Netflix’s Love Next Door is a classic made-for-TV love story about the ambitious girl who has it all—the tech job in Silicon Valley, the handsome fiancé, the bright future—until everything falls apart and she goes home to put the pieces back together. No wonder American viewers fell hard for the show, rooting for our main character as she quits her stress-inducing job, calls off her engagement and returns to her roots, discovering that what she needed was there all along.
We’ve seen this movie before, haven’t we? Except that this return-to-roots story isn’t set in New York, Chicago or a small town in Ohio; it’s taking place in heart of Seoul, South Korea’s dynamic capital that blends ancient history, modern architecture and world-famous entertainment. With their classic plots like rediscovering past love, traveling back in time, and uncovering family secrets unfolding against a rich historical backdrop, K-dramas offer American viewers familiar stories in a surprising setting. Perhaps this is why shows such as Love Next Door, Lovely Runner and Queen of Tears have captivated U.S. audiences, inspiring fans to hop on the set-jetting trend and visit the real-life locations where their favorite scenes were filmed.
If you, too, have been dreaming of South Korea’s bustling city streets and breathtaking sunsets, and picturing yourself digging into a plate of Korean barbecue or a bowl of teokbokki before embarking on a shopping spree in one of its flagship malls, this K-drama-themed set-jetting itinerary will check those boxes and more.
Day 1
Seoul: Where Love Meets Memory and Iconic Streetscapes
Namsan Seoul Tower
On your first day in Seoul, head up Namsan Mountain to the city’s famous Namsan Seoul Tower, also known as N Seoul Tower, an 800-foot-tall spire surrounded by a colorful sea of padlocks. A popular destination for lovers who attach the so-called “love locks” in hope of cementing their relationship, the tower serves as the backdrop to several memorable scenes between Love Next Door’s Seok-ryu and her childhood friend and love interest, Seung-hyo. In Episode 4, the pair put a twist on the love lock tradition with a playful curse on Seok-ryu’s former Silicon Valley coworker who mistreated her, wishing upon him annoying ailments such as athlete’s foot rather than everlasting love. (Nearby attractions: Seoul City Wall and Namsangol Hanok Village)
Yunboseon-gil
From Namsan, go back down the mountain for a walk along the historic Yunboseon-gil alleyway that has become a staple in many K-Dramas. Famous for the tiled roofs of its homes and distinctive stone walls, the street serves as the backdrop to an earlier scene in Episode 4 where Seok-ryu and Seung-hyo accidentally run into each other. (Nearby attractions: Bukchon Hanok Village and Seoul Museum of Craft Art.)
Cheongun Park
Next, make your way to the playground at scenic Cheongun Park, where Seok-ryu goes after arguing with her mother in Episode 2, and—after Senung-hyo follows her there—they end up reminiscing about their childhood. (Nearby attractions: Yun Dong-ju Literature Museum and Changuimun Gate.)
Ihwa Mural Village
For the final stop of the day, be sure to have your photo taken on the famous Ihwa Mural Village steps featured in the official Love Next Door poster. And don’t forget to check out the rest of the neighborhood, which is full of interesting art, quirky cafés and independent shops.
Day 2
Suwon: Between Time Travel and Second Chances
Ready to travel back in time for love? First, book a train ticket from Seoul to Suwan, the setting of time-travel-themed K-Drama Lovely Runner, whose protagonist, Im Sol, is devastated to learn about the death of Sun-jae, a K-pop star on whom she had a crush. After she is inexplicably transported back in time to high school, she sets out to save Sun-jae from his untimely death and rewrite her own fate in a quest that twists backward and forward through time, delivering one surprise after another.
Haenggung-dong
Our tour begins in Suwon’s Haenggung-dong neighborhood, where a flashback from Episode 1 reveals that Im Sol and Sun-jae used to be neighbors. One rainy day, Im Sol mistakenly delivers a package to his home, and lends him her yellow umbrella. The now-iconic prop hangs at the entrance of Mong Ted Café, the real-life building used as Im Sol’s house in the show. Across the street are the famous blue gates of Sun-jae’s home.
Youngyeon Pond
From Mong Ted Café, walk to Yongyeon Pond, the lush hideaway where Sun-jae teaches Sol how to ride a bicycle in Episode 5.
Hwahongmun Gate
Not far from the pond, you’ll run into Hwahongmun Gate, the north-facing seven-arched historic gate of the Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon, where Sun-jae tells Sol he has feelings for her, in one of the show’s pivotal scenes. (Nearby attractions: Banghwasuryujeong Pavilion and Hwaseong Haenggung Palace)
Irwol Botanic Garden
Switching gears for the second half of the day, take public transportation to Irwol Botanic Garden and escape into a massive tropical oasis featured in Queen of Tears—a popular K-Drama about a couple on the brink of divorce. As the rooftop garden of the show’s fictitious Queens Department Store, the garden serves as the setting of the famous Episode 7 “raccoon scene” in which Hyun-woo searches for an raccoon named Yeoung-suk—only to learn that Hae-in made up a story about the animal as a practical joke. (Nearby attractions: Starfield Suwon Mall)
Day 3
Goyang: Rewriting the Past, One Scene at a Time
Forest Outings Cafe
In another journey back in time, we travel from Seoul to Goyang, joining Marry My Husband protagonist Ji-Won (who, after having been murdered by her husband, somehow comes back to life and manages to travel back in time) at her high school reunion at Forest Outings café. It is during this pivotal scene in Episode 3 that Ji-Won begins to rewrite her life and prevent her tragic fate.
Onemount
Next, head to ONEMOUNT, a sprawling shopping and entertainment complex in Goyang, where Ji-won has a date with her handsome former crush, Eun-ho, in Episode 10. When she realizes she no longer has feelings for him, she understands how much she has grown. (Nearby attractions: Ilsan Lake Park and Aqua Planet Ilsan)
Day 4
Jeju: Island Roads and Coastal Sunsets
Hop on a flight from Seoul to Jeju’s sun-soaked beaches and dive into another story about childhood friends-turned-lovers—When Life Gives You Tangerines— following Ae-sun and Gwan-sik’s family saga through decades of adventure, hardship, tragedy and transformation.
Gimnyeong Fishing Village
Join young Ae-sun on the scenic turquoise beach in Gimnyeong Fishing Village in Episodes 1 and 3 as she waits for her mother—one of South Korea’s iconic haenyeo, an all-female community of freedivers who harvest seafood—to return from work.
Hado coast
Drive a few minutes down the coastal road and you’ll reach Hado coast, featured in Episode 14 and 15 as the setting for Gwan-sik scooter ride. Enjoy a walk along the quiet shoreline lined with traditional stone fish traps.
Jejumok Gwana
To wrap up the day, head to Jejumok Gwana, a government complex from South Korea’s Joseon era which provides historical context as the setting for a scene in Episode 8, where Ae-sun and Gwan-sik enter a writing contest. The moment rekindles Ae-sun’s ambition to become a writer—a dream she eventually fulfills. (Nearby attractions: Gwandeokjeong Pavilion)
