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A K-Drama Fan’s Ultimate South Korea Travel Bucket List

Who has not been inspired to travel to South Korea by a K-drama? Some of the most memorable scenes also have the most picturesque backdrop — be it a cafe, an autumn-tinted hilltop, or a snowy landscape.  Of course, there’s also unique Korean food that’s got us drooling! 

If you’re a real fan, you may already be dreaming of a K-drama-themed trip. Complete your South Korea travel bucket list with these K-drama-inspired activities!

 

 

Top Filming Locations: Where to Relive Your Fave K-Drama Moments

Get your cameras ready and relive your favorite K-drama moments in these filming locations in and out of Seoul!

 

Seoul

via Bukchon Hanok Village via Shutterstock / True Beauty via Viu

If there’s one site for your K-drama tour, Seoul would have to be it. The South Korean capital is home to many K-drama filming staples, starting from the most recognizable Namsan Tower that you can easily spot on the skyline.

Several K-dramas were filmed at Namsan Tower, including Boys Over Flowers, A Korean Odyssey, and True Beauty.

 

Bukchon Hanok Village and Gyeongbokgung Palace are beautiful places to learn about Korean culture and history. At the same time, they have provided quaint settings for many romance, fantasy, and historical shows like Hotel Del Luna, Goblin, and The Moon Embracing the Sun.

 

Meanwhile, Hongdae is a great place to really absorb the Hallyu culture. Eoulmadang Street represents Hongdae in many K-dramas — a pedestrian area where you can find talented buskers amid young crowds.

 

 

Outside Seoul

My Love from the Star, A Korean Odyssey via Viu

K-drama fans who love nature can venture out of Seoul and find more diverse natural landscapes that are especially beautiful during spring and autumn. Lesser-known quaint towns have also been wonderfully featured — showcasing the beautiful rural life in South Korea. 

Perhaps the most popular K-drama filming site outside soul is Nami Island, whose winter landscape was made famous by the classic Winter Sonata. The island is equally gorgeous in spring and autumn!

 

Pocheon Art Valley and Gungmangbong Recreational Forest in Pocheon, Gyeonggi-do, have provided a magical setting for fantasy dramas like My Love from the Star, A Korean Odyssey, and Kingdom

 

Further, Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha has effectively shone the spotlight on the romantic seaside town of Pohang, known as Gongjin in the drama. It’s a must-visit for its beautiful local life, close to the mountains and the sea. The town was also the shooting location for When the Camellia Blooms.

 

 

Where to Eat Based on K-Dramas

via MBC / tvN

Hongdae is the best place for the ultimate K-drama food trip and cafe-hopping all in one as many shops here have been featured in different shows. The area strongly emanates youthful energy, and the restaurants and cafes you’ll find here have lovely aesthetics. Here are just some of them:

Coffee Prince Cafe
Location: 327-17 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Featured in: Coffee Prince

Colline
Location: 45-1 Eoulmadang-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Featured in: Nevertheless, My Roommate Is a Gumiho, Vincenzo, etc.

Green Cloud Cafe
Location: Wausan-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Featured in: Do You Like Brahms?, I’m Not a Robot, Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo, etc.

via Hanok Tea House Insadong on Instagram / Viu

Here are other restaurants around Seoul that you’ll surely recognize:

Hanok Tea House
Location: 9 Insadong 12-gil, Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Featured in: Tale of the Nine Tailed

Ssangdaepo
Location: 95, Cheongpa-dong 2-ga, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Featured in: The Uncanny Counter, Sky Castle, Strong Woman Do Bong-soon, etc.

Jageun Maeul (Restaurant Small Town)
Location: 산1-342 Jeongneung 3(sam)-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul
Featured in: Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo

 

 

Where to Shop for K-Drama Merch & Fashion

via TK Kurikawa on Shutterstock

For shopping of any kind, there’s no better place than Myeongdong. It has a long stretch of shopping street as well as an underground mall where you can find stores selling K-drama and K-pop merch. It’s also the perfect place to complete a K-drama-inspired wardrobe, with its plethora of fashion and cosmetic shops!

Likewise, you’ll have fun hunting for K-drama merchandise and fashion items in the hip shopping haven of Hongdae.

On the other side of Han River, you’ll find another popular underground shopping center at Gangnam Station where you can find more K-drama-style fashion and beauty items.

 

Complement your K-drama tour with other cultural and unique experiences you can book on KKday!

 

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