Korea K-Drama Tour : Seoul, Gyeongju, Busan Jeonju 9 days

Enjoy a trip to Korea on this 9 day Korea tour, focusing on the main filming locations of Korean dramas. Visit Korea’s most famous locations featured in movies, including Seoul, the second largest city of Busan, the millennium-old capital of Gyeongju, and the traditional Korean hanok village. Explore the capital’s Gyeongbokgung Palace and N Seoul Tower, drama filming locations near Seoul, and Seokguram Grotto, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Also visit Jeonju Hanok Village, Daereungwon Ancient Tombs, and Gamcheon Culture Village in Busan for movie-worthy highlights.

Highlights

• Visit top Seoul K-drama locations at N Seoul Tower and Gyeongbokgung palace
• Visit the Seoul suburbs, famous for being a drama filming location.
• Discover film-worthy views at UNESCO-listed Seokguram Grotto
• Revel in Busan’s K-drama heritage at Gamcheon Cultural Village
• Visit Jeonju’s traditional hanok houses and shrines

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Seoul, Explore

Finally arrived in Korea!

Experience this futuristic metropolis with its contrasting towering skyscrapers, quaint Buddhist temples, well-maintained Cheonggyecheon Stream, and maze-like street markets. Seoul has historic palaces and museums, as well as technology, fashion, and K-drama and K-pop.

It takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes to get to the center of Seoul from Incheon Airport, the airport of the complex capital of Korea. You can take public transportation such as the airport railroad and bus to get to your hotel, but it may not be easy to move around with heavy luggage. In this case, it is a good idea to take Tourvan. Tourvan driver will take you to your hotel.

After settling in at your hotel, spend the rest of the day exploring around lightly. Relax at your hotel or go out and enjoy the city’s neon streets. Explore the bustling Myeongdong or Hongdae streets, visit various Korean cafes, take a walk along Cheonggyecheon Stream, or take a Han River cruise to enjoy the sunset. To relax, visit a jjimjilbang (Korean sauna) and soak in hot water.

Day 2: Seoul Highlights & K-Drama Tour

Visit Bukchon Hanok Village and experience traditional Korean culture.

Explore the highlights of Seoul and immerse yourself in Korean K-dramas.

Your first stop will be Gyeongbokgung Palace, where the Joseon royal family lived from the late 1300s to 1910. Watch the Changing of the Guards in the Gwanghwamun area and stroll through the palace’s elegant pavilions and halls. The palace has also been the filming location for many K-dramas, including “Queen Inhyeon’s Man,” “The Moon Embracing the Sun,” and “Rooftop Prince.” Before entering Gyeongbokgung Palace, consider renting a hanbok, a traditional Korean outfit, and taking your own souvenir photo at the palace.
Next, head to the National Folk Museum of Korea to learn about centuries of Korean culture.

In the afternoon, visit Bukchon Hanok Village to see the residential area where high-ranking officials of the Joseon Dynasty lived. This is a place where real Koreans live, allowing you to experience Korean culture in a more vivid way. Stop by photo spots featured in dramas such as “My Love from the Star,” “The Heirs,” and “A Gentleman’s Dignity.”

Afterwards, we will head to Insa-dong where you can see traditional Korean art galleries. Visit art exhibition halls, traditional cafes, and tea houses to enjoy traditional Korean tea.

The last stop is Gwangjang Market, a traditional Korean market. This is a must-visit for foodies and the perfect place to sample Korean street food. Enjoy a variety of foods, from tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) and gimbap (Korean sushi with vegetables) to banana milk and kkwabegi (Korean donuts).

For more convenience, you can also take a tour van. Tourvan provide you with the fancy van and the driver who can communicate in simple English, allowing you to enjoy the tour at a more reasonable cost. If you need a guide, you can hire one for an additional fee. The best and most knowledgeable guide is waiting for you.

Day 3: K-Drama shooting Locations in Seoul

Now let’s explore the best K-drama filming locations in earnest.

We will visit Namsan, the most famous place in Seoul, where Seoul N Tower is located. It is famous for appearing in many K-dramas, including ‘Squid Game’, ‘Itaewon Class’, ‘My Love from the Star’, ‘I Need Romance’, and ‘Boys Over Flowers’.

You can take a cable car, a bus up to Namsan Tower, or hike to the top of Namsan to enjoy a 360-degree view of the city and the Han River. Don’t miss the love lock fence at the observatory. This is a favorite dating spot for locals.

Next, we will visit Seongsu-dong, the Brooklyn of Korea, which is called the coolest neighborhood in Korea by various media outlets. This area used to be a densely populated area of ​​small factories until the early 2000s, but now it is home to various pop-up stores and really cool cafes, and it has become a representative place of Seoul in 2024. Experience the dynamic fashion of Korea here.

Finally, we visit the COEX Starfield Library, which is also famous as the background location for the drama Record of Youth. This is a place that is like a resting space in the city center of the digital age, and it is a wonderful place with books on display. In front of the Starfield Library, you can also take a nice picture in front of the Psy’s Gangnam Style sculpture.

After that, return to the hotel and have a relaxing evening.

Day 4: Nami Island & Nearby place

Leave Seoul and visit more K-drama filming locations. First stop is the Garden of Morning Calm, a popular Korean arboretum with beautiful landscapes. Stroll along paved paths connecting 20 different gardens with about 5,000 plants. Visit locations featured in popular films like Love in the Moonlight, Lovely Horribly, and She Was Pretty, starring Park Bo-gum. Don’t forget to visit the Starlight Garden in winter.

In the afternoon, visit Nami Island on the Bukhangang River. The island is adorned with cherry blossoms in spring, and in summer, it’s perfect for a leisurely picnic on the lawn or a bike ride under the giant pine trees. If you arrive in the fall, you’ll be treated to stunning fall foliage as the trees in Maple Alley turn fiery orange and brilliant red. Winter turns the island into a winterland with snow covering the pagodas and birches.

Stop by the statue commemorating the main characters of the classic K-drama “Winter Sonata,” which was set on Namiseom Island.

In winter, visit Eobi Valley before coming to Seoul. Take some great photos with the beautiful ice walls as the background.

Afterwards, return to Seoul and spend your last evening in the city. Taste some street food and browse the night market for souvenirs.

(alternative) Day 4: Suwon Hwaseong Fortress

Now, let’s leave Seoul and visit Suwon City, the hottest area in 2024.
Suwon City, located about 1 hour and 30 minutes away from Seoul, is a place loved by many people as the filming location for the tvN drama <Lovely Runner>. Suwon is also the filming location for popular dramas such as <Strange Lawyer Woo Young-woo> and <That Year, Us>.
Thanks to the Hwaseong Palace, it is a regular setting for historical films and dramas. The Haengridan-gil road near the palace is full of delicious restaurants and cafes, making it a popular date course.

Visit famous filming locations for dramas such as Monted Cafe, Hwahong Mart, Hwahongmun Square, Yongyeon, Suwoncheon, Shinpung Yeonrip, and Haengridan-gil, where cafes, delicious restaurants, and workshops are located in traditional Korean houses and old houses.

And on the way back, stop by Suwon Starfield Library and take some great pictures.

Day 5: Transfer to Jeonju, K-Drama Filming Spots in Jeonju

Now leave the hustle and bustle of Seoul and head to Jeonju, located in the south of Korea. This small but vibrant city is famous for its traditional Korean architecture, Hanok, and representative Korean dishes such as bibimbap, and has been recognized as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy.

Jeonju is also an ancient city that embodies the culture and spirit of Korea. The city’s historical sites are often used as backdrops for TV shows and movies.

The best place to enjoy Jeonju is Jeonju Hanok Village. There are over 700 Hanok houses with slate tile roofs and mud walls along the cobblestone streets. Continue to the magnificent Gyeonggijeon Shrine, which houses portraits of seven Joseon Dynasty monarchs, including the famous Taejo. Visit the 100-year-old Jeondong Cathedral, which features Roman-Byzantine architecture, Jeonju Hyanggyo Confucian School, Hanbyeokdang, and Hanbyeok Tunnel and Omokdae, which were filming locations for the drama “Twenty Five, Twenty One.”

Day 6: Gyeongju, Bulguksa & Seokguram Grotto

Depart Jeonju in the morning and head east to the coastal city of Gyeongju. Known as the “roofless museum,” the city is filled with relics from its days as the capital of the ancient kingdom of Silla. Start with a visit to Bulguksa Temple, an 8th-century architectural marvel that houses six national treasures, including the Dabotap and Seokgatap stone pagodas.

Next, head to the fascinating Seokguram Grotto on Tohamsan Mountain, famous for its giant Buddha statues surrounded by depictions of deities and disciples. This UNESCO-listed landmark was built in the 8th century by transporting massive granite blocks up mountain paths, a feat of engineering. Before heading back to your hotel, take in the views of the city and countryside below.

If you have time, you may also want to visit the Gyeongju National Museum.

Day 7: Gyeongju K-Drama shooting Locations

Depart Jeonju in the morning and head east to the coastal city of Gyeongju. Known as the “roofless museum,” the city is filled with relics from its days as the capital of the ancient kingdom of Silla. Start with a visit to Bulguksa Temple, an 8th-century architectural marvel that houses six national treasures, including the Dabotap and Seokgatap stone pagodas.

Next, head to the fascinating Seokguram Grotto on Tohamsan Mountain, famous for its giant Buddha statues surrounded by depictions of deities and disciples. This UNESCO-listed landmark was built in the 8th century by transporting massive granite blocks up mountain paths, a feat of engineering. Before heading back to your hotel, take in the views of the city and countryside below.

If you have time, you may also want to visit the Gyeongju National Museum.

Day 8: Busan, Gamcheon Culture Village & Taejongdae Park

From Gyeongju to Busan. If you take the KTX express train, famous for the background of the movie “Train to Busan,” you will arrive in Busan in 30 minutes. It is more convenient to go straight to the first tourist destination by tour van. It is better to use the KTX when going to Seoul later.
Busan is the second largest port city in Korea and is loved for its beaches, international film festivals, trendy cafes, and seafood markets. Enjoy Busan through a fascinating journey that explores the beautiful environment and famous movie and drama filming locations.

Gamcheon Culture Village, known as “Busan’s Machu Picchu,” appeared as the background of “Just Between Lovers.”
After visiting Taejongdae Park and Taewon Jagalmadang (Pebble Beach), the filming locations of Apple TV’s original drama “Pachinko,” take a quiet stroll around the ocean and gardens, and then visit Jagalchi Market, Busan’s most famous seafood market, which is also the filming location of “Pachinko,” to feel the vibrant Busan.
Across Jagalchi Market Street are Biff Square, Kkangtong Market, and Gukje Market. This place is also a background location for dramas and movies.

Now, let’s go back to the hotel and finish the day’s schedule.

Day 9: Busan drama shooting location tour

Today, we will first visit Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, a beautiful temple on the beach that was the filming location for the Netflix drama “My Name.” It is a famous tourist destination with a unique landscape where the ocean and the temple are captured in one picture.

Take a capsule train at Haeundae BlueLine Park, the filming location for the drama “Now We’re Breaking Up.” It is the most popular place in Busan these days, and many tourists visit because the scenery of Cheongsapo is so beautiful. It is also a good idea to spend time at a cafe nearby.

Next, we head to Dongbaek Island & APEC Naru Park. Dongbaek Island is an important filming location for “When the Camellia Blooms”*, and is where the main characters took a walk in the drama. Enjoy the beautiful ocean and scenery. APEC House is located near Haeundae, the most famous beach in Korea. This 1.5km long fine sandy beach attracts many people all year round. Take a walk along the soft sandy beach.

We head to The Bay 101, which appeared as a place where the main characters often met in “Lovestruck in the City”*. It boasts a great view with the ocean in the background, and is a must-see spot for drama fans.

In the evening, we visit Haeundae Beach and end the day by stopping by the market.