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Descendants Of The Sun Filming Locations Every K-Drama Super Fan Has To Visit

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Zaleha Z. •  Jul 13, 2016

Descendants of the Sun is 2016's highest rating Korean drama starring Soong Joong Ki and Song Hye Kyo. This K-drama received immense popularity across Asia with its soldier (Captain Yoo) and doctor (Doctor Kang) love story. Due to their job assignments, both characters were deployed to Uruk (a fictional country) and experienced a lot of hardships together. I love this drama so much! Lets relive the drama by visiting places where the show was filmed. Captain Yoo is the most charming soldier on earth right? ?

Credit: giphy

1. Descendants of The Sun special exhibition, Level 3 – Doota Duty Free

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Credit: m.breaknews

Doota Duty Free is located next to Doota Mall. It just opened in May 2016, and the spokesperson is none other than Song Joong Ki himself. You can shop and visit the special exhibition that's exclusive for the drama. After visiting the special exhibition you can also go to the Level 4-K-culture experience zone, where you'll have the chance to wear traditional Korean "hanbok" .

Website

Address: 275, Jangchungdan-ro, Jung-gu,  Seoul

Operating Hours:

Sunday-Thursday: 10:30-00:00 (next day)

Friday-Saturday: 10:30-05:00 (next day)

Nearest Subway: Dongdaemun History Culture & Park

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Credit: @indebox.co.kr

#HHWT Tip: Don’t forget to try grilled fish at the Dongdaemun Grilled Fish Alley!

2. KBS Broadcast Station

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KBS is the main producer of Descendants of the Sun. The KBS Exhibition Hall is a space where visitors can experience radio and television broadcasting production first-hand. They also have a Hologram Corner, a 3D TV Experience and the Character Photo Zone.  Lucky me, I was in Seoul and I managed to take a photo with Captain Yoo at the lobby. Oh well it's just a standee but I’m still happy!!

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Address: 13, Yeouigongwon-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul

Nearest Subway: National Assembly

KBS Exhibition Hall Admission: Free

Operating Hours: 9:30am-17:30

#HHWT Tip:  You can also visit the famous stairs of KBS’s 2 days 1 night opening cut here.

3. Dal.komm Coffee, Songdo, Incheon

The café appears as the meeting point between the cast in the drama.

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Credit: doggi3

Address: Level 1, Central Park Prugio, 23-5 Songdo-dong, Yeonsu District, Incheon, Korea

Nearest Subway: Incheon National University Station (Exit 4)

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Credit : doggi3

The Songdo branch is the exact location in which both our beloved hero and heroine break up before they rekindle their love in Uruk.

Other Dal.komm Coffee branches featured in the drama are:

  • Dal.komm Coffee @ Yangjae (Sergeant Seo and Lieutenant Myeong Joo’s scene)
    • Address: 67-7 Yangjae 1(il)-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea

  • Dal.komm Coffee @ Bundang (Captain Yoo and Sergeant Seo’s scene)
    • Address: 162-4 Jeongja-dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
    • Subway: Jeongja Station (Bundang Line, Shinbundang Line), and Exit 5. Walk for about 400m.

4. Taebaek, Gangwon-do (Hanbo Coal Mine)

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Credit: thousandwonders

Taebaek is a city in Gangwon province, South Korea. It is accessible via car, bus and train. The journey will be 3 hours plus from Seoul. Taebaek is also famous because of 'Taebaeksan Mountain Snow Festival” every year. The Hanbo Coal mine in Taebaek is a former mine and is the main set of the base camp and Medicube.  The set was torn down but Korea Tourism is currently rebuilding it to attract tourists who are in love with this drama. It is expected to be completed this year.

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Credit: korea.iyaa

5. Samtan Art Mine

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Credit: everydaykorea

Located at Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon-do , Samtan Art Mine is an abandoned coal mine  that has been transformed into a cultural art complex. In the drama, it is the background location of the earthquake aftermath.

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Credit: everydaykorea

Address: 1445-44, Hambaeksan-ro, Gohan-eup, Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon-do

Directions from Visit Korea: From Gohan Sabuk Bus Terminal, take a bus bound for Sanggallae∙Manhang and get off at Motgol bus stop → Walk for about 450m to Samtan Art Mine. Alternatively, take a taxi from Gohan∙Sabuk Bus Terminal to Samtan Art Mine (estimated distance: about 7.5km).

Operating Hours: Summer 09:00-18:00 / Summer Peak Season (Mid July-Mid August) 09:00-19:00 / Winter Weekdays 10:00-17:00, Weekends 09:30-17:30 (Closed on Mondays)

Admission Fees: 13,000 won

6. Camp Greaves DMZ Experience Centre

In the drama, this is the indoor shooting location of Alpha team's base camp.

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This location was the former US Camp in South Korea.  As described by Korea Tourism, this camp hostel is comprised of an office room and a small auditorium on the first floor and rooms on the second through third floors, and a large auditorium on the fourth floor.

Website

Address: 137, Jeoksipja-ro, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do

Admission Fees:  Elementary school students 11,000 won / Middle High school students 12,000 won / University students 15,000 won / Adults 20,000 won

7. DMZ Tour

The relationship between North Korea and South Korea is one of the storylines in the drama.

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The Korean Peninsula is divided into South and North. 2km away from each side of the border is the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Although it is full of soldiers and it sounds very dangerous, it does attract a lot of visitors. It is promoting peace and unification. However, please do note that individual sightseeing is not allowed. Admission is possible through organized group tours with reservations at least 2 weeks in advance. All visitors must also present their passport during the visit. I personally visited the DMZ area and photos can only be taken where permitted.

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Credit: By Henrik Ishihara Globaljuggler (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 or GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons

Besides the DMZ general tour, visitors can also join the JSA (Joint Security Area) tour in Panmunjeom. Both North and South Korea military officer is present in Panmunjeom   Since it is highly tense area, all visitors to Panmunjeom will be required to sign a compliance regulation form and follow the clothing policy provided. Do note that the DMZ tour and JSA tour are two separate tours. Visitors can choose to combine both tours in one day or only choose one tour.

Website:DMZ | JSA

Bonus! Greece drama locations

Zakynthos Island (Navagio beach), Greece

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Credit : adventurous-travels

In the drama, both Captain Yoo and Dr. Kang have a date at the island of Uruk.  The shipwrecked vessel has been stranded on the island since 1980, and is the main attraction.

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Credit : adventurous-travels

There are frequent boat services to Navagio provided from nearby Porto Vromi located to the south, or from the Harbour of Saint Nikolas in Volimes, located to the north of Shipwreck Cove. Visitors can also take a boat from the island’s capital city of Zakynthos. The flight duration from Athens to Zakynthos is 45 min.  It is best to go here early in the morning to avoid the crowd.

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Arachova, Greece

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In the drama, Arachova is display as the town of Uruk. Arachova is the best skiing location during winter and is accessible via car or bus, a 3 hours journey from Athens.

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Credit: stardailynews

The end. OST drama music cue “You are my everything…”

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Credit: KBS