K-pop MV Filming Locations in Seoul You Can Visit

Standing Where Your Favorite Idols Stood

Every time I ride Subway Line 2 across the Han River bridge near Ttukseom, I spot groups of international visitors standing near the concrete underpass with cameras ready. They are looking for the exact backdrop where NCT 127 filmed concept visuals or where BTS stood during their story teaser shoots. As a Korean who grew up in Seoul, it is always fascinating to see how everyday street corners, parks, and architecture in my hometown have turned into special destinations for music lovers around the globe.

Seoul is essentially a massive, open-air set for the Korean entertainment industry. While many music video scenes are built inside private soundstages in Gyeonggi-do, a surprising number of iconic shots take place right here in the capital. If you are planning a trip to Korea and want to walk through the real-life frames of famous videos, you do not need an expensive private tour. With a transit card and a reliable navigation app, you can easily visit these iconic kpop mv filming locations seoul locals pass by every single day.

Yongma Land: The Retro Theme Park That Lives On in MVs

Located on the eastern edge of Seoul in Jungnang-gu, Yongma Land is a small, discontinued amusement park that stopped operating its rides in 2011. Rather than demolishing the site, the owner kept the vintage carousels, rusted bumper cars, and faded carnival booths intact. It quickly became the ultimate background for melancholic, retro, or edgy K-pop visual storytelling.

You might recognize Yongma Land from TWICE’s debut breakout music video Like OOH-AHH, where the members dance in front of the illuminated merry-go-round while surrounded by zombies. It also featured prominently in Crayon Pop’s iconic Bar Bar Bar, GOT7’s Fly teaser photos, and concept imagery for artists ranging from EXO to Eric Nam. Even Netflix’s musical drama The Sound of Magic shot several key scenes here.

How to Visit and What to Expect

Because Yongma Land is privately managed, there is an entry fee at the gate. It typically costs around 10,000 won (roughly $7–$8 USD) per person, though prices can fluctuate slightly over time and are usually collected in cash or local bank transfer. The owner often keeps the old merry-go-round lights turned on for visitors in the late afternoon, which makes for incredible photos.

• Nearest Station: Mangu Station (Gyeongui-Jungang Line) or Saganjeong Station (Line 7).
• Getting There: From Mangu Station Exit 1, taking a short taxi ride (usually around 4,000 to 6,000 won) is much easier than walking uphill through the residential neighborhood.
• Local Tip: Wear sturdy shoes. The ground is unpaved, and some of the older structures have worn metal edges. Visiting an hour before sunset gives you both natural golden hour light and the evening glow of the carousel lights.

Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP): The Space-Age Visual Hub

If you have watched K-pop MVs with a futuristic, sleek, or cyberpunk aesthetic, chances are high that part of it was filmed at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP). Designed by the world-renowned architect Zaha Hadid, this giant neo-futuristic structure features seamless aluminum panels, curving walkways, and zero straight walls. It looks like a spaceship that landed in the middle of traditional Seoul.

DDP appears in EXO’s performance clips, Stray Kids’ promotional videos, SEVENTEEN’s choreography shots, and LOONA’s visual teasers. It is also a preferred location for Seoul Fashion Week, making it a hotspot for idols who double as brand ambassadors.

Exploring DDP Like a Local

The beauty of DDP is that accessing the exterior grounds, rooftops, and walking paths is entirely free and open 24 hours a day. The curved concrete tunnels on the lower plaza level provide natural sound reverberation, which is why you will frequently catch local dance cover crews recording their YouTube covers in front of the exterior walls.

• Nearest Station: Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station (Lines 2, 4, and 5), Exits 1 or 2 step out directly into the plaza.
• Best Photo Spots: The central O-Bridge and the lower subterranean plaza offer clean, sci-fi backgrounds without power lines or distracting commercial signs.
• Local Tip: Visit late at night. Around midnight, the crowds disappear, and the LED exterior lighting gives the building a distinct moody atmosphere that looks identical to late-night dance MVs.

Seoul Forest and the Ttukseom Han River Underpass

Located in Seongsu-dong—currently Seoul’s trendiest neighborhood for pop-up stores and café culture—Seoul Forest is a expansive green park that offers dense woodland paths, deer enclosures, and industrial-style pedestrian bridges. Right adjacent to the park is the Ttukseom Han River area, connected by an underground pedestrian tunnel.

BTS fans (ARMY) will immediately recognize the concrete underpass near the park from J-Hope’s Daydream visual cues and various BTS Love Yourself highlight reel scenes. NCT 127 and SHINee have also utilized the metallic bridges, brick walls, and lush forest pathways for performance teasers and casual reality show shoots.

Navigating the Area

Seoul Forest is massive, so if you are searching for specific MV angles, you will want to focus on two distinct areas: the Central Park lake area and the pedestrian bridge that crosses over to the Han River view.

• Nearest Station: Seoul Forest Station (Suin-Bundang Line), Exit 3 or 4. Alternatively, Ttukseom Station (Line 2), Exit 8.
• Budgeting: Entrance to Seoul Forest Park is completely free.
• Local Tip: Seongsu-dong is right next door. After taking your photos, walk over to Yeonmujang-gil to explore K-beauty flagship stores like Olive Young or grab coffee at local cafes. It is common for K-pop pop-up stores to operate in Seongsu, so check Twitter/X or Weverse to see if your favorite group has an active event nearby during your travel dates.

Kyung Hee University (Seoul Campus): Gothic Grandeur

You might wonder why a university campus is on a K-pop filming list, but once you step onto Kyung Hee University’s Seoul Campus in Dongdaemun-gu, you will understand immediately. The campus is famous for its grand European-style architecture, including the majestic Grand Peace Palace, which looks like a medieval cathedral, and the neoclassical University Administration Building flanked by marble pillars.

AKMU (Akdong Musician), Stray Kids, and numerous vocal groups have filmed videos, live performance clips, and concept films on these steps. The soaring stone columns and wide staircases provide a dramatic, cinematic backdrop that looks more like Western Europe than East Asia.

Visiting Etiquette and Details

Keep in mind that Kyung Hee University is an active educational institution. While visitors are welcome to walk around the outdoor grounds, it is important to stay respectful of students attending classes.

• Nearest Station: Hoegi Station (Line 1 and Gyeongui-Jungang Line), Exit 1.
• Getting There: Walk about 15 minutes from Hoegi Station, or hop on the small green neighborhood bus (Dongdaemun 01) right outside Exit 1, which drops you off directly inside the university gates.
• Best Time to Visit: Early spring (early to mid-April) when the entire campus is covered in cherry blossoms, or late autumn when the ginkgo trees turn bright yellow.

Nodeul Island: Sunset Views and Indie Pop Aesthetics

Nodeul Island (Nodeulseom) is an artificial island located in the middle of the Han River, sitting directly beneath the Hangang Bridge. Formerly an abandoned patch of land, the Seoul Metropolitan Government redeveloped it into an eco-cultural complex featuring lawn parks, live music halls, and bookstore cafes.

Because of its 360-degree views of the river and the Yeouido skyline, Nodeul Island has become a frequent spot for emotional K-pop ballads, indie pop music videos, and K-drama filming (most notably drama series like Start-Up). Artists like IU, Lee Hi, and various vocalists under HYBE and SM Entertainment have filmed aesthetic sunset videos along the wooden boardwalks and grassy slopes here.

How to Visit

Nodeul Island is easily accessible by public bus or a short walk across the pedestrian path of Hangang Bridge.

• Nearest Station: Nodeul Station (Line 9), Exit 2. Walk straight toward the bridge for about 10–15 minutes to reach the island entrance.
• Cost: Free entry to the island and outdoor park areas.
• Local Tip: Head here about an hour before sunset. The view of the sun dipping behind the Yeouido skyscrapers across the water creates the exact warm, nostalgic lighting you see in Korean music videos.

Comparison of Popular Seoul MV Locations

Here is a quick overview to help you plan your itinerary based on visual style and transit access:

Location	Visual Style	Nearest Subway
Yongma Land	Retro, abandoned, carnival	Mangu Station
DDP	Futuristic, modern, sharp	Dongdaemun H&C Park
Seoul Forest	Nature, urban underpass, park	Seoul Forest Station
Kyung Hee Univ.	Gothic European, classic	Hoegi Station
Nodeul Island	Riverside, sunset skyline	Nodeul Station

Practical Logistics for Your K-Pop Location Tour

Navigating Seoul to find exact filming spots is very manageable once you know how locals get around. Here are essential practical tips to keep your day running smoothly.

1. Navigation Apps: Skip Google Maps

One common mistake foreign visitors make in Korea is relying entirely on Google Maps. Due to South Korean vector data security laws, Google Maps does not provide accurate walking turn-by-turn navigation or updated bus routes inside the country. Instead, download Naver Map or KakaoMap before you land. Both apps offer full English language interfaces, precise subway exit details, and exact pin locations for spots like Yongma Land or DDP.

2. Transit Cards and Transportation Costs

To travel efficiently between these spots, purchase a T-money card or a Climate Card (K-Climate Card) at any convenience store (CU, GS25, Seven-Eleven) or subway station ticket machine in Seoul. Blank T-money cards generally cost around 3,000 to 5,000 won (roughly $2.50–$4.00 USD). You then load cash onto the card at station kiosks.

Base subway and bus fares in Seoul start at roughly 1,400 won (about $1.00 USD) for trips under 10 km, making public transportation by far the most economical way to tour the city. If you plan to take three to four subway rides in a day, budget around 6,000 to 10,000 won per day for transport.

3. Booking Activities and Tickets

While all the outdoor MV locations listed above (except Yongma Land) are completely free to enter, you might want to combine your location scouting with other experiences. For discount entry to nearby attractions, mobile Wi-Fi eSIMs, or transport cards, widely used platforms like Klook offer reliable English booking services with instant confirmation vouchers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What map app should I use to find K-pop MV locations in Seoul?

You should use Naver Map or KakaoMap. Both apps are available in English and offer accurate walking directions, public transport schedules, and exact subway exit references in Korea, whereas Google Maps has limited functionality due to local mapping regulations.

Do I need permission or tickets to visit Yongma Land?

You do not need to book tickets in advance, but you must pay an entry fee at the gate upon arrival. The admission fee is typically around 10,000 won per person in cash or local transfer. Because it is privately owned, hours can vary, so arriving during mid-day daylight hours is recommended.

What is the cheapest way to travel between music video spots in Seoul?

The standard Seoul Subway system using a rechargeable T-money card or a tourist day pass is the cheapest and most efficient method. Base fares begin around 1,400 won, and transfers between subway lines and city buses are free within designated time limits when tapping your card.

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