5 Breathtaking Places in Popular K-Dramas That Became Instant Tourist Spots

South Korea welcomes back tourists with more relaxed entry requirements. Now it's time to make that long-overdue itinerary, beginning with these destinations you've seen on screen

K-pop and Korean drama fanatics rejoiced upon hearing the news that starting June 1, 2022, South Korea resumes the issuance of short-term visas after being put on halt for two long years due to the Covid-19 health crisis. The short-term visa or C-3 enables foreign travellers to visit South Korea and stay for up to 90 days for purposes such as travel, visiting relatives, meetings, or market research. Moreover, South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on May 27, 2022, that visa-free entry to Jeju Island, which was suspended since suspended February 4, 2020, also resumes this June.

So now, the big question is, where to go and what are the places to explore in South Korea?

If you have been virtually travelling around South Korea through Netflix, iQiYi, Viu, Disney+, and other streaming platforms for the past two years, now is the chance to finally realise your K-travel bucket list. Check out our round-up below that highlights some of the breathtaking spots you’ve probably seen in Korean dramas, which have now become popular tourist destinations.

Jayu Park in "Business Proposal"

While we often see scenes backdropped by cherry blossom trees in full bloom in Korean dramas, its magic never fails to entice us to go and see them for ourselves. The latest sighting of the Sakura craze was in the hit rom-com Business Proposal’s finale where Kang Tae-moo (Ahn Hyo-seop) proposed to Shin Ha-ri (Kim Se-jeong) amidst puffs of pink petals in Incheon’s Jayu Park. The park, which is the first Western-style park in South Korea, is easily accessible through Seoul Subway Line 1 (get off at Incheon Station) and is also walking distance away from Songwol-dong Fairy Tale Village—something the kids and the kids at heart should check out.

Gamaksan Mountain and Suspension Bridge in "Forecasting Love and Weather"

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In episode 1 of Park Min-young's comeback series, Forecasting Love and Weather, a young and free-spirited Lee Shi-woo (Song Kang) trekked the picturesque Gamaksan Mountain when he visited the fictional Gangwon Regional Office of Meteorology. The scene drew attention for its magnificent vistas of the Gamaksan, Songaksan, and Bukhansan Mountains, as well as the 220-metre-long bridge (the longest suspension bridge in South Korea) pitched at 10 metres high. Bonus: No need to trek much to get to the suspended bridge so tourists of all ages are welcome.

Sabang Memorial Park at Mugeunbong Peak in "Hometown Cha Cha Cha"

Photo 1 of 4 Photo: Netflix

Photo 2 of 4 Photo: Netflix

Photo 3 of 4 Photo: Korea Tourism Office

Photo 4 of 4 Photo: Netflix

Remember the iconic boat on top of a hill where Yoon Hye-jin (Shin Min-a) and Hong Du-sik (Kim Seon-ho) had some of their most memorable scenes including their pre-nuptial shoot in the healing drama Hometown Cha Cha Cha? It was shot in a memorial park in Pohang, a city in the province of North Gyeongsang, South Korea. About two and a half drive away from Seoul, Pohang (the real-life location of Hometown Cha Cha Cha’s fictional seaside town of Gongjin) is known for its laidback vibe, well-maintained traditional houses, and picturesque shoreline. One can easily tour around this town on foot or by car and explore the other filming locations of the hit drama such as the Fishermen’s Welfare Center (Hye-jin's dental clinic), and the red lighthouse at Cheongjin 2-ri breakwater, and the Cheongha Market. As this is a residential area, tourists are advised to be mindful when entering private properties and taking photos of the neighbourhood.

Hanbyeokgul Tunnel in "Twenty Five Twenty One"

Photo 1 of 2 Photo: Netflix

Photo 2 of 2 Photo: Netflix

One of the most successful series of 2022 is Twenty Five Twenty One, which stars 58th Baeksang Arts Awards Best Actress Kim Tae-ri and actor Nam Joo-hyuk (of Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo and Start-up fame). In episode 2, the playful and mischievous lead couple Na Hee-do (Kim tae-ri) and Baek Yi-jin (Nam Joo-hyuk) ended up running to the historical Hanbyeokgul Tunnel, a structure built during the Japanese colonial era. The Hanbyeokgul Tunnel appeared again in later episodes during the couple’s breakup, although this time, it was displayed in its lack-lustre state surrounded by withering foliage. With this, netizens presumed that the tunnel symbolises the stages of Hee-do and Yi-jin's relationship: its first appearance as vivid as their happy moments together; and the later scenes that symbolise a painful ending. Today, this spot is one of the most visited and photographed tunnels in South Korea.

Onbit Natural Recreational Forest in "One Beloved Summer"

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One of the most magnificent landscapes in Nonsan—a city in South Chungcheong Province—is the privately owned estate known as the Onbit Natural Recreation Forest. This hidden gem features an isolated wooden house reflected in a lake as seen in episode 8 of the Netflix hit One Beloved Summer, which stars Parasite actor Choi Woo-shik as Choi Ung and Itaewon Class’ actress Kim Da-mi as Kook Yeon-soo. Nonsan is also home to the famous Sunshine Studio (a filming village specifically created for the blockbuster series Mr Sunshine), the Bongwonsa Temple (Extracurricular), and the 1709 Myeongjae House that was popularised by iQiYi’s Monthly Home Magazine.

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