IN PHOTOS: 16 K-Dramas That Will Make You Want To Travel To Their Stunning Locations
Take this virtual tour of the most beautiful K-drama filming locations abroad—oh, wanderlust!
While the world is on pause due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we’ve seen virtual tours having a surge in popularity as travel bans and restrictions are currently in place. Understandably, it’s for no other reason than them providing a welcome escape during these challenging times.
In Luzon, Philippines, as we’re about to hit our second month under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), more and more people are yearning to travel, especially with our supposed standard April-May summer vacation plans now scrapped (we know you miss the beach, too!).
Social media feeds are overflowing with throwback travel photos. Netizens are also taking notes of some destinations to be included in their travel bucket list—Switzerland, for instance, because of how it was introduced and explored beautifully in the extremely successful K-Drama Crash Landing on You.
When traveling for leisure can be a thing again, no one can say for sure. But as U.S. Travel Association president and CEO Roger Dow predicts, “Over the long term we will return and come back to business as usual. People have short memories and there will be a pent up desire to travel.”
So, have you thought about where you want to go when we finally hear the proverbial message that the new normal has become back to normal pre-COVID days?
If the ECQ has turned you into a K-Drama addict or if you’ve become even more obsessed with them now, then you’d be delighted to check out some of these K-Dramas that give a hefty dose of travel inspiration, too!
As if the beautiful sceneries and tourist spots in South Korea aren’t enough to satisfy our wanderlust, K-Dramas have also treated viewers to a visual feast of stunning locations in different parts of the world.
From Lovers in Paris in 2004 and Lovers in Prague in 2005, we’ve seen many K-Dramas that explore a good mix of local and foreign sets throughout the years. A lot has happened since—there are now “more funding and increased foreign investment” in the production of K-Dramas, as Forbes has pointed out, making it possible to execute grander visions in terms of filming locations.
More international tourism organizations are now recognizing the impact and influence of Hallyu in the world as well, and are seeing the opportunity to promote their country via a K-Drama.
Typically, these foreign sets are only used minimally to add a layer of gloss (e.g. CLOY) or grit (e.g. Vagabond) to the storytelling. It’s just the right amount that doesn’t steal the spotlight away from South Korea and its culture and, ultimately, keeps the essence of a K-Drama intact.
Swipe through the gallery below to see the K-Dramas that had scenes filmed outside of Korea:
Korean Dramas Filmed Abroad
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Forest (2020) in the Philippines
Filming locations: Intramuros, Manila; Okada Manila hotel in Parañaque; and SM By the Bay in SM Mall of Asia
Intramuros, Manila
Photo Credit: Chris Clemente for ANCx
Manila Cathedral in Intramuros, Manila
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Okada Manila
Photo Credit: Okada Manila
SM By The Bay
Photo Credit: Viki
Crash Landing on You (2019) in Switzerland and Mongolia
Filming locations in Switzerland: Iseltwald at Lake Brienz (a village); Panorama bridge Sigriswil (a 340 m long pedestrian suspension bridge); Kleine Scheidegg (a mountain pass); Lindenhof (an old town in Zurich); Münsterbrücke (a pedestrian and road bridge in Zurich); Münzplatz and Paradeplatz (both are squares in Zurich); Paradeplatz (a s Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa in Interlaken; Grandhotel Giessbach in Brienz; and Hotel Kaiserstuhl in Bürglen. Filming locations in Mongolia: Ulaanbaatar railway station
Photo Credit: tvN
Interlaken
Photo Credit: interlaken.ch
Iseltwald
Photo Credit: interlaken.ch
Lake Brienz
Photo Credit: @interlaken
Panorama bridge in Sigriswil
Photo Credit: interlaken.ch
Kleine Scheidegg
Photo Credit: switzerland-tours.ch
Kleine Scheidegg
Photo Credit: tvN
Mongolia
Photo Credit: Kpopmap
Ulaanbaatar railway station in Mongolia
Photo Credit: Netflix
Vagabond (2019) in Morocco and Portugal
Filming locations in Morocco: Tangier (a coastal city); Chefchaouen (which is known as the “Blue City” for its blue-colored buildings); and Marrakesh (a bustling city that’s home to mosques, palaces, and gardens) Filming location in Portugal: Lisbon, a hilly, coastal capital city (Portugal is only about 1 hour and 35 minutes away from Morocco)
Photo Credit: Cinema Escapist
Tangier
Photo Credit: Hellokpop
Tangier
Photo Credit: SBS
Tangier
Photo Credit: SBS
Tangier
Photo Credit: Bangkok Post
Chefchaouen
Photo Credit: @skuukzky
Photo Credit: Lonely Planet
Photo Credit: @skuukzky
Lisbon, Portugal
Photo Credit: @skuukzky
Photo Credit: Weather Atlas
Chocolate (2019) in Greece
Filming locations: Byzantino Cafe in Monemvasia (a town and a municipality in Laconia) and Nafplio (a seaport town in the Peloponnese region)
Photo Credit: JTBC
Photo Credit: JTBC
Photo Credit: JTBC
Nafplio, Greece
Photo Credit: visitgreece.gr
Byzantino Cafe in Monemvasia
Photo Credit: Korean Dramaland
Hotel Byzantino in Monemvasia
Photo Credit: Trivago
Nafplio
Photo Credit: JTBC
A street in Nafplio
Photo Credit: greece-is.com
Memories of the Alhambra (2018) in Spain, Hungary, and Slovenia
Filming locations in Spain: Barcelona - Estació de França Train Station in Barcelona | Gava - Gavà Railway Station | Girona - House in Barri Vell, La Terra restaurant, and Pont de Pedra stone bridge | Granada - Calle Calderería Nueva, Mirador San Nicolás, San Miguel Alto Shrine, Hail Mary Motherhouse School, and Street Puente Espinosa Filming locations in Hungary: Kisterenye Railway Station in Batonyterenye, Keleti Railway Station in Budapest, and Mezőtúr Railway Station in Mezotur Filming locations in Slovenia: Building Old Town Ljubljana, Cobblers’ Bridge, Hercules Fountain, and Sorbara Steak House
Photo Credit: tvN
Alhambra, a palace and fortress complex in Granada
Photo Credit: Klook
Inside the Alhambra
Photo Credit: Korean Dramaland
Barri Vell, Girona, a historic quarter with steep stone staircases
Photo Credit: The Straits Times
Barri Vell in Girona
Photo Credit: gironahomes.com
Calle Calderia Nueva in Granada
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
La Terra restaurant in Granada
Photo Credit: Korean Dramaland
Hercules Fountain, a fountain located at the outskirts of the Old Town of Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia
Photo Credit: Soompi
Hercules Fountain in Slovenia
Photo Credit: Netflix
Hercules Fountain in Slovenia
Photo Credit: Korean Dramaland
Hercules Fountain in Slovenia
Photo Credit: travelslovenia.org
Encounter (2018) in Cuba
Filming locations: Al Carbón, Antonio Maceo Park, Casa Lafayette 269, Cafe del Angel, Hotel Nacional de Cuba, Parque Central, Fort of Saint Charles, and Aracelo Iglesias Park
Photo Credit: tvN
Fort of Saint Charles, also known as Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña, is an 18th-century fortress complex
Photo Credit: tvN
Fort of Saint Charles
Photo Credit: tvN
Fort of Saint Charles
Photo Credit: Korean Dramaland
Al Carbón, a restaurant that specializes in traditional Cuban dishes cooked over charcoal
Photo Credit: Korean Dramaland
Al Carbón
Photo Credit: Korean Dramaland
Al Carbón
Photo Credit: Korean Dramaland
Antonio Maceo Park, a park/square dedicated to Antonio Maceo, one of the leaders of "The Cuban Liberation Army"
Photo Credit: tvN
Antonio Maceo Park
Photo Credit: Korean Dramaland
Hotel Nacional de Cuba, a historic Spanish eclectic style hotel in Havana, Cuba, which opened in 1930
Photo Credit: Korean Dramaland
Hotel Nacional de Cuba
Photo Credit: hotelnacionaldecuba.com
Parque Central, a popular central site in Havana
Photo Credit: Korean Dramaland
Parque Central
Photo Credit: Cuba Custom Tours
My Secret Terrius (2018) in Poland
Filming locations: Warsaw Chopin Airport, Warsaw Old Town, Kryzwe Kolo, and Lazienki Park
Photo Credit: hype.my
Warsaw Old Town
So Ji Sub and Nam Gyu Ri in Warsaw
Photo Credit: my.castko.com
Łazienki Park (or Royal Baths Park) is the largest park in Warsaw, Poland. The park-and-palace complex occupies 76 hectares of the city center.
Photo Credit: lazienki-krolewskie.pl
Inside the palace in Lazienki Park
Photo Credit: Korean Dramaland
Krzywe Kolo, a small village in northern Poland
Photo Credit: Korean Dramaland
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Krzywe Kolo
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Are You Human Too? (2018) in Czech Republic
Filming locations: Karlovy Vary Airport, Hotel Imperial in Carlsbad, Zahradni street, Stará Plynárna, Castle Hartenstein, The Mill Colonnade, Divadelni street, and Květiny Skořepová Lenka
Photo Credit: Korean Dramaland
Karlovy Vary, an airport in Czech Republic
Photo Credit: Korean Dramaland
Karlovy Vary
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Květiny Skořepová Lenka, a family-run flower shop
Photo Credit: Korean Dramaland
Hotel Imperial, a century-old historical hotel in West Bohemia
Photo Credit: spa-hotel-imperial.cz
Castle Hartenstein, a late Gothic castle from the 15th century
Photo Credit: Korean Dramaland
Mill Colonnade, which contains several hot springs in the spa town of Karlovy Vary
Photo Credit: karlovy-vary.cz
Stará Plynárna, an old gasworks building that was transformed into a pension, with a restaurant that can be rented for private events
Photo Credit: Korean Dramaland
Stará Plynárna
Photo Credit: staraplynarna.cz
Zahradní, a street in Carlsbad
Photo Credit: Korean Dramaland
Photo Credit: Korean Dramaland
Man x Man (2017) in Hungary
Filming locations: Ethnographic Museum and Central Cafe
Photo Credit: Screenshot from Mountain Movement
Ethnographic Museum is a museum that houses a collection of Hungarian folk objects from the 19th century.
Photo Credit: Screenshot from Mountain Movement
Inside the Ethnographic Museum
Photo Credit: Screenshot from Mountain Movement
Facade of the Ethnographic Museum
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Interior of Ethnographic Museum
Photo Credit: Benjamin Wiessner on Flickr
The historic Centrál Coffee House, which has been around since 1887
Photo Credit: Screenshot from Mountain Movement
Photo Credit: Screenshot from Mountain Movement
Photo Credit: Screenshot from Mountain Movement
Facade of the Central Coffee House
Photo Credit: Taste Hungary
The Package (2017) in France
Filming locations: Pont Neuf, Jardins du Trocadéro, and an apartment building in Rue Salomon de Brosse
Photo Credit: Korean Dramaland
Pont Neuf is the oldest standing bridge across the river Seine in Paris, France
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Jardins du Trocadéro is an open space in Paris from where a stunning view of the Eiffel Tower can be seen
Photo Credit: Korean Dramaland
Jardins du Trocadéro
Photo Credit: Tours & Travel
Rue Salomon de Brosse
Photo Credit: Korean Dramaland
Black Knight: The Man Who Guards Me (2017) in Slovenia
Filming locations: Butchers’ Bridge and Otočec Castle
Photo Credit: Korean Dramaland
Butcher’s Bridge, a footbridge that crosses the river Ljubljana, which was constructed in 2010 and quickly became a tourist spot for its love padlocks
Photo Credit: Travel Slovenia
Otočec Castle, a Slovenian water castle hotel that was built in the 13th century
Photo Credit: Korean Dramaland
Otočec Castle
Photo Credit: Think Slovenia
Legend of the Blue Sea (2016) in Spain
Filming locations: Barcelona - Arc de Triompf, Palau de la Música Catalana, Casa de la Vila de Sitges, and Castell de Santa Florentina; Girona - Piscina Es Cau, Tossa de mar, and Steps of Sant Marti; A Coruña - Laberinto Monte de San Pedro, Tower of Hercules, Las Catedrales, Plaza De Maria Pita (Atlantico Bar); and crosswalk at Galerías de La Coruña
Photo Credit: The Straits Times
Atlantico Bar, a restaurant on the Plaza de María Pita
Photo Credit: Korean Dramaland
Casa de la Vila de Sitges, a 19th century building that houses the Inventory of Architectural Heritage of Catalonia
Photo Credit: Korean Dramaland
Casa de la Vila de Sitges
Photo Credit: Korean Dramaland
Tower of Hercules, the oldest ancient Roman lighthouse still in use an the second tallest lighthouse in Spain.
Photo Credit: Korean Dramaland
Tower of Hercules
Photo Credit: Reddit
Piscina Es Cau de Begur, a natural swimming pool that is situated in Spain’s Girona Province.
Photo Credit: Korean Dramaland
Castell de Santa Florentina, an 11th-century medieval castle in Canet de Mar, Catalonia, Spain
Photo Credit: The World of Castles
Facade of Palau de la Musica Catalana concert hall
Photo Credit: Dramabeans
The K2 (2016) in Spain
Filming locations: MUHBA Turó de la Rovira, Monastery of Santa Maria de Santes Creus, and Magòria-La Campana
Photo Credit: Korean Dramaland
MUHBA Turó de la Rovira, a heritage space that offers a 360º view of Barcelona
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Monastery of Santa Maria de Santes Creus, a Cistercian monastery complex that dates back to the year 1174
Photo Credit: istockphoto
Photo Credit: tvN
Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (2016) in Canada
Filming locations: La Boutique de Noël de Québec, Fontaine de Tourny, Parc du Bastion-de-la-Reine, Théâtre Petit Champlain, Hotel Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, and 68 Rue Sainte-Ursule
Photo Credit: South China Morning Post
Hotel Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, a five-star hotel which was opened in 1893
Photo Credit: Korean Dramaland
Fontaine de Tourny, a fountain that's right next to the roundabout in front of the parliament building Hôtel du Parlement du Québec
Photo Credit: Korean Dramaland
La Boutique de Noël de Québec, a shop that sells Christmas decoration all year round
Photo Credit: Korean Dramaland
Rue Sainte-Ursule, a street in the Canadian city of Quebec (they filmed at house #68 to be exact)
Photo Credit: Korean Dramaland
Parc du Bastion-de-la-Reine, a park close to the center of Quebec
Photo Credit: Korean Dramaland
Théâtre Petit Champlain, a theater in Quebec that's popular for its red door
Photo Credit: Korean Dramaland
Descendants of the Sun (2016) in Greece
Filming locations: Clock Tower of Arachova and Navagio Beach
Photo Credit: The Straits Times
Navagio Beach, also known as Shipwreck Beach, is an exposed cove located on the west coast of the Greek island Zakynthos. The shipwreck that lies at the beach is the freightliner MV Panagiotis which got stranded there in 1980 due to a storm
Photo Credit: AsiaOne
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Navagio Beach
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Navagio Beach
Photo Credit: Adventurous Travels
Clock Tower of Arachova was built at the beginning of the 18th century as the bell tower of a church.
Photo Credit: Korean Dramaland
Clock Tower of Arachova
Photo Credit: voyage-virtuel.co.uk
Banner artwork by Raff Colmenar. Photos from tvN, South China Morning Post, and AsiaOne
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