Edited by Seo Hayne
Translated by Hana
Extraordinary Attorney Woo (2022): Dongbu Village Hackberry Tree in Changwon
Woo Young Woo (played by Park Eun Bin) from Extraordinary Attorney Woo is a young lawyer with Asperger’s syndrome and a genius mind, and the story unfolds as she and her co-workers fight through various legal cases. The seventh episode has law firm Hanbada defending Sodeok-dong residents who oppose the construction of a highway on their land. The residents of Dongbu Village beg the lawyers to come and visit their town as they seem reluctant to accept their case. When the lawyers finally arrive in town, they are astonished by the grand view stretching across the town all the way up to the hill where the hackberry tree stands. The tree, which grabbed the viewers’ attention throughout the series, is about 500 years old and located in the small village of Changwon. The circumference of the tree requires 4 to 5 adults to fully wrap around its trunk and has been classified as a natural monument. Bukbu-ri of Changwon also has murals related to Extraordinary Attorney Woo all over the town beside the grand view of Hackberry Tree.
Our Beloved Summer (2021): Haengnidan-gil in Suwon
Our Beloved Summer follows two former lovers — Choi Woong (played by Choi Woo Shik) and Kook Yeon Soo (Kim Da Mi) — getting pulled back into each other’s lives again ten years after their separation. The drama was filmed in Seoul, Suwon, Jeonju and Nonsan. The most memorable scene in the drama was filmed in Haengridan Gil in Suwon, where the two’s memories and current lives cross paths with each other. Choi Woong’s white house in the show is actually a cafe in front of the Northern Guard Pavilion of Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon. The place is currently closed and has been remodeled for the filming. Walking along the Hwaseong Haenggung palace, you can see the house with a green door where Kook Yeon Soo and her grandmother reside in the series. The two had a picnic on a green glass field at Suwon Hwaseong Fortress, and you can take a stroll along the castle’s quiet path and revisit your memories of the drama characters once you visit Suwon. Suwon Haengnidan-gil is visited by a growing number of people as it was featured in Extraordinary Attorney Woo as the kimbap restaurant run by Woo Young Woo’s father.
Mine (2021): Museum SAN
Mine tells the story of two women from the Hyowon Group — Seo Hee Soo (played by Lee Bo Young) and Jung Seo Hyeon (Kim Seo Hyeong) — who try to find their true selves amid the bloody horrors of the family. The two, with different backgrounds and personalities, team up against the Hyowon Group after learning that Seo Hyeon’s husband, Ji Yong (Lee Hyun Wook), has cheated on her. Leaving Ji Yong’s death a mystery to be solved, the drama presents a magnificent house where the families of Hyowon reside. The place gives off both a modern, classic vibe and mystic serenity. This magnificent property surrounded by woods is Museum SAN, designed by famous Japanese architect Tadao Ando. This foundation is located in Wonju of Gangwon-do and was also featured in tvN drama Adamas, starring Ji Sung.
The Sound of Magic (2022): Yongma Land
The Sound of Magic is a rare Korean musical drama. Based on a popular webtoon, the series tells the story of a mysterious magician named Lee Eul (played by Ji Chang Wook) who appears in front of a dreamless girl named Yoon Ah Yi (Choi Sung Eun). Unlike the colorless original webtoon work, the drama shows plenty of dream-like scenes filled with vivid colors. The drama reproduced the abandoned amusement park from the original work and increased the immersion of the whole series. Lee Eul’s hideout was filmed in Yongma Land, an actually existing amusement park that went out of business years ago. The merry go ’round featured in the main poster is also located here. Although the rides are not in operation, you can look around or take photos in the park (paid admission is required). The place has reportedly been featured in numerous music videos and commercials besides The Sound of Magic.
Vincenzo (2021): Sewoon Arcade
Vincenzo won many viewers’ hearts with its thrilling revenge tale run by a dark antihero. The story unfolds as Italian mob lawyer Vincenzo (Song Joong Ki) moves back to Korea due to a conflict within his organization. In his motherland, he teams up with a feisty female lawyer named Hong Cha Young (Jeon Yeo Been) to give an evil conglomerate a taste of its own medicine. Vincenzo comes to Korea to retrieve a stash of gold under the Geumga Plaza building and is forced to join the arcade tenants in the fight against Babel Group as their interests align. The Geumga Plaza in the series is a real market building called Sewoon Arcade located in Eulji-ro of Seoul. This plaza is South Korea’s first electronics retailer complex that faced demolition numerous times. Vincenzo’s house and office, which frequently appear in the drama, were filmed in Cheong Gye Arcade behind Sewoon Arcade. The place is now enjoying an increasing number of tourists taking pictures in front of the building complex as the drama became a massive hit.
Editor Seo Hayne: I like actors as they faithfully lead through their long running-time. I also like idols who accomplish everything on stage within 3 minutes.
