What are your top 5 filming locations?

Mich, who regularly contributes here, put me up to this challenge.

At first I thought it’s cruel. How could I ever select 5 out of the 500+ locations I know? But it was actually easy.

It’s interesting. I thought I would select more places where my favorite characters have been but it seems that my top 5 are places that I like as a place. Either from having been there or from seeing them on-screen (even if they are all from my favorites K-Dramas nevertheless). Eventually, seeing K-Dramas locations on my screen is like flipping through a design magazine, a book on traditional East Asian architecture or a travel guide to me.

What does it mean to you?

If you want to join this challenge, leave us a comment or drop us a message (scroll until end of page). Top 5 filming locations that are submitted by dropping a message will be put up as a blog post each (if your filming locations are not on the page, it helps if you attach an image or note on the episode in which the place was filmed).

So here’s my list:

1. Yulgok-ro-3-gil, a street in Bukcheon

When in Bukchon, I took this street nearly daily on my way to explore Seoul. From a buzzling, little quarter street, it turns into a peaceful passage protected by beautiful stone walls that will lead you straight to Insadong. What will I discover today?
That Coffee Prince (커피프린스 1호점) (2007), Another Miss Oh (또! 오해영) (2016) and The Goblin (쓸쓸하고 찬란하神-도깨비) (2016) were filmed here, among others, doesn’t hurt, too.

2. Café Blüte

Photo taken by © Mich, 2017
 
Café Blüte triggered my search for K-Drama filming locations. It also taught me how much K-Drama production teams are interested in hiding any hint that could possibly help to locate a place. Until the end of Plus Nine Boys (아홉수 소년) (2014) the decoration out of tree leaves that covered the café’s name, didn’t move one single inch!
Mich’s photos made me definitely put this on my top list of places to visit during my next stay in Korea.

3. House of the Elder

Looking at this place equals flipping through a book on traditional Korean houses. Only that you see it in three dimensions. Well, kind of.
Also, with The City Hall (시티홀) (2009) and The Healer (힐러) (2014-15) two of my favorites K-Dramas were filmed here.

4. Wonhyo Bridge

I love Han River’s bridges. Crucial scenes always happen here and, most of all, they are beautiful edifices. So Wonhyo Bridge is a stand-in here for bridges in general even if I think that it is the most beautiful one with its V-form pillars and its colorful tiles (not to forget the swan paddle boats that are never out of sight). I think I noticed Wonhyo Bridge the first time in one of my all-time favorites 2 End 9 Out (9회말 2아웃) (2007).

5. Seo Do Woo’s House on Jeju Island

How can one not love this secluded house in lovely On The Way To The Airport (공항가는길) (2016)? An interior filled with traditional hand crafting combined with a splendid view.

Special mention

I’d wish I would have cafés like this close to my place: Café Anthracite (Love this place. They roast coffee that even a tea drinker like me likes.) and Café Alver.