A virtual travel experience through K-Dramas
K-Dramas have become a saving grace for many individuals over quarantine. We’ll skip the topic on how many shows you’ve actually consumed in the 60+ days we’ve been in quarantine, and instead, we’ll talk about the K-dramas that have allowed us to travel virtually from our living room couch.
While we can’t pack our bags and jet off to our next adventure, these K-dramas will fuel your wanderlust with dreamy scenes beyond the borders of South Korea. So if you’re itching to travel, these K-dramas might just appease not just your quarantine boredom, but also your desire to travel. Check them out!
1. Memories of the Alhambra (Alhambra, Spain)
As suggested in the title, a prominent location in the series is Alhambra, Spain - which is where Hyun Bin’s character meets a hostel owner, in the middle of his search of a reality game creator.
Though the series has characters galavant through various parts of Spain - from Barcelona, Girona and around the Granada district; the fictional augmented reality game takes them to places past Spain, through Hungary and several notable locations around Slovenia.
2. Descendants of the Sun (Greece)
In Descendants of the Sun, our main characters meet again in the fictional country of Uruk, but it was actually filmed in multiple destinations around South Korea and Greece. While the military camp was filmed in the Gangwon province of South Korea, the beautiful Shipwreck Beach and the townsquare they frequented was filmed in Navagio Beach and Arachova, Greece.
3. Crash Landing on You (Switzerland)
Probably the most popular Korean drama right now, Crash Landing on You filmed primarily through the provinces of South Korea for its ‘North Korea’ scenes. In addition to this, many of the series’ most iconic scenes were filmed in Switzerland - prompting fans everywhere to place the country on top of their travel bucket list.
4. The Legend of the Blue Sea (Spain)
The storyline of the Legend of the Blue Sea starts off in Spain, where the two main characters meet. Though they carry on with the majority of the series in South Korea, a handful of the series’ most memorable moments were shot in Spain.
Apart from their promo material, the iconic castle-like accommodation Lee Min Ho’s character occupied in the series is located in Barcelona, Spain. They also filmed a couple scenes in Sitges, Girona, and A Coruna in Spain.
5. The Encounter (Havana, Cuba)
Park Bo Gum and Song Hye Kyo team up for this utterly romantic K-Drama between a CEO divorcee and a simple, younger man. Though filmed predominantly in South Korea, the series starts off with the couples’ first encounter in Havana, Cuba. Some featured locations include popular tourist attractions such as Casa Lafayette and Parque Central.
6. Shopping King Louie (France)
Shopping King Louie pulls focus on a chaebol heir, Louie, who lives a lavish life in France. However, when he arrives back in Seoul, he finds himself homeless and with amnesia, and the kind Ko Bok-Shil offers her help.
Though majority of the series is filmed through Seoul and its outskirts, the series starts off in a luxurious chateau in France, called Château de Bourron, which is portrayed as Louie’s home in the first episode.
7. The Package (France)
The dreamy setting of The Package takes place in one of the most romantic countries in the world - France. The story follows a tour guide, Lee Yeon Hee, who takes a group one a one week excursion package around the best of France. You can expect to be transported to places such as Mont Saint-Michel, Honfleur, Deaville, Saint-Malo and Auvers-Sur-Oise from your couch.
8. The K2 (Spain)
A portion of the acclaimed action-packed series, K2, were filmed in Barcelona, Spain. Fans of the Ji Chang-Wook led series would most likely recognize the Monastery of Santa Maria de Santes Creus and the Train Station Magoria-La Campana.
9. Forest (Manila, Philippines)
Forest follows the story of a 119 rescue worker, Kang San Hyuk and a young surgeon, Jung Young Jae, whose lives are entangled when they meet in a mysterious forest. Though the majority of the series was set and filmed in South Korea, a couple scenes were actually filmed in Manila, Philippines. The scenes were shot in Okada Manila, SM Mall of Asia Bay Area Amusement Park, and throughout Intramuros.
10. Lovers in Paris (Paris, France)
Considered one of the ‘OG’ K-dramas, Lovers in Paris, a 2004 Korean television series, was, as the title suggests, filmed in Paris. The story follows the love triangle of a divorced chairman working in Paris, his nephew, and their housekeeper at the time.
The series features many popular destinations around Paris, including Hotel Marcel Dassault, Place de l’Estrapade, Pont Neuf and Restaurant Le Marche.
11. Doctor Stranger (Budapest, Hungary)
Doctor Stranger tells the story of a young doctor who flees North Korea to live back in South Korea. Though he had left behind the woman he loves in North Korea, he vows to do whatever it takes to reunite with her.
Though filmed predominantly in South Korea, several prominent scenes were filmed all the way in Budapest, Hungary. In these scenes, you will see Lee Jong-suk in some of the toughest action scenes of his career.
12. Goblin (Quebec, Canada)
If you have yet to watch this highly acclaimed K-drama series, here’s one more reason to get bingeing. A handful of the series’ most important scenes were shot in the beautiful city of Quebec, Canada. For instance, the featured hotel the Goblin owned on the series is actually Chateau Frontenac Hotel in Quebec, while another prominent filming location took place in Parc du Bastion de la Reine.
