In 2025, the number of foreign tourists visiting Korea surpassed 18.7 million, hitting a record high. Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism credited much of this growth to the global spread of Hallyu content — K-pop, dramas, and films.
A survey by the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute found that “Hallyu content” ranked as the number one reason foreign tourists became interested in Korea, with “traditional Korean culture” coming in second.
But here’s the problem. Southeast Asian travelers are flocking to Seoul hoping to stand in the exact spots their favorite K-dramas were filmed — only to find those locations so crowded that recreating the scene is nearly impossible. That’s why a growing number of travelers are now making the one-hour trip from Seoul to Suwon Hwaseong Haenggung dong instead. Below, we’ll walk through Seoul’s classic filming spots first, then introduce a hidden alternative that even most Koreans don’t know about yet.
Why Southeast Asian Tourists Are Drawn to Korea’s Drama Filming Locations
“Hallyu is trending” isn’t a full explanation. The data tells a more specific story.
In the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s 2025 national image survey, foreign favorability toward Korea reached 82.3% — the highest score since the survey began in 2018. That goodwill is translating into actual visits. At the National Folk Museum of Korea, foreign visitors reached 1.35 million in 2025, accounting for roughly 60% of all visitors — more than double the previous year.
That said, the recovery isn’t uniform across Southeast Asia. According to the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute, whether a country is subject to Korea’s K-ETA (electronic travel authorization) directly affects how quickly its outbound travel to Korea recovers. Since Thailand’s K-ETA requirement was reinstated in April 2024, rising visa rejection rates have weighed on demand — Thailand’s 2026 visitor forecast is still expected to sit 35.8% below 2019 levels. In other words, this isn’t simply “Southeast Asian tourism is booming everywhere” — it’s a more layered story where content-driven demand and policy barriers pull in opposite directions.
Major content moments create sharp, short-term spikes too. At the BTS concert held in Gwanghwamun in March 2026, foreign attendees made up 44.7% of the crowd. A single blockbuster drama or concert can concentrate a wave of international visitors into a very narrow window.
Seoul: The Classic K-Drama Filming Locations
The official Visit Seoul travel guide, run by the Seoul Tourism Organization, dedicates an entire section under its Hallyu Tour category to K-drama filming locations, organized by neighborhood — Gwanghwamun, Myeongdong, Dongdaemun, Hongdae, Yeouido, Itaewon, Gangnam, and Jamsil. Seoul has essentially become the default starting point for any K-drama tour.
Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon Hanok Village top the list. Wearing a hanbok gets you free palace admission, so most visitors start by renting traditional dress before heading to these historic-drama backdrops. Modern romance filming spots like Cheonggyecheon Stream and Yeouido Park are just as popular. The catch: these locations now draw both large tour groups and independent travelers simultaneously, meaning long waits even for a single photo.
Beyond Seoul: Suwon Hwaseong Haenggung dong
This is where things get interesting. Suwon Hwaseong Haenggung as a K-drama filming location isn’t some newly discovered hotspot — it’s been a quiet mainstay of Korean historical dramas for years.
According to Korea Tourism Organization’s official travel information, Hwaseong Haenggung’s elegant, dignified architecture has made it a recurring filming location for the film “The King and the Clown” and dramas “Dae Jang Geum” and “Yi San.” In other words, if “Dae Jang Geum” or “Yi San” is what first sparked a Southeast Asian traveler’s interest in Korea, the actual filming backdrop isn’t in Seoul — it’s in Suwon.
The timing works in its favor, too. Suwon has designated 2026 as “Visit Suwon Year” and is actively investing in tourism infrastructure. Local media report ongoing improvements along the corridor from Hwaseong Haenggung through Hwaseong Fortress to Suwoncheon Stream to make the area more visitor-friendly. As Seoul’s filming spots edge toward saturation, Suwon is emerging as the place to experience the same content with far more breathing room.
Seoul vs. Suwon Haenggung dong: A Quick Comparison
| Category | Seoul (Gyeongbokgung/Bukchon) | Suwon Haenggung |
|---|---|---|
| Featured productions | Mix of modern dramas and historical epics | “Dae Jang Geum,” “Yi San,” “The King and the Clown” |
| Free entry with hanbok | Yes | Yes (modified hanbok included) |
| Crowd levels | Heavy group tours, long waits at photo spots | Noticeably quieter |
| Travel time from central Seoul | — | About 1 hour by subway/bus |
| Night opening | Limited, palace-specific | Available (selected by Korea Tourism Organization as one of its “100 Best Night Tourism Spots”) |
| Surrounding area | Hanok villages, historic palaces | Haenggung-dong craft street, café street, the “King’s Alley” walking route |
Haenggung-dong also offers the “King’s Alley” walking course, which loops out from and back to Hwaseong Haenggung — meaning your visit doesn’t end at the palace gate. It naturally extends into the craft street and café district nearby, something Seoul’s more compact filming spots can’t really offer.
Why You Should Go Now
Seoul’s filming locations are absolutely worth a visit, but at this point, too many travelers are taking the same photo in the same spot. Suwon Hwaseong Haenggung carries the same Hallyu story without the crowds — and that window of relative quiet won’t last forever as awareness grows.
If you’re adding Suwon to a Seoul itinerary, check the Hwaseong Haenggung night opening hours and hanbok-for-free-entry conditions ahead of time, and plan a day-trip route around them. A common pattern works well: spend the morning in Seoul at Gyeongbokgung or Bukchon, then head to Suwon in the afternoon to catch the sunset and night view at Hwaseong Haenggung. If you want to actually experience a K-drama filming location rather than just see it, add Suwon Hwaseong Haenggung to your next Korea itinerary.
