Filming Locations of Legend of the Blue Sea (푸른바다의 전설) in Korea and How to go there

The Legend of the Blue Sea (푸른바다의 전설) is the newest Korean drama craze in the world of Hallyu. It stars Lee Min Ho and Jun Ji Hyun and the story is all about a mermaid named Sae-Wa played by Jun Ji Hyeon who falls in love with the son of Joseon noble family Dam-ryeong played by Lee Min Ho during the Joseon dynasty. Then they find each other in the modern times as SIm Chung (Jun Ji Hyun) and Heon Joon-jae( Lee Min Ho), a doppelganger of Dam-ryeong from the Joseon dynasty and he works as a skilled conman. As their world intertwined in the modern world, Joon-jae shows Shim Chung the ways of the new world and later on find themselves in love with each other again. It is another love story about two people coming from two different worlds trying to fight the hurdles between them. Will love still wins despite the fact that Shim Chung finds it hard to keep up living with humans in the modern weird world? Will Heon Joon-jae can use his skills as a conman to trick the world and gets in his way to save and love Shim Chung? This Korean drama will show once again that love will always win. 


The drama has been shot at different locations in Korea and even outside the country. They filmed some underwater scenes in Palau, the casts and crews also went to Spain to film in A Coruna, Lugo, Ribadeo and Castell de Santa Florentina. However, the interesting shooting locations are of course the places they featured in Seoul and other parts of Korea. What made it interesting is the fact that the filming locations they selected are tourist spots. So if ever you are going to Korea, you might want to include some of these places in your itinerary.


1. Pocheon Art Valley


From Episode 2, there's a scene where Dam-ryeong shows up on his boat floating in a very beautiful and calm water to meet Sae Wa after hundreds of lanterns appeared all over the area. This location is at Pocheon Art Valley.


To go to this location, take an intercity bus and get off at Pocheon Bus Terminal (포천터미널), then from there, you can take bus number 67 or 67-1 and get off at Pocheon Art Valley Bus Stop.



2. Gangnam

When Sim Chung first set her foot in Seoul in Epsiode 3, she's wandering at Gangnam, the most sophisticated and expensive district of Seoul. This is a place where you see corporate people busy walking in the street, enjoy shopping and fashionable Koreans. 


To get yourself lost in the Gangnam district, when in Seoul, you can take Subway Line number 2 (Green Line) and get off at Gangnam Station.



3. Aqua Planet of 63 Building


To continue her search for Joon-jae, Sim Chung went to Aqua Planet 63 in Episode 3 of the series. She had her buffet in the aquarium and she became an instant star of the mermaid show.


If you want to visit Aqua Planet 63, take Subway Line Number 1 or Blue Line in Seoul, get off at Daebang Station and go to Exit 6. You can either take Bus number 11 or take the free shuttle bus to the 63 Building. 




4. Boseong Green Tea Plantation


A scene taken from outside of Seoul. In the Episode 4 of this series, Sae Wa is seen walking at the green tea plantation during the first snow of winter.


Boseong is actually far from Seoul, it is located at Jeollanam-do. It's address is at 763-67, Nokcha-ro, Boseong-gun, Jeollanam-do 전라남도 보성군 보성읍 녹차로 763-67. You can take the intercity bus from Seoul Central City Bus Terminal (Express Bus Terminal Station, Subway Line 3, 7 & 9), take an express bus bound for Boseong Intercity Bus Terminal. From Boseong Terminal, take a local bus bound for Yulpo and get off at Daehan Dawon Bus Stop. Travel time is about 5 hours.




5. Yeouido Hangang River Park


Another scene taken in Seoul is at Yeouido hangang River Park. Annually, every October, a fireworks festival is held in this park. Joon Jae and Sim Chung witnessed the fireworks at this park located in the heart of Seoul


It is very easy to go to Yeouido Hangang Park when you are in Seoul. Take Subway Line number 5, get off at Yeouinaru Station and go to either Exit 2 or 3.



There are several scenes taken at the Hangang Park. In Episode 8, Heo Jeon Jae met Sim Chung at this park. We visited the place and made our own version of the scene at the exact spot.



This is also a place where Sim Cheong scavenged for her potential dinner only to get interrupted by a fellow merman.






6. Namsan Seoul Tower


This tower appeared several times in the series. If you are wondering what is that well and beautifully lit tower you see on the background, that is N Seoul tower. If you are in downtown Seoul, it is impossible you would not see it in daytime and in night time. In Epsiode 5, Sim Chung and Joon Jae supposed to meet here during the first snow.


It is easy to go to Namsan Tower, you can read my previous post about N Seoul Tower HERE for the instruction on how to go there and for the fun activities you can do.




7. Vivaldi Park Ski World 


Another scene shot outside Seoul is at Vivaldi Park Ski World in Hongcheon, Gangwondo province. In episode 6, the couple is enjoying the ski park after Sim Chung requested to go to a place where there's snow. 


To go to Vivaldi Park Ski World, from Seoul Sangbong Bus Terminal or Dong Seoul Bus Terminal, take a bus to Hongcheon Bus Terminal. From Hongcheon, take Bus No. 70-1 or 70-2 to Vivaldi Park (travel time: approx. 1hr 30min)



8. National Palace Museum Of Korea


In episode 9, Joon Jae met up with Si Ah in the museum to see the relics they found in the house of Dam Ryeong. That museum is in the National Palace Museum of Korea.


It is easy to go there when you are in Seoul. Take Subway line number 3 and Get off at Gyeongbokgung Station. Go to Exit 5 and walk for about 5 minutes from there.



9. Myeongdong


A lot of the scenes were shot at Myeongdong, one of the famous shopping places in Seoul. The exterior of the house of Heo Joon Jae is in this place. It is located near the exit 3 of Myeongdong Station. When you go out of the Exit 3, you have to pass by the Pacific Hotel, turn right and walk straight up to Sogong-ro 4 gil street. The front door of the house is located near the passage way to the Namsan Tower.




The scene where Sim Chung was kidnapped by Ma Dae Young was also shot in Myeongdong. The big Christmas tree is located at the Shinsegae Mall in Myeongdong.



And in front of Shinsegae mall in Myeongdong, you can also see this Christmas lights which arched the walkway.



To go there, just go out of Exit 4 of Myeongdong station, walk straight for 5 minutes until you reach Shinsegae Mall.


10. Riverland Spa


The whole Sauna scene was shot in Riverland Spa. To go there, you can take Seoul Subway Line 2 and get off at Gangbyeon Station.



Comments

  1. Do you know about the filming location for Moonlight and Moon Lovers which nearest to Seoul?

    I was looking for about their filming location but mostly the locations were so far from Seoul except Gyeongbokgung. But to be honest I really want to visit their filming location :(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Dwi. I'm sorry I haven't watched that series. Are you here in Korea? can you describe the place?

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    2. Oh no no. Not yet. I wish I were there right now.

      I'm just asking maybe you know where the place is. Because I plan to go there next year.

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  2. Hi...how about the beach in the finale episod? I read the translation that Joon Jae said he bought a house in "Sok Cha area". I googled it but cant find any related. TQ

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, it's in Sokcho in the Gangwondo province. That beach became famous because of Pokemon Go, it was the only place in Korea where you can play Pokeom go. I've been to the neighbor beach which is Naksan, it's near Sokcho, here's my blog about it:

      http://www.saranghaekorea.com/2016/08/5-reasons-why-you-should-check-out.html

      And also, the beach where Sim Chung Left the land to the sea, it's in Jeongdongjin. I;ve been there too, this is my blog about it:

      http://www.saranghaekorea.com/2016/07/beach-train-station-rail-bike-sunrise.html

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  3. Hi Do you know the location where Cha Si Ah and Tae Oh went for a drink for the first time? I think it was also the site where Kim Shin and Ji Eun Tak (Goblin) went to go for a drink. Hope you know where the site is located. :)

    ReplyDelete

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