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8.12.2014

For the Kdrama Addict | Places to Visit in Korea.

Now that more and more Korean dramas (Kdramas) have achieved international success, Korean film tours are gaining popularity as well. Through these film tours, fans get to see the filming locations of their favorite TV shows, and allow them to relive the scenes in their favorite Kdramas.

If you're visiting Korea and planning to go on a film tour, here are some places that you might want to add to your itinerary.

1. The First Shop of Coffee Prince. (Hongdae, Mapo-gu, Seoul.)
Aired in 2007, The First Shop of Coffee Prince is perhaps one of the most popular Kdramas as far as gender bender plots are concerned. The set of The First Shop of Coffee Prince was an actual cafe in Hongdae that had been remodeled as a set for the drama. Both the exterior and interior of the cafe have been completely overhauled to recreate the scenes in the drama, and was reopened as soon as the drama ended.
The First Shop of Coffee Prince.
2. Bukchon Hanok Village. (Gahoe-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul.)
The Bukchon Hanok Village in Seoul is the city's last neighborhood with a high concentration of traditional homes, called hanok. I read an article that traditional houses often need a lot of upkeep. Hanoks are no exception being dedicated to preserving traditional Korean architecture. Made of clay, wood, and stone, hanoks are typically single-story structures that have heated floors and curved tile roofs. Popular dramas that have been filmed in Bukchon include Winter Sonata (2002), My Name is Kim Sam Soon (2005), Personal Taste (2010), and Heartstrings (2011).
Bukchon Hanok Village.
3. Petit France. (Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do.)
I first saw this place in the variety show 'Running Man', but it was actually the hit drama 'My Love from the Star' that made this French cultural village even more popular. Located in the province of Gyeonggi-do - about one hour away from Seoul - the village consists of 16 French-style buildings where visitors can lodge, enjoy French food, and experience French culture. Also featured in the village is a memorial hall dedicated to Antoine Saint-Exupery, author of the world-famous French novel Le Petit Prince.
Petit France.
4. Hwajinpo Beach. (Goseong-gun, Gangwon-do.)
The most northern beach in South Korea, Hwajinpo Beach was the site of the last scene in Autumn in My Heart (2000), where the two lovers portrayed by Song Hye Kyo and Song Seung Heon spent their last moments together. This heartbreaking and unforgettable scene invites a trail of visitors with its clean, shallow water, and a majestic view of the mountains and the East Sea.
Hwajinpo Beach.
5. Korean Folk Village. (Yong-in, Gyeonggi-do.)
The mecca of historical drama (think Dae Jang Geum, Jumong, Sungkyunkwan Scandal)  and the epicenter of Korean wave, the Korean Folk Village has over 260 traditional houses reminiscent of the late Joseon dynasty. Visitors get to experience the customs and lifestyle of Korea's past generations, and gain a broad understanding of Korean food, clothing, and home life from the past.
Korean Folk Village.
The list goes on, actually. But for now I'm narrowing them to five. Korea reels with film locations, and you may even chance upon them without even knowing it! When in Korea, keep your eyes peeled for banners and tarpaulins with photos of your favorite stars. Who knows, the restaurant you might be dining in right now was actually a film location. :)


16 replies:

Animetric said...

I'm not a fan of K-Drama but those places look like they're worth visiting! I should look them up next time we're in Korea :D

Lunaiah said...

Petit France pala ang name ng place where the kilig moment kissing scene of MLFTS happened! <3

Hezzi-D said...

I've never been to Korea but it looks beautiful. If we ever go I'll keep these places in mind!

Sumi Go said...

I thought I haven't watched a lot of K-Dramas yet, but it was surprising that I was familiar with all these places! Haha! My K-Drama knowledge is not as low pala as I thought! XD Anyway, will definitely visit these sites, especially the Korean Folk Village, when I go to South Korea in the *hopefully* near future.

FamilyTravelsonaBudget said...

Movie venues are popular tourist destinations around the world. Shawshank Redemption, which wasn't popular when filmed but is a huge success now, has turned a sleepy, blue-collar, Ohio town into a popular destination! Great way to capitalize on the industry long after the media dollars have left. :)

Unknown said...

Those are amazing pictures.. makes me want to take a trip!

Unknown said...

Did you just say that Bukchon Hanok Village in Seoul is the city's last neighborhood with a traditional homes? Aw man...that's sad, but I'm glad they're preserving it for history

Christy G said...

I haven't traveled abroad to Korea before and hope to one day. All of the photos you share on your blog, paint a beautiful picture. These all look like great places to film movies at. My favorite is Petit France and Koren Folk Village.

April-Perez.com said...

I haven't been to Korea but these places are definitely part of my must-see list! In a show I previously watched in one travel show, they featured the same list and so I'm pretty excited to see why everyone's raving about these places.

Rebecca Swenor said...

These places are so beautiful and show a lot of culture. I would love to visit Korea one day. Thanks for showing the beauty.

Maria Rona Beltran said...

i used to not like korea but when i super close friend visited this place months ago and came crying like crazy because she wants to come back... everything changed. we are actually in the process of booking our flights together early next year :)

Savannah said...

I will most likely never get the chance to visit, but if I do I def. want to see the village and the petit France

Unknown said...

You know, one of the things in my bucket list is to visit an old Korean village. I love the stone structurs and wanna experience the heated floors of a traditional Korean house. Hubby is luckier than me, he's been to Korea twice for a business trip.

AVA TE-ZABAT♥ said...

I just mentioned in my latest entry that Japan would be in my bucket list of countries to go to before I turn 30 and you know what, Korea is too! I love their cute coffee shops!:) Hoping someday I can go! Thanks for these must see places!

czarinabear said...

Waaaah!!! MLKSS, MLFAS, SK Scandal and Running Man!!! My fangirl heart can't take this!! I really like your blog. Please follow me back. I am also a KPOP/Beauty/Fashion blog. And I'm also Filipina! ^_^ I rarely find KPOP blogs so when I do I really get into them. Keke!

Follow me, I follow back: http://czarinabear.blogspot.com
Beauty // Fashion// KPOP // KDRAMAS

rachel lynn said...

Those places looks amazing, thank you for sharing this. You can really be interested just by reading this. And it looks so comfortable worth staying, well if you are looking for a place worth staying and comfortable look here for the cheapest house and lot for sale cebu city