Stepping into Suncheon’s open film set in Jorye-dong, South Korea is like stepping back in history. The mockup city contains three sections each constructed like a different time period in Korean history (60s, 70s, and 80s). Every detail, from the telephone poles to the alley cats, is historically accurate. Korea is full of lavish palaces and historical monuments, but the Suncheon drama set allows tourists to look at the lives of “ordinary people” in modern history. However, just as important as the chance to step into history, is the chance to step into our favoriteKorean films and TV shows.
Movie production companies have relied on Suncheon’s sets since 2006.K-Dramas likePachinko,East of Eden,and many other historical series have filmed here. Tourists can walk the same roads as their favorite celebrities and characters throughout the massive set (with over 300 buildings) for just 3,000 won (about $2.29). If you are traveling to Suncheon or just want some historical dramas to watch, here are eight Korean movies filmed at Suncheon drama set.
8Serve the People
Serve the Peopletells a steamy forbidden love story set in a fictitious socialist country. Trouble and drama ensues when a dedicated soldier starts a relationship with the division commander’s wife. Many critics complained that the films lengthy sex scenes get in the way of anypolitical commentary the filmtries to make, but the outstanding performances by Yeon Woo-jin and Ji-aan help smooth over their characters' confusing choices. This society might be fictitious, but the set designs and costumes could fool the casual viewer. The intricate and beautiful design paints a realistic picture of Korea in the 70s. Even if the story falls a little short, the film is full of eye candy in more than one way, especially thanks to Suncheon.
7Mal-Mo-E: The Secret Mission
In this film, during Japan’s occupation of Korea, a group of ordinary people create a Korean dictionary to preserve their culture and fight against their military oppressors. Luckily, Suncheon’s detailed printing and calligraphy shops were available to round out this film’s set. The movie highlights the Korean’s perspective of the Japanese occupation by showing the heartfelt endurance of the Korean people and the cruelty of the Japanese military.Mal-Moe-E: The Secret Missiongives westerners a chance to peak into a less-well known chapter of history on the other side of the world.
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6The Drug King
A small-timedrug smuggler for a cartelslowly takes the world by storm by selling narcotics. This film about the rise and fall of the real life drug lord, Lee Doo-sam, takes on a familiar story in a new setting (Busan, Korea in the 70s). Song Kang-Ho’s staring performance in this film received wide-spread praise for his ability to embody the subtle and complex changes in his character. Even though we have seen films about drug lords' rise to power, it’s fun to watch a similar story in a completely different culture and time period.The Drug Kinggives unique insight into the rough and gritty aspects of Korean history and human nature.
5Night of 7 Years
A man accidently kills a young woman while driving home on a dark and misty night. Scared and alone, the man covers up the murder by dumping her body in the river, enraging the girl’s violent and vengeful father. This dark game of revenge keeps audiences on the edge of their seats from start to finish. Audiences loveNight of 7 Yearsfor its slow motion scenes riddled with suspense. The nail-biting content paired with excellent acting and cinematography stirs up a wide range of emotions in the audience. The old rugged sets at Suncheon only add to the overall creepiness of the film.
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South Korean and North Korean Interpol teams work together to stop a suspected serial killer and rapist (Lee Jung-Suk). At the film’s release, critics complained about the film’s graphic depictions of sexual violence, which led themovie to some controversy. Many questioned if such lengthy and detailed scenes were necessary to expressing the film’s theme. Nonetheless, the film became the number one movie in Korea at its initial release, and went on to earn almost $10 million, despite the early backlash. Theexciting action sequencesand sets from around the world continue to interest viewers.
3Memoir of a Murderer
A former serial killer struggles with Alzheimer’s and lives with his daughter. When a series of murders threatens their town, Byung-su worries that he may be the cause. As Byung-su investigates further, the true murderer becomes interested in Byung-Su and his daughter. Byun-Su’s Unique struggles with mental health, parenthood, and a dark past will leave audiences questioning their own lives.Memoir of a Murdereris loved for its surprising twists and unique story. The film evenreleased a director’s cutwith more gruesome action scenes and an alternate ending.
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2Love, Lies
Love, Liestells another story about Japan’s occupation in Korea from the unique lens of the music industry. So-Yool and Yeon-hee, two singers, become best friends while training together. But their friendship comes to a dramatic end when Yeon-hee falls in love with and steals away So-Yool’s songwriter and crush. The turn of the century time period means that audiences get to see traditional Korean dress mixed in with modern technology. Suncheon’s sets realistically blend the old and the new elements from each time period. The detailed production values provide the perfect backdrop for such a heartfelt story.
1Gangnam Blues
While most people recognize Gangnam from the world-wide pop sensation “Gangnum Style,” it’s one of the wealthiest districts in Korea.Gangnam Bluestakes us back to the 1970s, just as the city started to develop. The film follows two friends as their lives in the crime underworld pull them apart. K-Drama fans will recognize star Lee Min-ho fromBoys Over FlowersandHeirs.He stars inGangnam Bluesas Jong-dae, the adopted son of a powerful gangster.
Gangnam Blueswon several awards at reputable festivals in Korea like the Bucheon International Film Festival and the Blue Dragon Film Awards, and is still well-known today in Korean cinema. Its unsurprising that such a successful film relied on the buildings in Suncheon Open Film Location.
