When international visitors think about K-drama filming locations, Seoul usually comes first.
But some of the most memorable Korean drama scenes were filmed far away from the capital.
By the sea.
Inside bamboo forests.
On volcanic islands.
In hillside neighborhoods.
And sometimes in places that are worth visiting even if you've never watched the drama.
So if you're ready to travel beyond Seoul, here are 7 K-drama filming locations in Busan, Gangneung and Jeju that can become part of a real Korea trip.
1. Hocheon Village, Busan
Fight for My Way
If you watched Fight for My Way, Hocheon Village may immediately feel familiar.
The village became closely associated with the drama, and the Hocheon Cultural Platform includes the recreated Namil Bar, where the characters shared food, drinks and conversations against the hillside night view. Visit Busan specifically recommends seeing the neighborhood at night because of its city views.
But there's something important to remember.
Parts of Hocheon are still a real residential neighborhood.
The original rooftop connected with the drama is on private residential property, so visitors should enjoy the public film set and views while respecting the people who actually live there.
Local Tip
Come before sunset.
Walk around while it's still light.
Then stay until the city lights come on.
The drama connection is fun.
But the hillside view of Busan is the real reason to stay.
2. Kangkangee Arts Village, Busan
My Name
The dark port-city atmosphere of My Name fit Busan perfectly.
Several locations around Yeongdo were used for the series, including the Busan Coast Guard, Busandaegyo Bridge and Kangkangee Arts Village. The Korea Tourism Organization explains that the village represented Inchang, an important setting in the drama.
Kangkangee has a real shipbuilding history.
Korea's first modern shipyard was established in this area in the late 19th century, and repair shipyards and industrial businesses still remain.
That's what makes this filming location interesting.
It doesn't look like a movie set.
It looks like Busan.
What to Do
Walk the village.
Look toward the port.
Find a small café.
Then continue exploring Yeongdo.
You don't need to spend half a day recreating scenes.
The neighborhood itself is the experience.
3. Ahopsan Forest, Busan
The King: Eternal Monarch
Want something completely different from Busan's beaches?
Go to Ahopsan Forest in Gijang.
The bamboo forest appeared repeatedly in The King: Eternal Monarch as the mysterious location connected with the portal between parallel worlds. Visit Busan identifies it as one of the drama's major Busan filming locations.
The forest has a history spanning roughly 400 years and is known for its tall bamboo scenery.
Why It's Worth Visiting
Even if you've never watched the drama, the forest gives you a completely different image of Busan.
Most tourists think:
Beach.
Seafood.
Skyscrapers.
But Busan also has quiet forests and rural areas.
Local Tip
Ahopsan is in Gijang, so don't try to squeeze it between several downtown attractions.
Give this part of Busan its own half-day.
4. Jumunjin Breakwater, Gangneung
Guardian: The Lonely and Great God
This is probably one of Korea's most recognizable drama filming locations outside Seoul.
At Jumunjin Breakwater, the two main characters of Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, often known internationally as Goblin, had their famous first meeting.
The scene made the once relatively unknown breakwater a popular fan destination, and visitors still recreate the moment today.
You may even see people with:
A red scarf.
Flowers.
A carefully planned pose.
Yes.
They're probably recreating the drama.
Don't Visit Only the Breakwater
The better way to experience Jumunjin is to turn it into a coastal trip.
VISITKOREA recommends a route connecting:
Yeongjin Beach
→ Jumunjin Breakwater
→ Jumunjin Pungmul Fish Market
→ Sodol Adeul Rock Park
over roughly 7.5 km.
That's much better than traveling hours just to take one photograph.
My Recommendation
See the filming spot.
Take the picture.
Then eat seafood.
Walk beside the East Sea.
Now you have a Gangneung trip — not just a drama photo.
5. Secret Forest, Jeju
Welcome to Samdal-ri
Jeju appears in so many Korean productions that you could build an entire trip around filming locations.
One beautiful example is Secret Forest, beneath Andol Volcanic Cone.
The location appeared in Welcome to Samdal-ri, including scenes connected with photography in the drama. VISITKOREA describes the forest as a popular photo spot filled with cypress trees, stone walls and small structures.
Why It Works for Travelers
This isn't one of those locations where the experience disappears once you forget the drama.
The forest itself is photogenic.
It's quiet.
And it feels completely different from Jeju's beaches.
Important
Official tourism information notes that the road to the forest can be difficult to navigate, so check current directions before visiting.
6. Geumneung Beach, Jeju
Our Blues
If you watched Our Blues, Jeju wasn't simply a background.
It was almost another character.
More than 80% of the drama's scenes were filmed on Jeju, using markets, ports, beaches and island landscapes.
One of those places is Geumneung Beach.
The beach was used for scenes involving Yeong-ok and Jeong-joon, and its clear, shallow water makes it a beautiful stop even without the drama connection.
Combine It With a Real Jeju Day
Don't drive across the island just for the filming spot.
If you're exploring western Jeju, combine it with nearby:
Beaches
Cafés
Coastal roads
Small villages
Then the drama becomes a reason to discover the area rather than the entire purpose of the day.
7. Gapado Island, Jeju
King the Land and Our Blues
Here's an interesting one.
Gapado Island appears in more than one popular drama-related travel itinerary.
In King the Land, it was used for a bicycle-date sequence.
It also appears in the official Our Blues filming-location route, where Yeong-ok and Jeong-joon spent time riding bicycles together.
Gapado is reached by boat from the Moseulpo area and is known for its island scenery and green barley season.
This Is More Than a Filming Location
Go because you want to experience a small Jeju island.
Ride a bike.
Walk.
Look at the sea.
Slow down.
If you recognize a drama scene along the way?
Even better.
Bonus: Parnas Hotel Jeju
King the Land
Fans of King the Land may also recognize Parnas Hotel Jeju.
The hotel's lobby was used as a filming location for the drama's central hotel setting and offers ocean views from the Jungmun area.
You don't necessarily need to stay there just because it appeared in a drama.
But if you're already visiting Jungmun, knowing what you're looking at makes the experience more interesting.
Which Region Is Best for a K-Drama Fan?
Choose Busan If You Want:
City + port + hillside neighborhoods + forests
Busan is especially good if you want filming locations that still feel connected to ordinary urban life.
Choose Gangneung If You Want:
Ocean + romance + an easy filming-location photo
Jumunjin is probably the simplest choice for a first-time K-drama location trip outside Seoul.
Choose Jeju If You Want:
Nature + road trip + multiple dramas
Jeju is the strongest option if you want filming locations to become part of a larger vacation.
There are simply many different landscapes to explore.
Don't Try to Visit All of Jeju's Filming Spots in One Day
This is especially important.
Official K-drama itineraries across Jeju can cover large distances: the VISITKOREA King the Land course spans about 68 km, while the Our Blues route covers more than 100 km.
So don't do this:
east coast → west coast → south coast → island ferry → hotel
all in one day.
You'll remember the car more than Jeju.
Plan by Area Instead
For Jeju, choose:
East
or
West
or
South
for the day.
Then add one or two drama locations that naturally fit the route.
That's much more enjoyable.
Should You Travel to Korea Only for Filming Locations?
You can.
But I wouldn't.
Use K-dramas as the beginning of the trip.
Maybe a drama introduces you to Jumunjin.
Then Jumunjin introduces you to Gangneung.
Maybe Our Blues introduces you to Gapado.
Then Gapado introduces you to a completely different side of Jeju.
That's the better experience.
One Rule I Recommend
For every filming location:
Take the drama photo.
Then spend at least another hour experiencing the place itself.
Eat something nearby.
Walk.
Visit the market.
Watch the ocean.
Explore the neighborhood.
Otherwise Korea can start feeling like a collection of screenshots.
A Local's Final Advice
K-dramas can show you where to start.
But they shouldn't tell you where to stop.
Go to Busan because you watched Fight for My Way.
Then discover Yeongdo.
Go to Gangneung because you watched Goblin.
Then eat at Jumunjin Market.
Go to Jeju because you watched Our Blues or Welcome to Samdal-ri.
Then forget about the drama for a few hours and just drive along the coast.
That's when a filming-location trip becomes a real Korea trip.
And that's usually the part you'll remember longest.
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