[WEEKEND GETAWAY] Where to find the 'Welcome to Samdal-ri' forest and other iconic K-drama sites

Track down the filming sites for these iconic scenes in three recent dramas, "Welcome to Samdal-ri," "Boyhood" and "Like Flowers in Sand," which have lifted new hidden gems across Korea into the spotlight.

Cypress forest trail in the Secret Forest in Gujwa-eup, Jeju, gained popularity after appearing in a scene of ″Welcome to Samdal-ri″ on JTBC. [MI, SLL]

The strongest desire for travel often comes from the simplest thing, like a social media post with pretty pictures, a random story from a friend or a scene from a good movie.

Beautifully illustrated scenes onscreen have long been among the strongest inspirations for planning one's next trip.

Three recent dramas, "Welcome to Samdal-ri," "Boyhood" and "Like Flowers in Sand," have lifted new sites into the spotlight as fans have flocked to the place of their favorite stories.

If you are interested in any of these dramas with local backgrounds and are up for a trip tracking down vintage streets and hidden gems, check out these four scenic spots from the three dramas.

Bbulsora Park (Horn Conch Park)뿔소라공원

Dolphins are not too hard to see at the sea around Daejeong-eup, Seogwipo in Jeju. [YONHAP]

"Welcome to Samdal-ri" on JTBC premiered on Dec. 2 and aired its final episode on Jan. 21. The title itself already implies life away from the urban center as Samdal-ri is the name of a real town in Seongsan-eup, Seogwipo in Jeju. Locals recognize the town for the particularly azure shade of the sea and oreum — volcanic hills found in Jeju — surrounding the town's borders.

Cho Sam-dal, the main woman character played by Shin Hye-sun, is a photographer who takes pictures throughout her journey in Jeju. She visits places where natural landscapes are captured beautifully, away from places that are already in high demand.

The scenic place where Cho Yong-pil (Ji Chang-wook) confesses his feelings for her is Bbulsora Park, or Horn Conch Park, in Seogwipo. It is a tranquil park near Sindopo District located at the west end of the island. It is famous for the wide sea view, but the best part might be getting to see pods of dolphins — if you're lucky.

3125-5 Sindo-ri, Daejeong-eup, Seogwipo, Jeju (제주특별자치도 서귀포시 대정읍 신도리 3125-5)

Secret Forest비밀의 숲

A scene of Sam-dal walking in the Secret Forest in ″Welcome to Samdal-ri.″ [MI, SLL]

After complaining about the island being packed with tourists and spots targeting them, Sam-dal heads to Secret Forest in Gujwa-eup, Jeju City while ambitiously declaring that the forest has something different from other viral places. Located at the foot of Andol Oreum, Secret Forest is a natural forest with spacious grassland and cypress trees. The spot is less known compared to the other natural forests on the island like the renowned Bijarim Forest nearby, but has recently been a hotspot among Gen MZ.

The forest has been in operation since 2020 and almost instantly gained recognition within a year on social media as a spot to snap a photo. The turquoise-colored camping truck is the most iconic backdrop, adding to the drama especially when it snows. The truck functions as the ticket booth, accepting cash or payment through local bank transfers only. The admission fee is 3,000 won ($2.25).

The cypress forest trail is also another aesthetic photo spot, where Sam-dal takes a picture of soon-to-be newlyweds.

Now is the time to visit the forest before it attracts more attention on social media and chases the fame of Bijarim Forest.

"During the winters, there are barely any visitors but after the drama went live, there are now around 300 visitors coming to the forest every day," a spokesperson said.

@secretforest752173, Songdang-ri, Gujwa-eup, Jeju, Jeju(제주특별자치도 제주시 특별자치도, 구좌읍 송당리 2170)Business hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Admission Fee: 3,000 won ($2.25)

Gongjicheon 공지천

The main characters have a date nearby Gongjicheon Recreational Area in ″Boyhood″ (2023). [COUPANG PLAY]

"Boyhood" (2023) is a comedy-action series that aired in November and December of last year on Coupang Play. Played by Yim Si-wan, the main character Jang Byeong-tae is a teenager from the 1980s who goes through a dramatic series of school-related happenings after he moves to Buyeo, South Chungcheong. His humorous acting gains more light through the dating scenes with his love interest, Kang Seon-hwa played by Kang Hye-won. While the drama is based in Buyeo, most of the scenes were filmed in Chuncheon, Gangwon.

Chuncheon is already high on the list of places to visit for Seoullites who like to venture out of the city, but visiting Gongjicheon might not be at the top of many itineraries. Located in Geunhwa-dong, visitors can hop onto a duck boat ride around Gongjicheon Stream, which is what the couple does in the series. Along the border of the road, there is an array of cafes where visitors can get some rest while taking in the view.

The date spots in "Boyhood" are not only in the Gongjicheon area. If you are a fan of this series, check out the other spots to see if you can recognize them, like the nostalgic music dabang — Korean retro-style cafe — that was shot in Hwayangyeonghwa Coffee in Seoksa-dong.

25 Ethiopia-gil, Chuncheon, Gangwon(강원도 춘천시 이디오피아길25)

Homigot호미곶

Homigot is the main background and home to the main characters in ″Like Flowers in Sand″ airing on ENA. [ENA]

The series "Like Flowers in Sand" premiered on Dec. 20 last year and is still airing on ENA. The drama takes place in a fictional background, in "Geosan County" in South Gyeongsang, but the drama was shot in Pohang, North Gyeongsang. Homigot in Nam District was the filming spot for the daily life scenes between Kim Baek-du (Jang Dong-yoon) and Oh Yoo-kyung (Lee Ju-myoung). The seaside view and the port are well captured at Homigot, which is a popular sunrise-watching spot, especially at the start of the year.

Traveling to Homigot, the seaside area at the east end of the peninsula, is worth a visit to Homigot Sunrise Square. A backward-ticking clock and a large cauldron, the biggest in Korea, are some of the major attractions.

And, of course, the monumental bronze sculptures shaped as a large pair of hands facing each other from a distance are not to be missed. Even in the cold, it is fairly easy to spot visitors shuffling to the wooden deck at the left side of the square, where they can score a better view of the sea.

464 Guman-ri, Homigot-myeon, Nam District, Pohang, North Gyeongsang(경상북도 포항시 남구 호미곶면 구만리 464)

BY KIM DONG-EUN [kim.dongeun@joongang.co.kr]