One of the things that give K-dramas their magic is the beautiful locations in which they take place. If you’re a K-drama fan, you are familiar by now that the country is home to beautiful places that make South Korea an excellent travel destination.
If you’re planning to visit the country soon to live out your K-drama dreams, here are ten locations to add to your itinerary!
Yonsei University (Sinchon Campus)
Founded in 1885, Yonsei University is among the most prestigious universities in South Korea. It’s one of three institutions referred to as SKY universities, an acronym for the country’s best. It’s also the reason why it’s one of the favorite locations in K-drama productions. The school has a picturesque background due to its amazing architecture, especially its Sinchon Campus’ Underwood-Hall, which houses a museum that is dedicated to its university’s founder, Horace G. Underwood.
Avid K-drama fans would find this academic setting familiar as it is featured in dramas like Snowdrop, True Beauty, Abyss, When My Love Blooms, Age of Youth 2, Reply 1994, Extraordinary You, Hello My Twenties, Romance is a Bonus Book, Over the Rainbow, Nonstop, and Truth.
Jumunjin Beach Breakwater
This location’s somber appearance is one of the iconic settings in popular K-dramas. To refresh your memory, this is where Ji Eun Tak (Kim Go Eun) meets with Kim Shin (Gong Yoo) for that famous red scarf scene in Goblin. Throughout the drama, this is where she runs off when she wants to speak with her late mother.
If you wish to tick this off your bucket list, the breakwater is easily accessible from Jumunjin Port and is located in Gangneung-si. It’s not hard to miss as it attracted more tourists over the years wishing to take photos or reenact the scene from the drama. It was, however, less well-known until the Goblin became a phenomenal success in 2016. It was originally built to protect the coastline from the effects of longshore drift and erosion.
While you’re there, you can also check out another tourist attraction nearby, which is the BTS bus stand featured in their album, “You Never Walk Alone”. While the original is no longer there, a replica was created for fans to take pictures.
Sinchon Graffiti Tunnel
If you recall that funny scene in Goblin where Kim Shin (Gong Yoo) and the Grim Reaper (Lee Dong-Wook) strolled through a tunnel in style only to be screamed at by a random biker to take the sidewalk. Thinking that he wished them a “Happy New Year”, they smiled and waved back.
This famous graffiti tunnel is a railway underpass right next to Sinchon Station. To get there, go to Sinchon Station on the blue line, Exit 2. Make a left when you head out of the station and follow the road for 200-300 meters. The entry of the tunnel seen in The Goblin will be on your left-hand side.
The graffiti in the scene has been changed now. Nonetheless, it is an exciting location as it is also featured in other dramas such as Touch Your Heart, Imitation, Hello, Me!, and Hello, You! My First First Love, Mint Condition, Private Lives, Record of Youth Manhole, While You Were Sleeping, and Dream Knight among many others.
Bok Chicken
The famous Bok Chicken featured in Weightlifting Fairy is actually a real restaurant called Jageun Maeul, which means small town or village. It’s a popular hangout for students from surrounding universities for its good food and low prices. But more than that, the places also gained newfound fame for those who wish to relive Kim Bok Joo’s comedic scenes.
K-drama fans can easily visit this restaurant as it is just located in Seoul. This location is also quite memorable because it is where top actor Lee Jong-suk made a cameo appearance in episode 2 of the 2016 sports-themed drama.
Seoul Land
Seoul Land is an amazing place for families to explore and play, but it’s also one of the Instagrammable K-Drama filming locations in Seoul. It’s a sprawling park inside Seoul Grand Park that has over 40 rides and attractions. It includes the Seoul Zoo, a beautiful lake, and an elephant train to ride on.
K-Drama fans will recognize Seoul Land from When My Love Blooms where Park Si Yeon and Yoo Ji Tae come together in front of the carousel and she begs him not to abandon her again. It’s also featured in Strong Woman Do Bong Soon where Bong Soon and Min Hyuk had their date in Seoul Land in. Due to shorter queues, many people prefer this theme park to larger ones like Everland. Why won’t you add it to your itinerary and snap a romantic photo with your special someone here too?
Other dramas that featured the famous amusement park include, The Secret Life Of My Secretary, The Smile Has Left Your Eyes, She Was Pretty, The Golden Bride, and Goong.
N Seoul Tower
Namsan Tower, also known as N Seoul Tower, is a must-see tourist attraction in central Seoul. This scenic attraction offers romantic 360-degree views of Seoul, which is the best place to watch the setting sun over the city. It’s also one of the most accessible filming locations and it is also featured on most travel itineraries for Seoul. Fans would recognize Namsan Tower as it is where Jan Di and Jun Pyo were meant to have their romantic date in Boys Over Flowers.
You can also get a glimpse of Namsan Tower in dramas like, It’s Beautiful Now, Now, We Are Breaking Up, Imitation, True Beauty, The School Nurse Files, Hotel Del Luna, The Last Empress, The Smile Has Left Your Eyes, Hwayugi, The Legend of the Blue Sea, and Rooftop Prince.
Cheonggyecheon Stream
Cheonggyecheon Stream is a charming stream that runs for eleven kilometers right into the heart of Seoul. It is one of the most peaceful places in Seoul that is perfect for long romantic walks. It’s also located near Gwanghwamun Square, which is based on the traditional Korean Bojagi design used for textiles. The area boasts a unique architecture that showcases twenty-two bridges around it, and lanterns light up the evening, making it a sight to behold.
The beautiful colors in the area make Cheonggyecheon Stream a popular date spot. It is why it makes for a romantic K-Drama filming location when couples want to stroll by the river, just like what Yoo Ah In and Lim Soo Jung did for their first date in Chicago Typewriter.
This location is also featured in dramas such as You Raise Me Up, Oh My Ladylord, Vincenzo, True Beauty, Lovestruck in the City, Do You Like Brahms?, Flower of Evil (2020), VIP, and My Mister.
Deoksugung Palace (Stonewall Walkway)
Deoksugung Palace is one of the most well-known K-drama locations for its scenic backdrop. It is even an extremely popular choice for photo shoots and Korean TV shows. It’s the perfect spot if you fancy a picture-perfect stroll with your special someone with its tall trees and roads covered with dried leaves, especially during autumn. This is where the characters Seo Do-jae (Lee Min Ki) and Han Se-gye (Seo Hyun Jin) from The Beauty Inside went for a walk through this pathway on their first date.
Other equally famous tourist attractions nearby include the Seoul Museum of Art, Jeongdong Theatre, and The Salvation Army Museum of History. Catch this beautiful palace as it is featured in dramas like Lovestruck in the City, Run On, Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol, Do You Like Brahms, Find Me In Your Memory, The Beauty Inside, Goblin, and Misaeng.
Seoul Fortress Wall
This historic location is also a popular K-drama location in Seoul as it offers majestic views of the city. This fortress borders the city, which was previously known as Hanyang. This nineteen-kilometer-long wall was built along the ridge of four inner mountains of Seoul namely Baegaksan, Naksan, Namsan, and Inwangsan. It is where King Taejo, the founder of Joseon, designated Hanyang as the capital of the newly established dynasty in 1934. The other buildings that surround it are constructed at his behest. The popular structures include the Royal Palace, Jongmyo (Royal Ancestral Shrine), and Sajikdan (Altars for Earth and Grains).
Some parts of this historical place have been renovated, while others have been kept in their original state as reminders of the damages that the wall has faced over the years. It’s not only interesting for K-drama fans but history buffs, too. It is located at Yulgok-ro in the Jongno-gu district.
Fans of Itaewon Class will recognize the fortress walls as the last stop on Jo Yi Seo and Park Saero Yi’s mini-date. It’s the background for many other K-Drama filming locations in Seoul as well. You might also recognize the location on other dramas such as Run On, Do You Like Brahms?, Find Me In Your Memory, Love Alarm, and The Smile Has Left Your Eyes among many others.
Bukchon Hanok Village
Tucked in between royal palaces is the historic Bukchon Hanok Village district in central Seoul lies one of the most popular K-Drama filming locations. The traditional Korean buildings in this area are teeming with rich and colorful history, beautiful architecture and great photo opportunities. It’s the location of the famous dreamcatcher shop, which is an egg tart shop in real life, where Lee Min Ho finds Park Shin Hye in The Heirs. Fill up your IG feed as there are plenty of other famous sites walking around these charming houses.
Find this quaint and picturesque village in dramas such as, Ghost Doctor, My Roommate Is A Gumiho, You Are My Spring, Run On, True Beauty, Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol, Flower of Evil, Hotel del Luna, Touch Your Heart, and Goblin.
