🇰🇷 Set-jetting in 2026: how to plan a trip around filming locations (K-drama spots in South Korea plus top destinations)

Last checked: 16 October 2026 · Spicy Coupons editorial team

What is set-jetting, and how big is it in 2026?

Set-jetting is travel where a film or series picks the destination. Expedia Group named the trend in 2022 and tracks it in its yearly Unpack report. The last two reports, both surveys by OnePoll, found:

• Unpack ’25 (25,000 adults, 19 countries): two-thirds of travellers said screen content has shaped where they go. Expedia called that a 16% increase on the year before.
• Unpack ’26 (24,000 adults, 18 countries, published 15 October 2025): 53% of global travellers said their interest in screen-inspired trips has grown. Among Gen Z and Millennials (ages 18 to 44) the figure for planning holidays around screen locations was 81%.
• Money: 13% of US travellers said they had booked a trip after seeing a place on screen. From that, Expedia estimates set-jetting could be an $8 billion industry in the US alone.

Search data agrees: Expedia said UAE searches for Thailand rose 285%, partly due to The White Lotus season 3. In Seoul, 1.36 million international visitors arrived in July 2025, up 23.1% on a year earlier. Euronews linked that jump to fan trips after Netflix’s animated film KPop Demon Hunters.

South Korea: 10 filming locations you can reach by public transport

Many Korean drama spots are public places near subway lines. We matched each of these 10 to its title using tourism board pages or news reports. Costs are per adult.

Three more if you have extra time:

• Cheongha village, Pohang (Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha): the fictional town of Gongjin. A copy of the drama’s café was built for visitors; the characters’ homes are private.
• Petite France, Gapyeong (My Love from the Star, Beethoven Virus): a French-style village near Nami Island. Entry is around KRW 10,000 to 12,000; about 25 minutes by taxi from Gapyeong Station.
• The hackberry tree in Dongbu Village, Changwon (Extraordinary Attorney Woo): now a protected natural monument, in a village of about 70 people. Easiest by car.

Good to know: the rich family’s house in Parasite was a set, so you visit the real stairs and streets around it. Ahyeon-dong has been discussed for redevelopment, so check it is still there. KPop Demon Hunters is animated, but the places it shows are real.

3 days in Seoul + 2 days in Busan: a set-jetting itinerary

Day 1: Jongno and the old city walls

1. Morning: walk up to the Choong Ang High School gate in Gye-dong. Look from outside; it is a working school.
2. Late morning: Bukchon Hanok Village next door. Go between 10am and 5pm and keep your voice down.
3. Afternoon: bus 7016 or 1711 to the Jahamun Tunnel stairs from Parasite.
4. Evening: Naksan Park fortress trail at dusk, the walk shown in KPop Demon Hunters.

Day 2: Mapo, Itaewon and Namsan

1. Morning: bus 600 or 7013 to Ahyeon-dong for the Parasite stairs. If the corner shop is open, buy something. The owners told JoongAng Daily fame did not lift their sales.
2. Afternoon: Line 6 to Noksapyeong for the Itaewon Class overpass, then lunch in Itaewon.
3. Sunset: Namsan cable car to N Seoul Tower, linked to My Love from the Star and Boys Over Flowers.

Day 3: Nami Island (or Gangneung)

1. Take the ITX-Cheongchun from Yongsan to Gapyeong, about 60 minutes. Walk or take bus 10-4 to the wharf.
2. Walk the tree-lined paths from Winter Sonata. Add Petite France by taxi if you have time.
3. Option: if Goblin matters more to you, take the KTX to Gangneung instead and visit Jumunjin Breakwater. Expect a photo queue on weekends.

Day 4: KTX to Busan, then the markets

1. Morning KTX from Seoul Station to Busan.
2. Afternoon: Gukje Market and Jagalchi Market, both linked to Ode to My Father. The real shop used as the hero’s Kkotbunne sells accessories.
3. Late afternoon: city bus from Nampo over Yeongdo Bridge to Huinnyeoul Culture Village, where The Attorney was filmed.

Day 5: Pohang for Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha

1. Intercity bus from Busan Central Bus Terminal to Pohang, about 1 hour 30 minutes.
2. Local bus north to Cheongha for the market street, the café copy and the coast. Use Naver Map or KakaoMap for the current bus number.

Other set-jetting hotspots for 2026

Expedia’s 2026 Set-Jetting Forecast picks places tied to big new releases. We added Thailand, where The White Lotus season 3 effect is already showing in search data.

Expedia’s 2026 list also names Samoa (live-action Moana), Los Angeles (Nobody Wants This) and Wellington (Avatar: Fire and Ash). It says The White Lotus heads to France next, with no confirmed location when it published.

Set-jetting etiquette: how not to be that tourist

• Private homes stay private. In 2021 the Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha team asked fans to stop entering the characters’ homes, which are real houses. Local press reported 41,900 visitors to Cheongha over the five-day Chuseok holiday, with cars blocking the village road.
• Respect visiting hours. Bukchon’s red zone allows tourists from 10am to 5pm only, with a KRW 100,000 fine since 1 March 2025.
• Spend a little. Small shops near film spots rarely earn more from fame. Buy something if you take photos.
• Queue and follow staff. At Jumunjin Breakwater, safety officers close the end of the pier in high waves. Wait your turn for photos.
• Leave the drone at home in Seoul. Downtown Seoul and land within 9.3 km of airports are restricted, and the Korea Times reported Namsan Tower and Itaewon as no-fly areas. Drones over 250 g need a pilot training course, and fines go up to KRW 3 million. Check the current map before you fly anywhere in Korea.
• Do not point cameras into windows or schools. In Huinnyeoul the alleys are narrow and homes open onto the path.

How to find filming locations yourself

1. Start with tourism boards. VisitKorea, VisitSeoul and regional boards publish drama route guides. Seoul even made a Parasite tour course.
2. Read the end credits. Korean dramas usually thank the towns, cafés and venues that helped with filming.
3. Search in the local language. In Korea, type the drama title plus 촬영지 (filming location) into Naver. Fan blogs often give exact addresses.
4. Save pins in a local map app. In Korea, Naver Map and KakaoMap give better bus and subway directions than most foreign apps.
5. Check the spot still exists. Sets get taken down and shops close. Recent reviews or local news are the quickest check.

Budget and booking: codes that help

The set-jetting part is cheap in Korea. The costs are flights, a hotel and trains. These are the codes we list on our store pages:

• Tours, passes and transport cards: Check Klook for Korea day tours, Nami Island transfers, rail passes and transport cards. Our Klook page lists the current codes, such as 5% off a first app booking.
• T-money: one rechargeable card pays for subways and buses in Seoul and Busan. Top it up with cash at convenience stores.
• Trip Coins: Trip.com bookings earn coins worth US$1 per 100. See how Trip Coins work.
• Data: an eSIM keeps maps and translation running. See our eSIM vs roaming guide.

If a code fails, our guide on why coupon codes fail covers the usual reasons. Trip.com’s account rules are in our Trip.com FAQ.

Korea entry in 2026: K-ETA and the arrival card

Korea’s Ministry of Justice extended the temporary K-ETA exemption until 31 December 2026. It covers nationals of 19 countries (Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, the UK and the US) plus residents of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. If you are exempt, you fill in Korea’s electronic arrival card instead.

Other visa-free nationalities still need a K-ETA before they fly. It costs KRW 10,000 and is usually valid for three years. Use only the official K-ETA website, as copycat sites charge more. For other countries on your route, see our 2026 travel entry rules and fees guide.

Frequently asked questions

What does set-jetting mean?

Set-jetting is choosing a trip because of a film or TV show, then visiting the places where it was filmed or set. Expedia Group named the trend in 2022 and has tracked it every year since.

What are the best K-drama filming locations to visit in Seoul?

Easy picks are the Noksapyeong overpass from Itaewon Class, the Jahamun Tunnel stairs from Parasite, N Seoul Tower from My Love from the Star, and Naksan Park as shown in KPop Demon Hunters. All four are reachable by subway or bus, and three are free.

Is Nami Island worth it for Winter Sonata fans?

Yes, if you have a spare day. It is about an hour from Seoul by ITX train to Gapyeong, and the KRW 19,000 adult ticket includes the return ferry.

Do I need a K-ETA for South Korea in 2026?

Not if you hold a passport from one of the 22 exempt countries and regions, such as the US, UK, Australia, Japan, Germany or France. The exemption runs until 31 December 2026, and you complete the electronic arrival card instead.

Can I visit the houses from K-dramas?

Usually not. Many drama homes are private houses where people still live, so view them from the street, keep noise down and never go inside.

Where was The White Lotus season 3 filmed?

Mainly at the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui in Thailand, with more scenes at Anantara Mai Khao Phuket and Rosewood Phuket. They are working resorts, so book a stay or a meal to visit.

Sources: Expedia Group newsroom (Unpack ’25 and ’26, OnePoll); Australasian Leisure Management; Connecting Travel; Euronews; Korea Ministry of Justice K-ETA notice via EY Tax News and LoyaltyLobby; Nami Island official site; Gyeonggi tourism; Korea Times; Korea JoongAng Daily; Korea Herald; Stars and Stripes Korea; Busan Navi; The Wrap; Travelgo; The Smart Local. Prices and features change by country; the official site is the final word. Last checked: 16 October 2026. Spicy Coupons is independent and may earn a commission from links on this page.