K-pop Filming Locations in Seoul Every Fan Should Visit

Seoul is where most K-pop music videos come to life — palaces, hanok villages, industrial rooftops, and shipping-container malls have all doubled as sets for your favorite groups. Whether you want palace grandeur or gritty urban-explorer vibes, this list of kpop filming locations in Seoul covers the spots fans return to again and again.

Before lacing up your walking shoes and navigating the Seoul subway, here is the definitive guide to the real-life sets that defined K-pop's greatest eras.

Gyeongbokgung Palace - EXO's "Growl" and BLACKPINK's "How You Like That"

When you want to project undisputed royalty, you go to the largest of Seoul's Five Grand Palaces. Built in 1395, Gyeongbokgung Palace remains the ultimate symbol of traditional Korean heritage. For 3rd-generation titans, this historic ground provided the perfect contrast to modern pop sounds. EXO famously utilized palace aesthetics for special performances during the "Growl" era, bringing razor-sharp choreography to the ancient courtyards.

More recently, BLACKPINK shook the globe with their 2020 hit "How You Like That". While the music video featured a custom-built set, it was deeply inspired by Gyeongbokgung's traditional architecture. The girls performed in stunning modernized hanboks (traditional Korean clothing) that sparked a worldwide trend. If you visit today, renting a hanbok in the nearby alleys not only gives you free admission to the palace grounds but allows you to channel that same royal 3rd-gen energy in front of the iconic Geunjeongjeon Hall.

Namsan Tower (N Seoul Tower) - Girls' Generation's "Gee"

Towering over the city on Mt. Namsan, the N Seoul Tower is an essential pilgrimage for any K-pop enthusiast, particularly fans of 2nd and 3rd-generation groups. Girls' Generation captured the vibrant, colorful energy of Seoul in their promotional materials and video shoots around the time their legendary track "Gee" took over the world, with Namsan serving as the quintessential metropolitan backdrop.

Regardless of what era you belong to, the tower offers a supreme photo op. Taking the Namsan Cable Car up the mountain gives you a sweeping, 360-degree view of the sprawling metropolis. You'll also find the famous "Locks of Love" fences, where couples and fans alike leave colorful padlocks with messages written to their favorite idols. It is the perfect spot to overlook the very city where the Korean Wave was born.

Namsangol Hanok Village - BTS's "I Need U" and EXO's "Overdose"

If Gyeongbokgung is for royal grandeur, Namsangol Hanok Village is for historical intimacy. Tucked away in the Jung-gu district, this collection of restored traditional houses offers a quieter look at Korea's past. For 3rd-gen groups, it served as an incredible backdrop to contrast gritty, modern aesthetics with historical elegance.

During the "I Need U" era, BTS utilized similar traditional backdrops in their extended photo shoots and cinematic universe videos to ground their "youth in crisis" storyline in a distinctly Korean setting. Meanwhile, EXO brought the thunderous, maze-like concept of "Overdose" into the public eye using locations that blended the old and the new. Namsangol is highly accessible, free to enter, and offers a less crowded alternative for taking serene, hanbok-clad photos compared to the major palaces.

Yongma Land - TWICE's "Like Ooh-Ahh," B.A.P's "1004 (Angel)" and TXT's "Blue Hour"

A short subway ride to the edge of Seoul brings you to one of the most uniquely atmospheric locations in K-pop history: Yongma Land. This abandoned amusement park closed down in 2011, but instead of tearing it down, the owner left the faded rides intact, charging a small fee for photographers and fans to enter.

The rusting, vintage carousel is the undeniable star here. It served as the zombie-infested backdrop for TWICE's debut music video, "Like Ooh-Ahh". 3rd-gen boy group B.A.P also utilized the park's melancholic, deserted carnival vibe for "1004 (Angel)." Fast forward to the 4th generation, and TXT (Tomorrow X Together) brought the magic back to Yongma Land for "Blue Hour". While TXT's team heavily utilized CGI to make the carousel fly into a pink sky, the physical location remains the exact same one you can visit and sit on today.

Platform Changdong 61 - TWICE's "Signal" and KARD's "Rumor (Hidden Ver.)"

Urban regeneration projects often make the best music video sets. Platform Changdong 61 was constructed entirely out of boldly painted shipping containers, creating an industrial yet hyper-colorful playground. TWICE utilized this exact vivid aesthetic for promotional materials around their quirky, alien-themed "Signal" era.

Co-ed 3rd-gen group KARD took advantage of the location for their "Rumor (Hidden Ver.)" performance video. The stacked containers, sharp metal stairs, and vibrant reds, yellows, and blues provided a built-in color palette that required almost zero set dressing. It is a fantastic spot for fans who want that edgy, streetwear-inspired Instagram photo without having to sneak into an actual active shipping yard.

K-Star Road (Gangnam) - A Legacy Pilgrimage

Located in the affluent Cheongdam-dong neighborhood of Gangnam, K-Star Road is less about where music videos are filmed today, and more about honoring the legacy of the groups that paved the way. Stretching along a pristine avenue are 17 to 18 "GangnamDol" statues—large, customized bear sculptures representing the titans of the 1st through 3rd generations.

You can walk the street and snap photos with the bears dedicated to PSY, Girls' Generation, EXO, BTS, SHINee, and more. While current 4th and 5th-gen acts don't film their TikTok challenges here, K-Star Road remains a mandatory pilgrimage stop. It is a walk down memory lane, physically mapping the explosive growth of the industry right in the neighborhood where many of their original entertainment agencies were founded.

Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) - BTS, NCT, and ATEEZ

Designed by the late, world-renowned architect Zaha Hadid, the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) looks like a silver spaceship that crash-landed in the middle of a historic shopping district. Its neofuturistic, sweeping metallic curves make it the most-filmed spot for groups aiming for a sleek, sci-fi, or cyberpunk concept.

It is a massive 4th-gen anchor. ATEEZ, NCT Dream, and NCT 127 have all utilized the sweeping concrete staircases and LED-lit metallic underbellies of DDP for performance videos, jacket shoots, and music videos. BTS has also filmed here extensively, utilizing the futuristic architecture to reflect their global, stadium-filling status. Because the building is a public design hub, you can recreate your favorite 4th-gen choreo right on the open plazas.

Olympic Park - BTS's "Spring Day" and ATEEZ's "The Real"

Spanning a massive area in the Songpa district, Olympic Park is a breath of fresh air that has hosted some of K-pop's most iconic outdoor scenes. Built for the 1988 Seoul Olympics, the park features rolling grassy hills, monumental art installations, and sweeping paved plazas.

For 3rd-gen fans, the park holds emotional weight: the sprawling snow-covered landscapes and the iconic World Peace Gate served as the backdrop for BTS's emotionally charged "Spring Day" era. Pairing that classic with a clean 4th-gen example, ATEEZ utilized the expansive, open-air courtyards for the riotous, high-energy visuals of "The Real." It is a location that can look serene and melancholic in the winter, or rebellious and explosive in the summer, depending entirely on the group's concept.

Hongdae - The Heart of Youth Concepts

Hongdae (the neighborhood surrounding Hongik University) isn't just a filming location; it is the beating heart of Korea's youth culture. Known for its indie music scene, bustling pedestrian streets, and neon-lit alleyways, Hongdae has become the go-to backdrop for younger groups leaning into "youth energy" and Y2K concepts.

This is your best cluster of 4th and 5th-gen-adjacent acts. NewJeans, IVE, ITZY, and LE SSERAFIM have all tapped into the authentic, street-level energy of Hongdae for teasers, reality show content, and concept photos. The neighborhood's busking culture means you might literally be standing where the next big idol is currently performing as a trainee. From the arcade centers to the vintage clothing racks, Hongdae provides a lived-in, vibrant aesthetic that studio sets simply cannot replicate.

Lotte World Tower/Seoul Sky - Hitting New Heights

When K-pop groups reach the top of the industry, they need a location that reflects that status. Enter the Lotte World Tower, the tallest building in South Korea and the sixth tallest in the world. The Seoul Sky observatory at the top offers unparalleled, dizzying views of the Han River and the city's sprawling grid.

This location is heavily featured in night-skyline shots for groups wanting a luxurious, untouchable vibe. BTS has performed high above the city, while 4th-gen powerhouses like aespa and ITZY have incorporated the towering glass structure and high-altitude views into their digital-age visuals. Standing on the glass floor 118 stories up gives you the exact same vertigo-inducing perspective seen in top-tier music videos.

Bukchon Hanok Village - Suga's "Daechwita" and IU

If Namsangol is a quiet museum, Bukchon Hanok Village is a living, breathing neighborhood. Located right between Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung palaces, Bukchon features hundreds of traditional houses that date back to the Joseon Dynasty, many of which are still privately owned residences today.

The steep, narrow alleys and sloping tiled roofs offer a spectacular blend of traditional architecture with the modern Seoul skyline peeking out in the distance. This dynamic was heavily utilized by BTS's Suga for his Agust D solo track "Daechwita," which masterfully blended aggressive modern rap with royal traditional aesthetics. IU has also favored Bukchon's serene, historical alleyways for hanbok-concept shoots. It perfectly complements Gyeongbokgung and Namsangol, offering a more residential, labyrinth-like traditional experience.

From royal palaces to abandoned amusement parks, Seoul’s filming locations showcase the incredible variety of K-pop’s visual world. Choosing a home base near your top destinations keeps commutes short so you can spend more time exploring:

Travelodge Myeongdong Namsan is just a 15-minute bus ride (Bus 01A/01B) or a scenic 25-minute walk to the Namsan Cable Car, leading straight up to N Seoul Tower (.
Travelodge Dongdaemun Seoul sits a mere 10-minute walk (or 5 minutes by subway Line 2/4) from the iconic Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) .
Travelodge Myeongdong Euljiro is a quick 10-minute subway ride on Line 2 to Gyeongbokgung Palace ,.

Pick the location that aligns best with your bucket list to maximize your time at every iconic spot!

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