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When it comes to Korean dramas, there are many kinds of drama genres. Among the many genres, romance and romantic comedy dramas may be the most popular of them all. Dramas appeal to emotions that exist across cultures, and viewers across the world often end up crying and laughing along with their favorite characters. Dramas can be hugely influential in pop culture and they may even start trends. Locations that appear in dramas, the foods and brands that are featured usually end up gaining attention post-broadcast. Let’s see some of the charming locales and cool items that have featured in some beloved dramas. 

Descendants of the Sun

“Descendants of the Sun” is Korea’s latest hit drama. The love stories, fun dialogue and incredible actors made the drama a huge hit with viewers both in Korea and abroad. The romance between handsome and talented captain, Yoo Sijin (Song Joong Ki) and the brilliant, beautiful doctor, Kang Moyeon (Song Hye Kyo) was the main focus of the drama. However the secondary love story between Sergeant Major Suh Daeyeong (Jin Goo) and First Lieutenant Yoon Myeongju (Kim Ji Won) was no less riveting, and viewers ended up cheering for both couples.

Song Hye Kyo has been modeling for the cosmetics brand Laneige for years now and her character in “Descendants of the Sun” could often be seen applying Laneige lipstick. To get Song Hye Kyo’s fresh-faced look, shop for Laneige products in Seoul. Following the drama’s broadcast, Laneige lipstick became very popular with young Korean women.

There is a memorable scene in the drama where Sijin and Daeyeong join forces and attempt to cook samgye-tang (ginseng chicken soup) for their girlfriends, Moyeon and Myeongju. Samgye-tang is a well-known dish and it’s famously eaten on hot days in order to reinvigorate the body. Thanks to “Descendants of the Sun,” this well-known dish has become even more famous, especially overseas. In May, 2016 the Joymain Group chose Seoul as the destination for their employee incentive tour. 8,000 executives and staff from the Joymain Group visited Seoul. As part of their tour, and because of the drama’s popularity in China, a samgye-tang party was held for the visitors by the Han River. Another memorable scene took place with Sijin giving a gift of chocopie. Chocopies are a popular snack in Korea. The classic flavor is chocolate but recently a new flavor, banana, was released and it’s been growing in popularity since its release.
 

My Love from the Star

“My Love from the Star” is a romantic comedy about a top Hallyu star, Chun Song-yi (Jun Ji-hyun) and an alien, Do Min-joon (Kim Soo Hyun) who fall in love. The show’s run started off with relatively low viewer ratings, but the drama’s popularity soared and reached a high of 28.1% nationwide. “My Love from the Star” proved to be hugely influential force in pop culture. Foods, fashions, and places that appeared in the drama saw huge boosts in sales, popularity, and visits. One of the most memorable locations from the drama is without a doubt the iconic Namsan Seoul Tower. The tower is famous in its own right, and thanks to its location atop Namsan Mountain, the views are incredibly beautiful. Fans of the drama will find Namsan Seoul Tower especially romantic and memorable, given the scenes between Min-joon and Song-yi that took place here.

The classic and elegant Deoksugung Stonewall Walkway was the filming location for a scene with Min-joon and his friend, the lawyer Mr. Jang. The two are chatting and strolling along the walkway when Min-joon suddenly gets an unexpected phone call from Song-yi. The Seoul Museum of Art is located along the Deoksugung Stonewall Walkway. When you visit the walkway, you should also take time to stop by the museum. The museum’s classic façade and well-tended garden are just the place relax, enjoy the art, and clear your mind, just like Min-joon did in the drama.

In the drama’s last episode, Song-yi and Min-joon share a romantic kiss. Their kiss scene was filmed at the National Theater of Korea. The theater is over 60 years old and it is central to the performing arts in Korea. The performances held at the National Theater of Korea are diverse in nature and every month you will be able to see a new performance. In addition to the three locations in this article, there are many other filming locations from the drama in Seoul. If you want to spend time at one of the cafés seen in the drama or visit the udon noodle shop that Min-joon took Song-yi to, come and visit Seoul!

Twenty Again
 

“Twenty Again” is romantic comedy about a woman who lost her chance to attend college in her youth. Years later, after devoting her life to her husband and child, she decides to take a leap and enroll in college. Choi Jiwoo plays the lead role, Ha Nora. Nora had lived life for her husband and son, but after her husband tells her he wants a divorce, she feels lost in the world. On the heels of this declaration from her husband, Nora decides to experience college. As a college student, Nora finds herself, develops new friendships and experiences new love. The college campus that is seen in the drama is the real-life Konkuk University campus in Seoul. The large lake and footpaths that Choi Jiwoo walked with her love interest in the drama, Lee Sang Yun are all located inside the Konkuk campus.

In the drama, Nora’s grandmother ran a tteok-bokki (stir-fried rice cake) restaurant called Granny's Flower Tteok-Bokki. The actual storefront from the drama exists, but in real-life it’s not a restaurant, but a small shop that sells goods like snacks, drinks, cigarettes, and so on. The quaint storefront is a striking contrast to the tall, modern buildings that surround it. Though you can’t buy tteok-bokki here, you can see the restaurant sign used in the drama and other props!

A major turning point in the drama occurred here at L’Amuse de Yeonhui. When Nora’s husband, Kim Woo-chul (Choi Won Young) declared his intention to divorce her at the start of the drama, Nora had fought against it. But as she experiences life independently of her husband, she realizes that the love between them faded long ago. Thus, after having fought the divorce proceedings, Nora decides to take life by the horns and tells her husband she wants a divorce. This scene took place at the restaurant L’Amuse de Yeonhui. Even before the filming took place, the eatery was well known and popular among young Seoulites and had been featured on food-related TV shows. “Twenty Again” filmed in Yeonnam-dong, Mangwon-dong, and Konkuk University. Get in touch with your inner college student and visit these filming spots.
 

She Was Pretty
 

"She Was Pretty" is a light-hearted romantic comedy. Hyejin (Hwang Jung Eum) was beautiful as a young girl, but grew up to become an “unattractive” woman. Hyejin's childhood best friend and first love, Seongjun (Park Seo Jun) was an ugly duckling as a child, but grew up to become a handsome and stylish man. The main cast is rounded out with Min Hari (Go Joon Hee) who seems perfect on the outside but is masking many imperfections, and Shinhyuk, (Choi SiWon) a man who wears his boldness like a shield. Aired in 2015, this fun and sweet drama was a huge hit in Korea.

In the drama, the ever-plucky Hyejin’s home was located in the Seochon neighborhood. Hyejin’s adorable and cozy two-story house was the scene of many heart-to-heart conversations. There is a small table just outside the front door, and this is where Hyejin and Shinhyuk had many late-night, heartfelt conversations. The table is the perfect spot to take some photos and re-enact scenes from the drama. However, in real-life, the house is actually a store that sells vintage and handmade music boxes.

Yeonghwaru is a Chinese restaurant where two of the supporting characters in "She Was Pretty" had their first date. Junwu (Park Yu Hwan) and Han Seol (Shin Hae Sun) are co-workers at Most magazine and they eat fire jjamppong (extra spicy seafood noodle soup) here. The restaurant has been a Seochon fixture for over 30 years. Though the restaurant is small in size, the many celebrity autographs on display can attest to the establishment’s popularity. 

Poet’s Hill is where Shinhyuk (Choi SiWon) went to clear his mind and organize his thoughts. The hill is known as Poet’s Hill because of the famed poet Yun Dong-Ju. He would frequently walk on the hill in order to get inspiration for his poetry. Poet’s Hill is especially beautiful at night as you can see great views of Seoul. An evening here would be a great way to finish off a day of sightseeing.