Text and photos by Mich KDL
In last year’s final KDL Roundup, I shared how Seongmisan-ro 29-gil was my favorite location overall in 2018. This rather non-descript street in Yeonnam-dong first caught my attention in You Drive Me Crazy!, when the cherry blossoms were still in full bloom. It continued to pop-up in dramas in the summer (The Third Charm) and even in autumn (Mama Fairy and the Woodcutter, My First First Love). While it was fascinating to see this street through its seasons, albeit through my screen, I wondered what it would be like to see it for myself.
Well, I’m happy to share that I’ve managed to check this place off my to-visit list! And if you’re also planning to visit this street on a future trip, here are the K-Dramaland locations to look out for.
Yi-hyun & Kim Geum’s House
5 Seongmisan-ro 29-gil, Mapo-gu
This place should look familiar to those who watched Mama Fairy! Yes, this was Professor Jung Yi-hyun’s walk-up apartment, which he shared with his student, Kim Geum (among other people who came to stay over through the series!). It was certainly great to see it for myself!
The modern exterior of this building may seem like quite a rarity amongst other K-dramaland houses, but it somehow fits in just nicely with the others along this street. Though it’s not known if this is actually someone’s house in reality, I found out that the space on the first floor (next to the stairs) is actually a studio/office belonging to design company cloudandco.
House on Seongmisan-ro 29-gil
10 Seongmisan-ro 29-gil
Fans of Temperature of Love, you’d remember this as the exterior of Hyun-soo’s house. The signature red decor is still at the staircase, so you won’t miss it! Just remember to be respectful as a real family lives here (someone came out to clean the porch while I was there!).
Eunhaeng Children’s Park [은행어린이공원]
17-3 Seongmisan-ro 29-gil
Just about a minute or so down from Hyun-soo’s house is a park that was seen in The Third Charm, when Joon-young met Se-eun to tell her the truth of where he’d been the night before. It definitely had a different charm of its own in the day, with energetic children playing around the premises, their parents watching them from a distance under the pavilion.
Banh Mi Phuong [반미프엉]
20 Seongmisan-ro 29-gil
This is not an official drama location, but this lavishly decorated bright yellow building in the middle of the street was too striking to not take notice of! Previously known as Frodo & Co — where the food truck in The Third Charm was located in front of — the building has since transformed into Vietnamese restaurant Banh Mi Phuong, which opened this past May. This is also an indication that you’re now in the middle of the street; so let’s keep going!
forfork
23 Seongmisan-ro 29-gil
This building may not be appear to be familiar at first sight, but would it ring a bell if I said that this was Kang Mu-yeon’s house in Descendants of the Sun? (I see I’ve got your attention now 😉) Previously the showroom of furniture shop bplusm, it is now a cafe called forfork.
Seongmisan-ro 29-gil (You Drive Me Crazy! scene)
32 Seongmisan-ro 29-gil
Further down towards the end of the street is the section where a tipsy Eun-seong gets her shoe stuck in You Drive Me Crazy!, and just in front of it, the street that leads to Rae-wan’s house. It would certainly be nice to see that section during the cherry blossom season, like when the drama was filmed!
Seongmisan-ro 29-gil (My First First Love scene)
33 Seongmisan-ro 29-gil
Just a hop, skip and jump across is the street that leads to Tae-oh’s house in My First First Love; also where he had unceremoniously snubbed Song-yi and rode past her on his scooter. Be sure to check out Super Moon, the cafe and book gallery located on the same side.
Bonus: TABIYA Guesthouse [타비야 게스트하우스]
29-8 Seongmisan-ro 29-gil
And how could I have come all the way here, without checking out THE house in the center of My First First Love? The street was rather packed that day with lots of parked cars, so it wasn’t as empty as the show makes it out to be. It was certainly nice to see it for myself — though pity I didn’t spot Tae-oh’s scooter in the midst of it!
Getting here
The best way to get to Seongmisan-ro 29-gil is via Exit 3 of Hongik University Station [홍대입구역], which will be a 10-11 minute walk to Yi-hyun & Kim Geum’s house. (Note that the photo above is of Exit 7!)
It might take a little longer if you end up exploring the various streets and alleyways, or stop at a cafe along the way — totally understandable! Be sure to check the exact walking route on your Korean map app to help you get to your destination.
And there’s more to see!
If you’re planning to visit other locations in the Yeonnam-dong area, why not make a day out of it? You can also check out these K-Dramaland places:
From Hongdae Station, Exit 3, en-route to Seongmisan-ro 29-gil
Le Torte [레 또르떼]
(8 min. walk from station)
Junghangwoo Cake — Yeonnam Branch [정항우케익 서울연남점]
(8 min. walk from previous location)
Tae-hee’s former apartment
(2 min. walk from previous location)
Art Platz [아트플라츠] — Tingklu [팔찌만들기]
(short distance from previous location)
ZooZooPet [쥬쥬펫]
(opposite previous location)
7-Eleven — Mapo Yeonnam Store [세븐일레븐 마포연남점]
(2 min. walk from previous location; 1 min. walk to Yi-hyun & Kim Geum’s house)
Guest House Pajamaparty [게스트하우스 파자마파티]
(2 min. walk from Banh Mi Phuong)
The April [디에이프릴]
(1 min. walk from previous location; 1 min. back to Banh Mi Phuong)
From Gajwa Station, Exit 1
Studio Lotus [스튜디오 로터스]
(9 min. walk from station)
Seongmisan-ro 23-gil [성미산로23길]
(3 min. walk from previous location)
Thanks, Oat [땡스오트]
(short distance from previous location)
Ji Seo-joon’s House
(just behind previous location)
7-Eleven — Yeonnam Forest Branch [세븐일레븐 연남숲길점]
(4 min. walk from previous location)
I hope you have just as much fun exploring the area as I did! Let me know your favorite location on this street, in the comments 🙂
