Where's Anne? | Travel & Lifestyle Blog

10+ Places mentioned in this video:

Asia Culture Center (국립아시아문화전당) + Library Park (라이브러리 파크)

Chungjang-dong / Geumnam-ro Shopping Street (충장동 / 금남로) + ACC Madang (하늘 마당)

Dongmyeong-dong Cafe Neighborhood (동명동)

Gwangju Art Street (광주예술의거리)

Penguin Village (펭귄마을 (양림동))

Sajik Park & Guitar Street (사직동통 기타거리) + Sajik Park (사직공원)

Radiating Youthfulness Village (청춘발산마을)

Mudeungsan National Park (무등산국립공원) Watch my video on it: https://youtu.be/1w3idzvqWjo

Uncheon Reservoir (운천저수지) is a great spot to see cherry blossoms! 🌸

May 18 Democratic Movement Hall (5.18민주화운동기록관)

*in the order they appear in the video

And more places in Gwangju *not in the video:

1913 Songjeong Market (across from Gwangju Songjeong Station)

Family Land (Uchi Park) Zoo (우치공원동물원)

Gwangju-Kia Champions Field (KIA 챔피언스 필드)

5.18 Park (기념공원) (near KBS and City Hall)

Gwangju Eco Park

⭐️ Where is your favorite place in Gwangju?

Last year, I took a one-day trip to Gunsan, a historic port city in Jeollabuk-do province. Similar to Mokpo (목포시) and Naju (나주시) cities, Gunsan has modern historic vibes — because of the Japanese-style architecture from the Japanese colonial period.

Gunsan is a small and lesser-known Korean city with plenty of interesting things to do, places to go for a day trip or a short weekend trip.

Use KakaoMap or Naver Maps to bookmark and find these 10+ places mentioned:

Gunsan Train Station 군산역 has tourist guides/maps available

Gunsan Gyeongam-dong Railroad Village 군산 경암 철길마을

E-Mart is good for parking or renting a bicycle! 🚲

Gunsan Modern History Museum 군산근대역사박물관

Former Jeil Feed Corporation Factory 구제일사료주식회사 공장 + Cafe196

Museum of Modern Art 군산근대미술관

Jinpo Marine Theme Park 진포해양테마공원

Honam Customs Museum 호남관세박물관 is a popular photo spot

Chowon Photo Studio 초원사진관

Lee Sung Dang 이성당 is known as the oldest bakery in Korea and was opened in 1945.

+ Japanese House in Sinheung-dong (Hirotsu House) 군산 신흥동 일본식가옥(히로쓰 가옥)

+ Dongguksa Temple 동국사

+ If you have extra time, check out the Chaeseokgang Cave in Buan-gun 부안군채석강

I have written some blog posts, shared tens of photos #AnneLovesNaju on Instagram, and recorded many videos of my travel experiences in Naju on YouTube. In summary, here are some things you should know about living in Naju, Jeollanam-do, South Korea.

What is Naju known for?

Among Koreans, Naju is best known for its delicious Asian pear “Naju bae” (나주배), the Naju Gomtang beef-bone soup (나주곰탕), flat plains along the Yeongsan River (영산강), and the new Naju Bitgaram Innocity (빛가람동) featuring KEPCO and 15 other big Korean corporation buildings relocated in 2014 from Seoul.

According to Wikipedia, Naju is also known as the “little Seoul” since it has the local Yeongsan River stretching throughout the tiny historic city.

First, I will share with you some of the cons of living in Naju which you should know and consider.

Cons of Living in Naju, South Korea:

There’s a very small expat community.

If you’re planning to move to South Korea and about to start teaching in Naju, you should know that Naju doesn’t have a huge expat community. It can be lonely at times. On the weekends, you may realize that most English teachers leave Naju and take the local bus or train to Mokpo or Gwangju for shopping, a bigger social life, etc. I heard Koreans used to go home to their families in Seoul on the weekends and only work on the weekdays in Naju Innocity.

Between the EPIK/JLP Programs, TaLK Program, local universities, restaurant workers, factory or farm foreigner workers, I would guess that there are about 100 to 200 foreigners living in Naju. You just have to find them!

Join both the Naju (나주) and the Gwangju (광주) Facebook Groups to find out any local events, communities, resources, etc. Both of these groups are good for meeting people, discovering what’s happening, or selling/buying items in the Naju area and Gwangju city.

Locals speak less English and see less foreigners compared to Seoul.

Since there aren’t many foreigners living or exploring Naju, the local Koreans will likely stare or give you attention and might even attempt to ask you what you’re doing in Naju!

Pros of Naju:

Naju is located on the Honam Line.

The local Naju Train Station (나주역) connects all the way up to Seoul if you want to visit Seoul within two hours. 

Naju has a new Innocity.

Public transportation is good and makes it easy to travel to other cities.

The cost of living in Naju is affordable.

Naju has flat plains, perfect for cycling or easy hiking.

Behind the local Naju High School and Dongshin University, the Geumseongsan Mountain (금성산) is the tallest mountain in Naju, where you can also see views of the local historic “Old Naju City” with views of the new Bitgaram “Naju Innocity” on the other side of the river.

There are two local airports with budget flight options.

In neighboring city Muan (무안) and local airport in Gwangju, which both connect to other airports throughout Korea and internationally to other Asian countries.

Air pollution isn’t a big issue in Naju as Seoul.

The air pollution down in Jeollanam-do province is still an issue, but not as high or concerning as it is in Seoul. In the recent years, thousands of families have relocated from Seoul to Naju Innocity for the promise of cleaner air.

Naju has one of the largest K-drama filming site in Jeollanam-do.

Naju is not Seoul

Naju is definitely not the big energy of Korea’s capital city. While many expats hope and dream of living and working in Seoul, living in Naju gives a chance to see other parts of authentic Korean culture.

After all said, living outside of Seoul in Naju, Jeollanam-do was a secret blessing in disguise.

Watch my video sharing what it’s like living in Naju on YouTube:

Do you recognize any of these locations from your favorite K‑drama?

Gwanghwamun Square (광화문광장)

Find King Sejong in Gwanghwamun Square, Seoul where the Korean tv series “City Hunter” (Korean: 시티헌터) was filmed in 2011. It’s where Lee Min Ho arrives in Seoul for the first time.

Bukchon Hanok Village (북촌한옥마을)

Visit the neighborhood in Seoul, where 2013 Korean drama “The Heirs” (상속자 들) filmed a scene. It’s where Lee Min Ho finds Park Shin Hye at the dream catcher shop.

N SEOUL TOWER (N서울타워)

Overlooking the city from the top of South Mountain, Namsan Seoul Tower has love locks and cable cars. Featured in “Boys Over Flowers”, “My Love From Another Star”, “Rooftop Prince.”

Seongsu Station (성수역)

Find this wall mural off of Seongsu Station, Seoul where “Goblin: The Lonely and Great God” of episode 3 was filmed.

Graffiti Tunnel Sinchon (신촌벽화터널)

In Sinchon, Seoul, walk through this tunnel where the popular K‑drama “Goblin” was filmed. It’s the scene of Gong Yoo and Lee Dong Wook walked through the Tunnel after buying green onions for Kim Go Eun.

Into the Storm (폭풍속으로 세트장) in Uljin (울진)

In Uljin County, Gangwon-do, you can find the 2004 movie “Into The Storm” (Korean: 폭풍 속으로) movie scene. (Source: AsianWiki)

Jumunjin Beach (주문진해변)

I haven’t visited here yet! In Gangneung, Gangwon‑do, one of the most iconic scenes from the show “Goblin” is when Eun Tak first summons Kim Shin to the beach on her birthday.

BIFF Square (광장) in Nampo-dong (남포동), Busan

If you like films enough, be sure to see BIFF Square or visit the Busan International Film Festival in October in Busan city. Similar to the Walk of Fame in Hollywood, US, you can see handprints of famous directors and actors when the BIFF Square premiered in 1996. Today, the square is a popular destination for shopping, food carts or reading the handprints.

Busan Gamcheon Culture Village (부산 감천문화마을)

An episode of “Running Man” (Korean: 런닝맨) tv series, which has been aired on SBS since 2010 and aired over 500 episodes, filmed a scene in the famous Gamcheon Cultural Village in Busan.

Gunsan (군산)

In Wolmyeongdong neighborhood (월명동) in Gunsan, Jeollabuk‑do, visit the Chowon Photo Studio. Also in Gunsan, the Binhaewon Chinese Restaurant (빈해원 식당) was used for the “Crash Landing on You” in episodes 11 and 12; it’s where Jeong‑hyuk faces a large group of gangsters and Se‑ri buys the restaurant with the request to the tenants to locate Jo Cheol‑kang. I loved this k-drama!

Most recently, the Netflix zombie apocalypse movie “Alive” (Korean: 알아있다) released in 2020 was also filmed in Gunsan.

Damyang Bamboo Forest (죽녹원)

In Damyang, Jeollanam‑do, the Juknokwon Bamboo Forest has posters throughout the forest where k‑dramas were filmed.

Naju Film Theme Park (나주 영상테마파크)

In Naju, Jeollanam‑do, has a variety of new and old buildings where k‑dramas were filmed: My Country: The New Age (2019); The King In Love (2017); Goblin (2016‑17); Jang Young‑sil (2016); Moon Lovers (2016); Jeon Woo‑chi (2012‑13); Iljimae (2008); The Legend (2007); Jumong (2006‑07)

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Suncheon Seonamsa Temple (선암사)

In Suncheon, Jeollanam‑do, majority of the drama “Damo” was filmed at the Seonamsa Temple.

Boseong Greentea Plantation (보성 녹차밭)

In Boseong, Jeollanam‑do, see the green tea fields to live out the scene from “Legend of the Blue Sea.” It’s the scene where Lee Min Ho meets Jun Ji Hyun in the past.

Aqua Planet Yeosu (아쿠아플라넷 여수)

Multiple scenes of “Legend of the Blue Sea” were filmed at the Yeosu Expo and Aqua Planet Yeosu in Yeosu, Jeollanam‑do province.

Cheongsando island in Wando (완도군)

Visit Wando, Jeollanam‑do, to see the village for ‘Pinocchio’ of yellow fields and petite houses.

And this concludes this mini guide of some places in South Korea where k-dramas, movies, or music videos were used as filming sites. If you want to visit any of these locations or if you’ve already visited a location, be sure to comment below and let me know!

Spot a mistake or new information? Feel free to contact me. Thanks for reading!

Places in Busan mentioned in this video:

Oryukdo Skywalk 오륙도 스카이워크

BIFF Square 광장

Busan Tower 부산 타워

Yongdusan Park 용도산공원

Haeundae Beach 해운대해수욕장

You can use Kakao Maps (or Naver Maps apps) to go to Oryukdo Skywalk; it's walkable and has pathways for bikes or wheel-access for hikes or bikes. BIFF Square is a 10 to 15-minute walk to up to Busan Tower, located in the center of Yongdu-san Park 용도산공원. Message me if you have questions about this trip! 

You can enjoy other Busan videos:

✰ "Colorful “Machu Picchu” of Busan, Sea Life Aquarium 부산아쿠아리움 Travel Vlog" https://youtu.be/C6NRiu0l_fM

✰ "Korea's most beautiful temple along the sea, cafe hopping, Haeundae Beach" https://youtu.be/NSCSZi5I-fA