{"id":38130,"date":"2024-12-01T14:40:32","date_gmt":"2024-12-01T22:40:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/?p=38130"},"modified":"2025-08-23T14:07:10","modified_gmt":"2025-08-23T21:07:10","slug":"in-my-city-seoul","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/es\/in-my-city-seoul\/","title":{"rendered":"In My City: Seoul"},"content":{"rendered":"<span class=\"cb-itemprop\" itemprop=\"reviewBody\"><h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">IN MY CITY: SEOUL<br \/>\nQ&amp;A with Bong Cho<\/h2>\n<hr \/>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\">Stevie Nelson talks to Bong Cho\/LMGI on living and working in South Korea\u2019s vibrant capital city<\/h4>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\">All photos by Bong Cho\/LMGI, except where noted<\/h4>\n<hr \/>\n<div id=\"attachment_38119\" style=\"width: 1040px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-38119\" class=\"size-large wp-image-38119\" src=\"https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Chunggyechun-1030x687.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1030\" height=\"687\" srcset=\"https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Chunggyechun-1030x687.jpg 1030w, https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Chunggyechun-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Chunggyechun-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Chunggyechun-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Chunggyechun.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1030px) 100vw, 1030px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-38119\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cheonggyecheon<\/p><\/div>\n<p><b>Stevie: <\/b><b>HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING IN LOCATIONS?<br \/>\nHOW DID YOU START &amp; WHAT DO YOU PRIMARILY WORK ON? <span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_38127\" style=\"width: 305px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-38127\" class=\"wp-image-38127 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/\ub178\ub4e4\uc12c_portrait_03-295x400.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"295\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/\ub178\ub4e4\uc12c_portrait_03-295x400.jpg 295w, https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/\ub178\ub4e4\uc12c_portrait_03.jpg 700w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 295px) 100vw, 295px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-38127\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Courtesy of Bong Cho\/LMGI<\/p><\/div>\n<p><b>Bong Cho:<\/b><b> <\/b>I was born in Ilsan, which is a satellite city of Seoul. Technically. I wasn\u2019t born in Seoul, but it\u2019s considered as \u2018Metropolitan Seoul.\u2019 Since my high school was in Seoul, I commuted from Ilsan to Seoul from the 10th grade. I graduated from Seoul\u2019s Chung Ang University (CAU), with a major in film studies. I had originally thought I would focus on directing. I consider Seoul my \u2018hometown.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>My first location job was <i>Sense8<\/i> S2 which was filmed in Korea in 2016. At that time, I was eager to find a job because I was broke after producing an independent film as a director. Because I could speak English, which was uncommon in the Korean film industry at the time, I was able to secure the job relatively easily, even though I didn\u2019t have a driver\u2019s license. During the job interview, (Seon, the LM of <i>Sense8<\/i>) said he would hire me under one condition: to get a driver\u2019s license as soon as possible. I achieved it immediately, and that\u2019s how I started my location career.<\/p>\n<p>I was a location office PA for <i>Sense8<\/i>, and it was an exciting experience. The best thing was money. Local film crews get paid well nowadays but in the early 2010s, the monthly wage for a PA was only one-sixth compared to the current payroll. Considering this, Sense8 paid me very well. They also paid the staff for working \u2018overtime,\u2019 and that was quite sensational to me. Technically, I started the location work because of money.<\/p>\n<p>In my 20s, I wanted to be a director or a creative. Location job was good in terms of money, However, I have to say it was more like a \u2018nuts and bolts\u2019 task; when directors or production designers were looking for certain locations, I provided them with available and production-friendly options. Once they made their decisions, I made a logistics plan. I repeated this a lot. It was natural to me because this is how other local location managers work.<\/p>\n<p>Like a factory operating 24\/7 producing goods, I worked for anything related to international production, from feature films like <i>Black Panther<\/i> and <i>Pacific Rim: Uprising <\/i>to documentaries, independent films, music videos and commercials. I hardly took any breaks for years, and finally, in 2019, I became the head of the Location Department for the action series <i>Treadstone<\/i>. It was hard for me because it was my first HOD (head of department) job, and I had to work with people who used to be my bosses. It was challenging, however, I made it, and shooting went well.<\/p>\n<p>A year later, while I was preparing <i>Pachinko<\/i> S1 in 2020, I became too exhausted: tough requirements on locations, fear of COVID-19 and strict protocols, dealing with seven cities that were so far apart that even moving between them was a full day-long journey. Like other HODs, my email inbox was overflowing. And one day. I found an interesting email. It was from LMGI, saying that I was nominated for an award as the location manager of <i>Treadstone<\/i>. I was so thrilled. But when they asked me, \u201cHow I contributed to the show creatively as a location manager\u201d during the entire interview, I was taken aback, because I had never thought about it.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>It changed a lot in my career. I became more proactive and creative in location scouting and found the real joy of location work. It was not different from what I dreamed of in my 20s\u2014\u2018some kind of a creative.\u2019 But after realizing the essence of the job, while doing the location work, I started asking myself questions such as \u201cWhat if&#8230;\u201d or \u201cIf I were the director&#8230;\u201d or \u201cIf I were one of the characters in the script&#8230;\u201d I enthusiastically discussed with production designers or other creatives about my ideas. Since most of those creatives were not familiar with Seoul (or South Korea), they loved my new attitude, and it was satisfying for me as well.<\/p>\n<p><b><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-38124\" src=\"https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/KakaoTalk_Photo_2024-09-29-12-21-33-029-773x1030.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"773\" height=\"1030\" srcset=\"https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/KakaoTalk_Photo_2024-09-29-12-21-33-029-773x1030.jpeg 773w, https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/KakaoTalk_Photo_2024-09-29-12-21-33-029-300x400.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/KakaoTalk_Photo_2024-09-29-12-21-33-029-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/KakaoTalk_Photo_2024-09-29-12-21-33-029-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/KakaoTalk_Photo_2024-09-29-12-21-33-029.jpeg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 773px) 100vw, 773px\" \/>Stevie: <\/b><b>WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE PRIMARY DRAW FOR FILMING IN &amp; AROUND SEOUL &amp; ITS SURROUNDING AREAS IN GENERAL? WHAT KIND OF \u201cLOOKS\u201d ARE THERE? WHAT ARE YOUR PERSONAL FAVORITES &amp; WHY?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>BC: <\/b>Seoul is currently in a period where the city\u2019s culture is being defined. Nowadays, it is expressed as being \u201cHip.\u201d<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>In the \u201960s, Seoul was a place for immigrants and many settled in the Haebangchon District which is one of the oldest districts in Seoul. Haebangchon has been featured in many visual works. From <i>Avengers: Age of Ultron<\/i>, the first Hollywood major film shot in South Korea, to viral YouTube videos, it is one of the most popular locations. The shape of the village is quite cinematic with great vantage points, insanely steep roads and narrow alley mazes. The name of the village, \u2018Haebangchon,\u2019 consists of \u2018Haebang,\u2019 which means independence, and \u2018Chon,\u2019 which means village. The village was founded right after Korea became independent from Japan in 1945.<\/p>\n<p>Many artists who needed a cheap place in Seoul started to gather in this village. Immigrants from overseas also came in. And then the new generation started interpreting the town culturally. The hilly terrain was packed with people from all different backgrounds. Various kinds of rooftop bars, caf\u00e9s, restaurants, bookstores and music shops have opened, diverse cultures bloomed, and that\u2019s how Haebangchon got the image of a \u2018Hip town.\u2019<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Stevie: <\/b><b>WHAT TYPES OF PRODUCTIONS FILM IN SEOUL?<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>BC: <\/b>Seoul must be one of the most active filming locations in the world. There are all kinds of productions going on: TV series, feature films, commercials, music videos, short-form videos. With most of the film-related things being based in Seoul, I guess we can say almost every Korean content is being made in Metropolitan Seoul.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_38126\" style=\"width: 783px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-38126\" class=\"size-large wp-image-38126\" src=\"https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Songdo-Tribowl1-773x1030.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"773\" height=\"1030\" srcset=\"https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Songdo-Tribowl1-773x1030.jpg 773w, https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Songdo-Tribowl1-300x400.jpg 300w, https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Songdo-Tribowl1-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Songdo-Tribowl1-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Songdo-Tribowl1.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 773px) 100vw, 773px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-38126\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Songdo Tribowl<\/p><\/div>\n<p><b>Stevie: <\/b><b>WHAT CHALLENGES DO YOU FACE IN YOUR JOB?<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>BC:<\/b><b> <\/b>Location managers must balance between the production they belong to and the local location owners or stakeholders. For example, when filming at an airport, the airport has its own rules, and the production that the location manager is part of has its own objectives and protocols. These two often conflict, and it is the location manager\u2019s job to find the common ground between them.<\/p>\n<p>This alone is quite a tiring job, but the most challenging aspect related to my work is that there is another entity I need to coordinate with, making it a total of three: overseas production, local production and the locations. In Korea, when planning a shooting schedule, the actors\u2019 and the locations\u2019 schedules are given priority. Union crew regulations such as turnaround time, mealtime, etc., is further down the priority list. However, in North America, union regulations are not considered separate but rather mandatory and fundamental, something that is naturally assumed.<\/p>\n<p>Local productions mostly align with the location schedule, but when it comes to the work I do, which involves international productions, our overall production schedule factoring in union rules is more important. That means we may become unwelcome guests to the location owners because we are asking the location availability to conform to our schedule. Consequently, it goes without saying that the location team must put in additional emotional labor, and North American studios often end up paying more to the location owners compared to domestic production companies.<\/p>\n<p>This becomes a difficult issue that I want to ignore but can\u2019t. Once my team pays a relatively large amount money to shoot at a certain location, then other domestic productions coming afterward will have to pay a significantly higher amount, compared to what they used to pay. Sometimes, my colleagues criticize me, saying, \u201cYou\u2019ve raised the market price.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>We face many challenges when shooting in public places like the streets of Seoul. In general, as long as we do not bother the citizens while we shoot, almost anything is possible. For example, using a Ukrainian Arm on a public street doesn\u2019t require special permits as long as it doesn\u2019t cause major disruptions to traffic flow. However, if it involves controlling and causing inconvenience to the citizens, such control is barely accepted. In more familiar terms, hard closures are difficult to achieve within Seoul, and it may be only possible if the location team can prove through studies that a specific range of a street has significantly low-traffic volume during a certain extent of time.<\/p>\n<p>Clever domestic productions make good use of this and film small-action scenes on the streets of Seoul without road closures, utilizing the time between traffic signs. They obtain permits for two lane closures and design action sequences accordingly, often employing bold VFX techniques. However, for the majority of North American films, such shooting styles are nearly impossible. Whenever a director of a film that requires road closures asks, \u201cK-dramas shoot many action scenes in Seoul without road closures, why can\u2019t we do the same?\u201d I always find it difficult to answer. My main challenge is primarily how to find common ground between these two different worlds.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_38129\" style=\"width: 783px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-38129\" class=\"wp-image-38129 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Yongin-Backlot-773x1030.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"773\" height=\"1030\" srcset=\"https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Yongin-Backlot-773x1030.jpg 773w, https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Yongin-Backlot-300x400.jpg 300w, https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Yongin-Backlot-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Yongin-Backlot-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Yongin-Backlot.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 773px) 100vw, 773px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-38129\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Yongin Backlot<\/p><\/div>\n<p><b>Stevie: <\/b><b>WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITES OR MOST MEMORABLE FILMING EXPERIENCES?<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>BC:<\/b><b> <\/b><i>Pachinko<\/i> is the most memorable project for me. It was a project where I started incorporating creativity into my job, and while previous Hollywood films shot in Korea tended to set the country as an exotic backdrop for action sequences, <i>Pachinko<\/i> clearly required the location to be in Korea and set as Korea. It was incredibly challenging, and I was able to grow significantly. Building on that experience, I successfully completed the shooting for Season 2 in Korea as well.<\/p>\n<p><b><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-38122\" src=\"https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/KakaoTalk_Photo_2024-09-29-12-21-33-011-1030x579.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1030\" height=\"579\" srcset=\"https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/KakaoTalk_Photo_2024-09-29-12-21-33-011-1030x579.jpeg 1030w, https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/KakaoTalk_Photo_2024-09-29-12-21-33-011-400x225.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/KakaoTalk_Photo_2024-09-29-12-21-33-011-768x432.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/KakaoTalk_Photo_2024-09-29-12-21-33-011-1536x864.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/KakaoTalk_Photo_2024-09-29-12-21-33-011.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1030px) 100vw, 1030px\" \/>Stevie: <\/b><b>DOES SEOUL OR SOUTH KOREA OFFER ANY INCENTIVES TO HOLLYWOOD FILMMAKERS?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>BC:<\/b><b> <\/b>In South Korea, tax incentives are commonly used to attract overseas filming. There is a system in place that refunds 25% of production costs, however, number 25% may seem like a significant amount. The cap is around $200,000 USD, which is not very helpful for Hollywood productions. However, independent or low-budget projects can benefit from various programs, including the location incentives above. For example, when scouting in Korea, the Korea Film Commission supports the traveling crew\u2019s flights and accommodations, but this support is limited to economy-class flights and four stars or lower hotels.<\/p>\n<p><b>Stevie: <\/b><b>WHAT ARE YOUR TOOLS OF THE TRADE?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>BC:<\/b><b> <\/b>A location manager is typically someone who has a built-in navigation system in their head. However, I am not one of them. On the contrary, I tend to get lost easily. It\u2019s especially true when I\u2019m in unfamiliar places. That\u2019s why I rely on document-centered preparation rather than relying on my instincts for location work. Understanding the mindset of someone who struggles with directions is my advantage in being a location manager.<\/p>\n<p><b><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-38123\" src=\"https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/KakaoTalk_Photo_2024-09-29-12-21-33-024-1030x579.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1030\" height=\"579\" srcset=\"https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/KakaoTalk_Photo_2024-09-29-12-21-33-024-1030x579.jpeg 1030w, https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/KakaoTalk_Photo_2024-09-29-12-21-33-024-400x225.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/KakaoTalk_Photo_2024-09-29-12-21-33-024-768x432.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/KakaoTalk_Photo_2024-09-29-12-21-33-024-1536x864.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/KakaoTalk_Photo_2024-09-29-12-21-33-024.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1030px) 100vw, 1030px\" \/>Stevie: <\/b><b>WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT THE JOB?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>BC:<\/b><b> <\/b>Movies are fictional. I pursue locations that are suitable for foundation for spaces in the fiction. To create that foundation, hypotheses are formulated, scouting is conducted, new things are learned through the scouting, assumptions are adjusted based on what is learned, and then scouting is done again. Around this time, production designer scouting typically takes place.<\/p>\n<p>I absolutely love the moment in the process when a story that doesn\u2019t exist in reality begins to take root and meet real locations, just like the last day of shooting \u2018Martini.\u2019<\/p>\n<p><b>Stevie: <\/b><b>WHAT ONE PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR YOUNGER SELF OR SOMEONE<br \/>\nJUST STARTING OUT IN THIS PROFESSION?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>BC:<\/b><b> <\/b>You may find it very stressful to be a location manager for Hollywood projects in Seoul! But it\u2019s not as bad as you think!<\/p>\n<p><b><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-38121\" src=\"https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/IMG_9024-1030x773.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1030\" height=\"773\" srcset=\"https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/IMG_9024-1030x773.jpg 1030w, https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/IMG_9024-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/IMG_9024-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/IMG_9024.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1030px) 100vw, 1030px\" \/>Stevie: <\/b><b>WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO JOIN THE LMGI &amp; HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A MEMBER?<\/b><b><span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>BH:<\/b><b> <\/b>Thanks to Douglas Dresser, who is also a member of LMGI, I have learned more about location managing. I have been a member of LMGI since 2020.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">Bong Cho\u2019s Private Tour<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><b><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-38128\" src=\"https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/KakaoTalk_Photo_2024-09-29-12-21-04-004-1030x773.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1030\" height=\"773\" srcset=\"https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/KakaoTalk_Photo_2024-09-29-12-21-04-004-1030x773.jpeg 1030w, https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/KakaoTalk_Photo_2024-09-29-12-21-04-004-400x300.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/KakaoTalk_Photo_2024-09-29-12-21-04-004-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/KakaoTalk_Photo_2024-09-29-12-21-04-004.jpeg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1030px) 100vw, 1030px\" \/>MUST-SEE PLACE:<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Nodeul Island. This artificial island is located on the Han River which crosses the middle of Seoul and part of it lies under Hangangdaegyo Bridge. This public park also has cultural indoor spaces (bookstore, cafe, music facilities). This tranquil oasis also gives you great city views of Seoul.<\/p>\n<p><b>FAVORITE SHOP:<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Coupang &#8230; it\u2019s the Korean version of Amazon. (I don\u2019t go shopping offline.)<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>FAVORITE RESTAURANT:<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Soseoul Hannam (Modern Korean Cuisine). Korea has distinct seasons. Although South Korea is a small country, we hold both Summer and Winter Olympics as weather changes a lot per season. Soseoul Hannam offers great seasonal dishes paired with good traditional drinks.<\/p>\n<p><b>PLACE TO SEE BY NIGHT:<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p>Hongdae Street. It\u2019s young and a hip street\u2014a cultural center of K-pop. Naksan Park\u2014A hilly park with a beautiful old castle wall. It\u2019s a nice place to chill out. If you are looking for a fun place to drink, the Itaewon neighborhood is one of the best places in SeouI. The Haebangchon Sinheung Market should not be missed! This multi-cultural 70-year-old market is very popular with visitors. There are various restaurants and unique cafes not only inside the market, but also outside the market. Visitors can find chicken, sushi restaurants, Thai food, noodles and American fusion Chinese restaurants.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>BEST DAY TRIP:<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Nowadays, Seoul is a huge city. However, a century ago, Seoul was much smaller, and the following places are the central area of Seoul with a long history; palace, commercial district, residential areas and observatory (beacons). They are all within walking distance, and you can feel both old &amp; new Korea.<\/p>\n<p>Gyeongbokgung Palace. There are many palaces in Seoul, but Gyeongbokgung is one of the most beautiful and the largest of them. Now a museum, it was built in 1395 during the Joseon Dynasty. As a cultural icon, Gyeongbokgung Palace has served as a filming location for many historical K-dramas such as <i>Kingdom, Goong, The Last Empress<\/i> and <i>The Moon Embracing the Sun<\/i>. However, its numerous filming restrictions make only nimble, small footprint \u201cdocumentary style\u201d filming possible.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Bukchon Hanok Village is a Korean traditional village that has been carefully preserved to showcase its 600-year-old history. Filled with museums and cultural centers, it\u2019s a must-visit if you love learning about a city\u2019s culture and history. It\u2019s also one of the toughest filming locations in Seoul. The paths are narrow, there are a lot of tourists, and many historic structures that need extra care. However, it was one of the main locations in <i>Sense8<\/i>. When shooting <i>Sense8<\/i>, we had to create six mini-tech bases to service the company.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Namsan Mountain Park is the largest park in Seoul. A space where people can enjoy nature within the city, it attracts many visitors, including tourists and locals. The park features many attractions and activities, such as the Ahn Jung-geun Memorial Hall, a cable car, a children\u2019s forest experience center and the Namsan Seoul Tower Observatory.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Gwangjang Market. One of the oldest and largest traditional markets in South Korea. <i>To All the Boys I Have Loved\u2013<\/i>S3<i>, Street Food Asia<\/i> and numerous films have shot here. However, as it has become so famous, it\u2019s hard to shoot there these days.<\/p>\n<p>The Cheonggyecheon Stream is an 11km stream running through the heart of Seoul that has been made into an art and nature walkway lined with lanterns, fountains, artworks, bridges and outdoor exhibitions. Very popular with locals and tourists, it is also a film-friendly location.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Myeongdong Street. This shopper\u2019s paradise with its many shops and restaurants is the most touristic area in Seoul. For big footprint film, it\u2019s only doable on Sunday morning.<\/p>\n<p>Gwanghwamun Square. Also known as Gwanghwamun Plaza, this Seoul landmark is a public space located next <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-38120\" src=\"https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Ikseon-dong-1-267x400.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"350\" height=\"525\" srcset=\"https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Ikseon-dong-1-267x400.jpg 267w, https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Ikseon-dong-1.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/>to the main gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace, and is most known for the majestic statue of King Sejong, one of Korea\u2019s most famous historical figures.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Although it\u2019s a busy location, as long as production starts prep in advance, it\u2019s not difficult to shoot.<\/p>\n<p><b>FAVORITE NEIGHBORHOOD:<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p>Yongsan\u2014a district which includes Itaewon, Nodeul Island and Namsan Mountain Park. In Yongsan District, there are my favorite places. It\u2019s the most dynamic place in Seoul. (I cannot say it\u2019s film-friendly as there is a presidential office and US military base, but it is filmable.)<\/p>\n<p><b>FAVORITE LOCAL ARTIST<\/b><b>: <span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p>IU, South Korean singer, songwriter and actress. Her real name is Lee Ji-eun. She is one of the most famous stars in South Korea and is often referred to as the \u201cNation\u2019s Little Sister.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><b>BEST BAR\/CLUB: <span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p>Itaewon, Myeongdong. Hongdae streets have a lot of nice bars\/pubs\/clubs. If you want to have a \u2018special place,\u2019 try the Timber House Park Hyatt Seoul. Although it\u2019s like a modern five-star hotel, it has very Korean vibe. (It was a location for <i>Pachinko<\/i> S1.)<\/p>\n<p><b>BEST PLACE TO HEAR MUSIC: <span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p>Nodeul Island.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>BEST VANTAGE POINT\/SCENIC VIEW:<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b> <span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p>Naksan Park, Namsan Mountain Park, Lotte Tower.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Naksan Park is named for its shape which resembles a camel\u2019s back. The park is a great spot to enjoy a beautiful sunset or night view of the city. It\u2019s also a popular filming location for K-dramas like <i>The Inheritors (The Heirs)<\/i> and <i>My Lovely Girl.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p>Namsan Park has the Namsan Seoul Tower Observatory. The tower is a famous landmark where visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of Seoul. It\u2019s also a popular date spot in many K-dramas and was featured in <i>Boys Over Flowers, The Legend of the Blue Sea, My Love from the Star, The Last Empress, <\/i>among many other shows. <span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Lotte Tower is a 123-story, 555m super tall skyscraper. It is the sixth-tallest building in the world, the tallest in OECD countries, and the first in South Korea to be more than 100 stories tall. It has retail, commercial, residential, hotel and public spaces, including an observation deck and restaurants.<\/p>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Stevie Nelson talks to Bong Cho\/LMGI on living and working in South Korea\u2019s vibrant capital city<\/p>","protected":false},"author":63,"featured_media":38125,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-38130","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-featured"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>In My City: Seoul - Location Managers Guild International<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/locationmanagers.org\/es\/in-my-city-seoul\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"es_ES\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"In My City: Seoul - 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