visitseoul.net

Director Bong Joon-ho, acclaimed as a world-renowned filmmaker, has become the center of attention and praise from around the world. After the big success of his film “Parasite,” other works of his filmography, which are characterized by a combination of social themes and entertainment, and the filming locations of these movies have attracted attention as well. "Bong Hive Tour" is a Seoul tour program designed to help fans of Director Bong better understand his unique worldview and sensibility by touring the filming sites of his major works including "Memories of Murder" and "Okja," as well as the place where "Parasite" was born. If you are a member of the Bong Hive, the ever-growing fan club of Director Bong, check this out!

Seeing the Costumes and Props in "Parasite" Up Close and Personal  

Korean Film Archive

The Korean Film Archive, run by the Korean Federation of Film Archives, is the only film museum in Seoul. This place is like a treasure chest where visitors can see and experience everything about Korean cinema. They can learn about the history of Korean cinema that spans over 100 years, from the birth of Korean films to the present where they become the wind beneath Hallyu (Korean Wave) all around the world. The archive also provides various permanent exhibitions, including "A Time Travel with Korean Movies" which introduces the history of Korean cinema in chronological order, as well as special exhibitions. Recently, the costumes and props featured in Director Bong's "Parasite" have been added to these collections. The costumes worn by Yeon-gyo (Cho Yeo-jeong), Gi-taek (Song Kang-ho), and Gi-u (Choi Woo-shik) in the film, as well as the scholar's rock, one of the most important props, are especially popular with fans of Director Bong who love to take pictures with these items in the background.

A Resting area beloved by Seoul citizens 

Haneul Park

The park was a filming location for "Memories of Murder," one of Director Bong's major works. In the movie, the park appears as a landfill where the detectives searched for evidence. Now, this park has been transformed into an ecological environment park and the bleak images seen in the scene are nowhere to be found. As a park full of various flowers and plants throughout all four seasons, it is now a resting area beloved by Seoul citizens. Climbing the 300 stairs leading up to the park one by one, visitors are presented with a breathtaking view of the Hangang River and downtown Seoul that gradually unveils itself. From the observation deck at the top of the park, they can appreciate the glow of the sunset, riverscape, view of city center speckled with skyscrapers, and panorama of the rock walls of Bukhansan Mountain that surround the city like a folding screen.

A Sacred Place for Collectors that Even "Okja" Visited

Hoehyeon Underground Shopping Center

Hoehyeon Underground Shopping Center is where Director Bong shot a scene in his first Netflix feature film "Okja," in which the superpig named Okja escapes. This shopping center has recently stepped into the spotlight again as a place full of analog vibes with the rise of retro or newtro trend. Here, many shops selling items that evoke nostalgia, such as LP records, film cameras, and antiques, are still in business. Visitors can experience time travel into the past just by slowly browsing the shops in the center. In this shopping center located in an underground space between Myeongdong Station and Hoehyeon Station, travelers can shop comfortably regardless of season or weather. Nearby the center area are major tourist attractions such as Namdaemun Market, Myeongdong, Namsan Mountain, and Sungnyemun Gate, making it a create place to stop by before or after a cultural tour in Seoul.

A Cup of Bongtail Special by the Sunny Window

Cafe Seoraesu

Cafe Seoraesu, to which the entrance is covered in ivy, inviting you into the romantic space, is known as a cafe that Director Bong frequently visits. He sat by the window of this cafe and wrote the plot for the film “Parasite” and drew continuity sketches. The name "Seoraesu" means "the most outstanding thing from the West." It represents the owner's commitment to providing only the best coffee to customers. In fact, the owner, who has been running this cafe for over 14 years, is a coffee master who served as the jury president of the Golden Coffee Awards. "Bongtail Special," a special blend for director Bong who has an excellent taste for not only cinema but also coffee, is one of this cafe's specialties. The blend is characterized by its emphasis on the refreshing taste of Ethiopian coffee and its base of mild Colombian coffee and heavy Guatemalan coffee. This coffee is also available in disposable packaging for customers who want to enjoy it at home.