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
Korean Dramas Filmed Abroad
By Metro.StyleFebruary 19 2021, 8:02 AM
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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
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Intramuros, Manila
Photo Credit:
Chris Clemente for ANCx
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Manila Cathedral in Intramuros, Manila
Photo Credit:
Wikimedia Commons
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Okada Manila
Photo Credit:
Okada Manila
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SM By The Bay
Photo Credit:
Viki
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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
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Interlaken
Photo Credit:
interlaken.ch
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Iseltwald
Photo Credit:
interlaken.ch
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Lake Brienz
Photo Credit:
@interlaken
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Panorama bridge in Sigriswil
Photo Credit:
interlaken.ch
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Kleine Scheidegg
Photo Credit:
switzerland-tours.ch
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Kleine Scheidegg
Photo Credit:
tvN
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Mongolia
Photo Credit:
Kpopmap
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Ulaanbaatar railway station in Mongolia
Photo Credit:
Netflix
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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
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Tangier
Photo Credit:
Hellokpop
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Tangier
Photo Credit:
SBS
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Tangier
Photo Credit:
SBS
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Tangier
Photo Credit:
Bangkok Post
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Chefchaouen
Photo Credit:
@skuukzky
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Photo Credit:
Lonely Planet
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Photo Credit:
@skuukzky
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Lisbon, Portugal
Photo Credit:
@skuukzky
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Photo Credit:
Weather Atlas
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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
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Photo Credit:
JTBC
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Photo Credit:
JTBC
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Nafplio, Greece
Photo Credit:
visitgreece.gr
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Byzantino Cafe in Monemvasia
Photo Credit:
Korean Dramaland
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Hotel Byzantino in Monemvasia
Photo Credit:
Trivago
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Nafplio
Photo Credit:
JTBC
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A street in Nafplio
Photo Credit:
greece-is.com
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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
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Alhambra, a palace and fortress complex in Granada
Photo Credit:
Klook
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Inside the Alhambra
Photo Credit:
Korean Dramaland
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Barri Vell, Girona, a historic quarter with steep stone staircases
Photo Credit:
The Straits Times
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Barri Vell in Girona
Photo Credit:
gironahomes.com
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Calle Calderia Nueva in Granada
Photo Credit:
Wikimedia Commons
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La Terra restaurant in Granada
Photo Credit:
Korean Dramaland
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Hercules Fountain, a fountain located at the outskirts of the Old Town of Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia
Photo Credit:
Soompi
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Hercules Fountain in Slovenia
Photo Credit:
Netflix
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Hercules Fountain in Slovenia
Photo Credit:
Korean Dramaland
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Hercules Fountain in Slovenia
Photo Credit:
travelslovenia.org
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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
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Fort of Saint Charles, also known as Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña, is an 18th-century fortress complex
Photo Credit:
tvN
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Fort of Saint Charles
Photo Credit:
tvN
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Fort of Saint Charles
Photo Credit:
Korean Dramaland
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Al Carbón, a restaurant that specializes in traditional Cuban dishes cooked over charcoal
Photo Credit:
Korean Dramaland
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Al Carbón
Photo Credit:
Korean Dramaland
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Al Carbón
Photo Credit:
Korean Dramaland
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Antonio Maceo Park, a park/square dedicated to Antonio Maceo, one of the leaders of "The Cuban Liberation Army"
Photo Credit:
tvN
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Antonio Maceo Park
Photo Credit:
Korean Dramaland
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Hotel Nacional de Cuba, a historic Spanish eclectic style hotel in Havana, Cuba, which opened in 1930
Photo Credit:
Korean Dramaland
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Hotel Nacional de Cuba
Photo Credit:
hotelnacionaldecuba.com
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Parque Central, a popular central site in Havana
Photo Credit:
Korean Dramaland
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Parque Central
Photo Credit:
Cuba Custom Tours
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My Secret Terrius (2018) in Poland
Filming locations: Warsaw Chopin Airport, Warsaw Old Town, Kryzwe Kolo, and Lazienki Park
Photo Credit:
hype.my
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Warsaw Old Town
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So Ji Sub and Nam Gyu Ri in Warsaw
Photo Credit:
my.castko.com
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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
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Inside the palace in Lazienki Park
Photo Credit:
Korean Dramaland
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Krzywe Kolo, a small village in northern Poland
Photo Credit:
Korean Dramaland
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Krzywe Kolo
Photo Credit:
Wikimedia Commons
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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
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Karlovy Vary, an airport in Czech Republic
Photo Credit:
Korean Dramaland
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Karlovy Vary
Photo Credit:
Wikimedia Commons
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Květiny Skořepová Lenka, a family-run flower shop
Photo Credit:
Korean Dramaland
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Hotel Imperial, a century-old historical hotel in West Bohemia
Photo Credit:
spa-hotel-imperial.cz
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Castle Hartenstein, a late Gothic castle from the 15th century
Photo Credit:
Korean Dramaland
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Mill Colonnade, which contains several hot springs in the spa town of Karlovy Vary
Photo Credit:
karlovy-vary.cz
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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
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Stará Plynárna
Photo Credit:
staraplynarna.cz
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Zahradní, a street in Carlsbad
Photo Credit:
Korean Dramaland
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Photo Credit:
Korean Dramaland
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Man x Man (2017) in Hungary
Filming locations: Ethnographic Museum and Central Cafe
Photo Credit:
Screenshot from Mountain Movement
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Ethnographic Museum is a museum that houses a collection of Hungarian folk objects from the 19th century.
Photo Credit:
Screenshot from Mountain Movement
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Inside the Ethnographic Museum
Photo Credit:
Screenshot from Mountain Movement
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Facade of the Ethnographic Museum
Photo Credit:
Wikimedia Commons
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Interior of Ethnographic Museum
Photo Credit:
Benjamin Wiessner on Flickr
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The historic Centrál Coffee House, which has been around since 1887
Photo Credit:
Screenshot from Mountain Movement
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Photo Credit:
Screenshot from Mountain Movement
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Photo Credit:
Screenshot from Mountain Movement
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Facade of the Central Coffee House
Photo Credit:
Taste Hungary
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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
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Pont Neuf is the oldest standing bridge across the river Seine in Paris, France
Photo Credit:
Wikimedia Commons
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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
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Jardins du Trocadéro
Photo Credit:
Tours & Travel
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Rue Salomon de Brosse
Photo Credit:
Korean Dramaland
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Black Knight: The Man Who Guards Me (2017) in Slovenia
Filming locations: Butchers’ Bridge and Otočec Castle
Photo Credit:
Korean Dramaland
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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
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Otočec Castle, a Slovenian water castle hotel that was built in the 13th century
Photo Credit:
Korean Dramaland
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Otočec Castle
Photo Credit:
Think Slovenia
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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
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Atlantico Bar, a restaurant on the Plaza de María Pita
Photo Credit:
Korean Dramaland
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Casa de la Vila de Sitges, a 19th century building that houses the Inventory of Architectural Heritage of Catalonia
Photo Credit:
Korean Dramaland
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Casa de la Vila de Sitges
Photo Credit:
Korean Dramaland
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Tower of Hercules, the oldest ancient Roman lighthouse still in use an the second tallest lighthouse in Spain.
Photo Credit:
Korean Dramaland
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Tower of Hercules
Photo Credit:
Reddit
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Piscina Es Cau de Begur, a natural swimming pool that is situated in Spain’s Girona Province.
Photo Credit:
Korean Dramaland
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Castell de Santa Florentina, an 11th-century medieval castle in Canet de Mar, Catalonia, Spain
Photo Credit:
The World of Castles
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Facade of Palau de la Musica Catalana concert hall
Photo Credit:
Dramabeans
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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
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MUHBA Turó de la Rovira, a heritage space that offers a 360º view of Barcelona
Photo Credit:
Wikimedia Commons
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Monastery of Santa Maria de Santes Creus, a Cistercian monastery complex that dates back to the year 1174
Photo Credit:
istockphoto
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Photo Credit:
tvN
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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
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Hotel Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, a five-star hotel which was opened in 1893
Photo Credit:
Korean Dramaland
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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
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La Boutique de Noël de Québec, a shop that sells Christmas decoration all year round
Photo Credit:
Korean Dramaland
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Rue Sainte-Ursule, a street in the Canadian city of Quebec (they filmed at house #68 to be exact)
Photo Credit:
Korean Dramaland
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Parc du Bastion-de-la-Reine, a park close to the center of Quebec
Photo Credit:
Korean Dramaland
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Théâtre Petit Champlain, a theater in Quebec that's popular for its red door
Photo Credit:
Korean Dramaland
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Descendants of the Sun (2016) in Greece
Filming locations: Clock Tower of Arachova and Navagio Beach
Photo Credit:
The Straits Times
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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
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Navagio Beach
Photo Credit:
Adventurous Travels
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Clock Tower of Arachova was built at the beginning of the 18th century as the bell tower of a church.
Photo Credit:
Korean Dramaland
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Clock Tower of Arachova
Photo Credit:
voyage-virtuel.co.uk
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Banner artwork by Raff Colmenar. Photos from tvN, South China Morning Post, and AsiaOne