At least once in their lives, everyone might have imagined about having superpowers. What would it be like to be able to read peoples’ minds, or become invisible, or teleport? What kinds of people have superpowers? Perhaps our everyday friends or neighbors have hidden superpowers as well?
The superhero series “Moving” was released on Disney Plus last August. As soon as it was released, it ranked first in the global popularity ranking, and it also ranked first in 5 Asian countries including Japan and Hong Kong. Amid the successes of K-contents such as Squid Game and The Glory, the superhero human action series “Moving” has gained popularity as a Korean version of the Avengers, where children concealing their superpowers and parents burdened by their painful past unite to face danger. How does the drama “Moving” portray Seoul? Let’s discover Seoul, a place that seems ordinary but different and special, just like the main characters of “Moving.”
For Korean-style Everyday Culinary
Namsan Pork Cutlet
The reason for the popularity of “Moving” is that it is about familiar heroes, which is different from typical hero stories. Normally, heroes in movies and dramas are extraordinary beings that have superior powers. Yet the heroes from “Moving” are a bit different. Each of them may have his or her own superpower but each of them lives their life just like other ordinary people. They are familiar and humble. They carry on with their lives driving a bus or running a pork cutlet restaurant.
When travelling in Seoul, you can easily come across pork cutlet restaurants. Especially, the restaurant with the name Namsan Port Cutlet is quite often noticeable. The name of Hyo-joo Han’s (as Mi-hyun Lee) restaurant is also called Namsan Pork Cutlet. Unfortunately, this place featured in “Moving” is a film set, so you cannot actually visit this restaurant in person. Instead, we would like to introduce a place where you can enjoy the Korean-style pork cutlet and the atmosphere. It’s in Namsan, a landmark and scenic attraction in Seoul.
There are a variety of restaurants in the Namsan area, neighboring Myeong-dong, but particularly there are many places that sell Korean-style pork cutlets. Numerous pork cutlet eateries, each with unique charms, are clustered near Namsan. Before visiting the charming Namsan, let’s try the crispy Korean-style pork cutlet with special sauce at a nearby restaurant.
After tasting Namsan pork cutlet, we recommend taking the Namsan cable car up to Namsan Tower and take in the stunning views of Seoul. While we may not be able to fly, we can have a joyous and delightful experience as if we were flying, with the combination of delicious pork cutlet and the wonderful view of Seoul seen from high above.
The Biggest Traditional Market in Seoul
Dongdaemun Market
One of the most interesting places during travels is the traditional market. Mainly used by locals, these markets hold a unique atmosphere that is exclusive to the city. The lively vitality of the market provides energy for travelers.
There are many big and small markets in Seoul. Dongdaemun Market, together with the Dongdaemun Composite Market, is the largest market in Seoul and in Korea. This marketplace that features the familiar ordinary peoples’ daily lives is where Sung-kyun Kim (as Jae-man Lee) worked in the past in “Moving.” Well known as the fashion mecca and market, it is no exaggeration to say that Dongdaemun Market actually has almost everything in the world for sale. From fashion miscellaneous goods, various food items, to fruits, toys, and tools, everything is available.
Opened in 1905, Dongdaemun Market has been cherished not only as a market for Seoul citizens but also as a tourist attraction for over a century. How about feeling the humanism you felt while watching Sung-kyun Kim (as Jae-man Lee) waiting for his son, whether it was raining or snowing in “Moving” at Dongdaemun Market? The scent of life that can only be felt in the market will leave a lasting impression on your travels.
○Address: 12, Jong-ro 36-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
○Operation hours: 08:00 - 19:00 (closed every Sunday / closing time differs by the store)
○Phone number: 02-2262-0113
○Website: Click Here
A Place Where You Can See Many Different Aspects of Seoul at Once
Yongridan-gil
Seoul may seem like a glamorous city at a glance, but you’ll be surprised at how many different charms you can encounter when traveling in Seoul. In the unknown alleys within the forest of buildings, Seoul is the place where fascinating stories are hidden and cannot be imagined from the outside. It’s just like the characters from the series “Moving.” Narrating the special aspects of ordinary people, one of the areas in Seoul featured in “Moving” is Yongsan. The past and the present coexist in Yongsan, and it is where things which are the most Korean and global come together. Yongsan is also the location of Wonhyo Apartment, the place where Kim Sung-kyun (as Lee Jae-man) lived with his family in the past in the series “Moving.” Let’s check out Yongridan-gil, one of the attractive locations in Yongsan.
Yongridan-gil refers to the street from Sinyongsan station to Samgakji station. It is already a popular spot in Seoul that doesn’t really need additional elaboration. Offering more than just great restaurants and cafes, Yongridan-gil has cultural spaces such as exhibition areas, providing the experience to enjoy the fun of travels. Itaewon, known as the most exotic street in Seoul; the Yongsan Electronics Market, which is full of electronics items; and the National Museum of Korea, a special spot where you can explore the past, present and future of Korea, are all connected to Yongridan-gil, which allows you to see the diverse and attractive aspects of Seoul. Let’s enjoy a journey like a K-drama, with each episode bringing excitement, on Yongridan-gil, where you can experience the diverse facets of Seoul from culture and art to discovering restaurants and trendy hotspots.
Where You Can Feel the Beauty of Nature’s Seasons
Bulgwangcheon
With numerous mountains, rivers, and streams, Seoul is a nice city for walking. Seoul is a great city to travel and enjoy the nature, such as the representative Hangang Park, Cheonggyecheon, and Yangjaecheon. The riverside that stretches across the city is also nice to feel the seasons offered by nature. Lovely spring flowers in the springtime, trees thick with green leaves in the summer, colored leaves in the fall, and the snow-covered paths in the winter enhances the pleasure of walking during your travel. Among the many riversides in Seoul, Bulgwangcheon appears in “Moving.”
The place where In-sung Zo (as Doo-sik Kim) flies in the scene in “Moving” is Bulgwangcheon, which is famous for its cherry blossoms and autumn foliage. Attracting attention with its pink, cotton-candy-like full bloom cherry blossoms in the series, Bulgwangcheon has a well-maintained bicycle and walking path along the river and is crowded with cyclists and pedestrians during the weekend.
The beautiful scenery of Bulgwangcheon and its surroundings are famous as many K-drama and movie film locations. So if you’re a K-drama fan, make sure to visit this place. Jingwansa or Eunpyeong Hanok Village in Eunpyeong-gu near Bulgwangcheon features beautiful scenery and many attractions, so it would be a good idea to visit these spots together. Leaves blowing in the wind will add to the autumn mood and create a setting for you to become the lead character of a Hallyu drama. This fall, an autumn drama at Bulgwangcheon – ready, set, go!