Step by 1M, Learner, Master and Popup, ranked from easy to hard.

To pay for your class, you need to first purchase ¡°tickets,¡± or bundles with the price per class depending on how many classes are included in the ticket. A single class costs USD 28 and five classes cost USD 125. Classes can also be purchased in bundles of 10, 20, 30 and 40. NonKoreans have the option of paying for classes using Paypal, and on-site payment is also available.

Before class begins, wait in the spot you saved with your personal item. Flash a QR code to check your ticket purchase and then enter the studio when it¡¯s your turn. The space you encounter is big enough to accommodate 100 students, with lighting perfectly suited for dancing and temperature kept comfortable for the season. After looking around the studio, take a seat in your preferred spot.

After a brief greeting, the dance instructor will jump straight into the class, which runs for about 80 minutes. These classes may be on the short side, but you¡¯d be mistaken to assume they¡¯re superficial in their treatment of dance. You¡¯ll be using your whole body in class, so start out with some comprehensive full-body stretches under the guidance of your instructor.

Once you¡¯re done stretching, you learn each of the dance moves in time to a backdrop of booming music and your instructor¡¯s enthusiastic slogans. Each dance is divided into several sections so that students can memorize all the steps, with the instructor moving through each section methodically and then repeating it several times. The instructor shares tips that bring the smallest details of the dance to life, making this an invaluable opportunity for anyone who wants to experience Korean street dance.

The class concludes with students watching each other dance in what functions as the highlight of the class. From elementary-age kids to office workers, men and women come together to celebrate each other¡¯s dancing. That¡¯s the moment when you feel the energy you¡¯d only glimpsed in videos.

After class, students have a chance to ask the instructor more detailed questions, take photos, or mingle with dancers from a range of countries. The people packing the 1Million lobby may look exhausted after a vigorous dance session, but they¡¯ve also gotten a big boost of energy. It¡¯s the infectious kind of energy that even gives casual visitors an urge to mix it up on the dance floor.

1Million is currently offering a travel package called ¡°ViBE¡± on Creatrip and other travel platforms to foreign tourists who would like to try a dance class. Purchasers of this package can learn K-pop dances, take a photograph with the instructor, and even pick up some 1Million swag.

That¡¯s just one example of how 1Million is working with various companies to make it easier for more people to experience the joy of dance. So, if you¡¯re interested in Korean dance or planning to visit Korea, consider dropping by the 1Million homepage or checking for travel packages on your favorite travel agency¡¯s website.