‘It’s Okay Not To Be Okay’ Fans Can Check Out The K-Drama’s Most Memorable Places
This Filipina K-drama fan takes us to the filming locations of “It’s Okay Not To Be Okay”!
With our current favorite K-drama It’s Okay Not To Be Okay having aired its finale last weekend, we can’t help but feel hungover from this compelling series that was more than a just love story. Starring Kim Soo-hyun as Moon Gang-tae and Seo Ye-ji as Ko Mun-yeong, IONTBO endeared us to the troubled couple and their friends, and showed us that true love and friendship based on wholehearted acceptance will overcome any obstacle or challenge that life may bring.
Admit it, we’ve grown fond of the motley crew of characters that have made Gang-tae and Mun-yeong’s lives interesting and very colorful. The show has also shed light on the importance of mental well-being, and how a safe and caring environment can heal any emotional or psychological wound.
One of the most notable things about IONTBO is its setting; the story unfolded on two major locations, namely, OK Psychiatric Hospital where Gang-tae works as a caregiver and Sang-tae began his artistic career, and The Curse Castle, a grand mansion in the middle of the forest where Mun-yeong grew and lived while writing her books. These two places symbolized familial love and played pivotal roles in defining and redefining the meaning of family for the two leads. As its finale would reveal, love comes in many forms, and “home” transcends the confines of a physical structure like a house.
Imee Lee, a Filipina who’s lived in South Korea for two years and has been a fan of K-dramas since she was in high school, maintains a YouTube and Facebook page, Mee in Korea, about her life and experiences in Korea, sharing in particular her adventures in K-dramaland.
Some of her latest posts show her discoveries on three of IONTBO’s filming locations. She specifically headed to the OK Psychiatric Hospital, The Cursed Castle, and Gang-tae and Mun-yeong’s first date place, the Sogeumsan Suspension Bridge. When asked how she finds these filming locations, Imee reveals that her source is Korean site Naver. From there, she locates the filming locations of her favorite dramas using a map and plans her trips accordingly. She also doesn’t stop at just one visit; she schedules a subsequent trip to a location if she wants to take more photos or gather more information for her social media sites.
Excited to find out what Imee uncovered from her trip? Check out the gallery below for the details:
'It's Okay Not To Be Okay' Filming Locations
'It's Okay Not To Be Okay' Filming Locations
OK Psychiatric Hospital
If you’re an eagle-eyed IONTBO fan like us, you’d notice and agree that the psychiatric hospital featured in the series looks like an ideal place to recuperate from any illness.
OK Psychiatric Hospital
Set atop a cliff overlooking a beach, OK Psychiatric Hospital is a actually a café—specifically, Secret Blue Cafe in Ayajin (31-6, Ayajinbuk-gil, Toseong-myeon, Goseong-gun, Gangwon-do, South Korea).
OK Psychiatric Hospital
Secret Blue Café is near Ayajin beach, an almost 3-hour trip from Seoul. The structure was originally a resort, but the main building is now a 3-storey café that serves breads and cakes. The first floor is the counter area where guests and customers can order their food and drinks.
OK Psychiatric Hospital
The drama series filmed only the exterior of this café and some of its grounds, while the scenes inside the hospital were filmed on a set.
OK Psychiatric Hospital
As this location spot is a long way from Seoul, you may opt to stay longer and explore the beach and its surrounding areas. There are a lot of hotels, guesthouses and pension houses in the area that you may choose from.
OK Psychiatric Hospital
Ayajin is a popular destination for locals and tourists, as another popular summer destination, Sockho Beach, is also near the area. As Mee in Korea points out, “It's still worth it to visit this place even if it's far, especially if you are a fan of this drama just like me.”
The Cursed Castle - Ko Mun-yeong's House
Ko Mun-yeong grew up in The Cursed Castle in the middle of the forest. However, this filming location is hardly cursed. It is actually Sanida Café (109-128 Chilbong-ro Hojeo-myeon, Wonju-si Gangwon-do, South Korea) in Wonju City.
The Cursed Castle - Ko Mun-yeong's House
Wonju is a 1 hour and 30 min bus trip from Seoul. From the Wonju Intercity Bus Terminal, Imee recommends taking a taxi to the café, as its quite a walk to the café itself.
The Cursed Castle - Ko Mun-yeong's House
However, IONTBO did not film in the café itself. Instead, the exterior of The Cursed Castle was built inside Sanida Café’s property. Just like OK Psychiatric Hospital, scenes inside the mansion were filmed in a studio.
The Cursed Castle - Ko Mun-yeong's House
With its doors locked for safety and security reasons, visitors are not allowed to go inside the castle. You can, however, take as many photos outside the main door and its surrounding areas.
The Cursed Castle - Ko Mun-yeong's House
Once you’ve had your fill of selfies at The Cursed Castle, head over to Sanida Café to try their pastas, salads, and pizzas.
The Cursed Castle - Ko Mun-yeong's House
Make sure to check with the café if the filming spot is still there, as it may be taken down now that the drama has wrapped up.
Sogeumsan Suspension Bridge
If you got the feels in Episode 9 when Moon Gang-tae and Ko Mun-yeong finally had their first official date, then you’d be happy to know you can recreate your own kilig date at the Sogeumsan Suspension Bridge (12 Sogeumsan-gil, Jijeong-myeon, Wonju-si, Gangwon-do South Korea).
Sogeumsan Suspension Bridge
One of Wonju’s popular tourist destinations, the 200-meter long Sogeumsan Suspension Bridge is elevated at a height of 100 meters, and connects two peaks in the Sogeum mountain range.
Sogeumsan Suspension Bridge
To get to the bridge, you need to climb 578 steps up to the bridge’s starting point. It’s not a joke, says Imee, so bring some water and an extra shirt if you plan on going in the summer—and wear comfortable shoes.
Sogeumsan Suspension Bridge
IONTBO fans will get a dose of kilig to find themselves at Gang-tae and Mun-yeong’s date venue. The suspension bridge is great for photos, but the location is actually perfect for hiking and nature trail walks. Something nature-loving K-drama fans will appreciate.
Sogeumsan Suspension Bridge
Aside from the suspension bridge, there is also a nearby Wonju Railbike park and a small lake where one can dip their feet into after the long and tiring hike.
If you want to see more of these three major IONTBO filming locations, check out Imee’s IONTBO adventures at the following links:
OK Psychiatric Hospital – Secret Blue Cafe
The Cursed Castle - Ko Mun Yeong's House
Main photo courtesy of Netflix.
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