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The drama “Han River Police” showed areas around the river all throughout its six parts. (courtesy of Walt Disney Company Korea)

During the 1970s, the singing duo Suh Soo-nam and Ha Cheong-il set out on a musical trip entitled “Sightseeing Korea.”

In the lyrics of this song, they started their journey by “boarding a bus from Seoul to Gangwon Province,” traveling through the provinces of Chungcheong, Jeolla, Jeju, and Gyeongsang before returning to take a “nice look” around the capital again.

In today’s environment of connecting with the rest of the world through streaming services, TV series have been playing the role of guides.

A comprehensive map of Gangdong District in Seoul hangs on the wall of the fried chicken restaurant run by Jang Ju-won in the drama “Moving.” (still from “Moving”)

Even after those series’ runs end, tourists continue traveling to locations that feature in key moments, such as Binae Island in Chungju — where the characters of Yoon Se-ri (played by Son Ye-jin) and Ri Jong-hyok (Hyun Bin) enjoy an outing in the tvN show “Crash Landing on You” — or Manhyujeong Pavilion in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, where Choi Eugene (Lee Byung-hun) confesses his feelings to Go Ae-shin (Kim Tae-ri) in the tvN show “Mister Sunshine.”

It’s reached the point where a trip to see just the places that feature in these series — such as the Seohak Art Village in Jeonju (“Twenty-Five Twenty-One”) or Dongbu Village in Changwon (“Extraordinary Attorney Woo”) will leave you humming about having taken a “nice look” through all the different corners of Korea.

“One Day Off,” which premiered on streaming services last May, has featured a different location with each episode, including Haenam, Gunsan, Busan, Sokcho, Daejeon, Seoul, Gyeongju and Jeju.

The protagonist in the drama “One Day Off” travels across Korea to places like Gunsan and Busan, and Gyeongju’s Daereungwon Tomb complex, seen here, making it a hot spot for photos. (courtesy of Wavve)

“Ever since ‘Mister Sunshine,’ we’ve been having travel group gatherings where we go to a location that features in a TV show,” explained a company employee in their 40s surnamed Moon.

“Lately, we’ve been looking back on the older series through streaming services and finding new ones, like cracking open seals,” they added.

The dramas are doing their part as guides to different parts of Korea. Where TV shows of the past typically focused on famous sights, more recent ones have tended to be set in the kinds of smaller communities that offer a glimpse at everyday Korean lives — even using the actual names of those places.

Some episodes are even inspired by specific locations, as indicated by their titles. While many television series are set in locations whose local governments fund their production, series whose stories directly stem from their setting are rarer.

Written by webtoon artist Kang Full, “Moving” has turned Gangdong District into a mecca for drama fans. (courtesy of Walt Disney Company Korea)

The Disney+ original series “Han River Police,” which launched on Sept. 13, got its story from the Han River its producers have always known and visited.

“Ever since I serendipitously witnessed the tense moment of Han River police carrying out a rescue, the Han River felt like a dynamic space bearing countless stories. I wanted to show the beauty of the Han River to people around the world,” said Kim Yong-ki, the CEO of the production company Film Monster who produced the show with director Kim Sang-cheol.

The show depicts cruise ships sailing across the Han, not to mention a chase scene involving jet skis. It also highlights different sides of the Han River we seldom pay attention to. Gangseo Marsh Ecological Park is where Han Du-jin (Kwon Sang-woo) and Lee Chun-suk (played by Kim Hee-won) of the Mangwon police patrol unit pick up trash riddling the streets, while the area near Nanji Park where barges can be found is where the two characters eat ramyeon.

“All Han River-related scenes were 100% shot at the Han River, except when they were set indoors or needed special effects,” explained Kim Yong-ki.

Locations depicted in television series where people actually reside became popular sites for fans to visit. The Ssangmun neighborhood of Dobong District, which came under the spotlight through shows like “Reply 1988” and “Squid Game,” is a case in point. The Disney+ series “Moving” that launched in August brought Gangdong District to the fore of public attention as well. Set in Gangdong, “Moving” follows Jang Joo-won (Ryu Seung-ryong), who lives and works in Gangdong, as well as young characters like Kim Bong-seok (Lee Jung-ha) who all go to school in Gangdong. Gangdong District is reflected in all of webtoon artist Kang Full’s works including “Pure Love Comic,” “Fool,” and “26 Years.”

In an interview in August, Kang shared that when creating backgrounds, he goes to real locations and replicates them.

“I’ve lived in Gangdong since I was 3, so I captured that in the work,” Kang shared. “The memories I’ve made while growing up in Gangdong are at the heart of my work.”

Taking place in Jeju, the Goseong Five-Day Market where Ok-dong and Chun-hee sell vegetables in “Our Blues” has become a veritable tourist attraction. (courtesy of TvN)

After three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, the in-person walking guides for the Kang Full Cartoon Street that the Gangdong District Office created in 2013 finally made a comeback on July 24. One official with the district office said that they had seen “a big increase” in visitors from other regions compared to three years ago.

“With the whole world watching on account of streaming, I find myself taking extra care in finding locations that can showcase Korea,” commented a veteran location scouter for dramas, predicting that “an even greater variety of locations will make appearances down the line.”

By Nam Ji-eun, staff reporter

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]