Revisit the places in your memories through the filming locations in Seoul

14.08.01 / 박차현

2014-08-01 40076

We all have some places that are somewhat familiar to us. No matter how hard we try to recall, most of the time it is impossible for us to figure out where those places are. It is because the places that just showed up in a drama or movie just passed through our memories. Every place builds history as time goes by and those places contain many veiled meanings and stories. Sometimes, those places became popular as they got vitalized again by a drama. Think of the scenes in movies and let’s go to the filming locations in Seoul to peek into the hidden stories of the sites.

First_ Ant Village in Hongje-dong

Revisit the places in your memories through the filming locations in Seoul

There is a place called Ant Village in Hongje-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, Korea. Located at the entrance of the trail of Mt. Inwang, this village is one of the few shantytowns left in Seoul. Riding no. 7 village bus in front of exit no. 2 of Hongje Station and going up along the narrow asphalt road, a steep hill awaits. This village was first formed as poor people who did not have anywhere to go started living by temporarily pitching a tent. The presence of such huddled tents made it seem like an Indian town in a western film so it was once called as ‘Indian Town’; but since 1983, it has been given the name ‘Ant Village.’ Such name was given as the residents worked hard like an ant. On the right and left sides of the hill in the Ant Village, there are old houses but the colorful and beautifully decorated walls with flowers are the ones to draw the attention of visitors.

This village is a town where the hero Yong-gu and his daughter Ye-seung lived in a movie 〈Miracle in Cell No. 7〉. The movie mostly deals with the life in prison; however with the scene of morning greeting between the two and scene of Ye-seung waiting for his father, this village became an unforgettable site to the viewers. The viewers have a beautiful memory of the Ant Village as the most peaceful time and also the past that invites them to go back.

Second_ Seodaemun Prison History Hall

Revisit the places in your memories through the filming locations in Seoul

There is Dongnimmun at the center of the road on the right when leaving via exit no. 5 of Dongnimmun Station and there is a big brown brick building next to it. This building that is standing amidst apartment complexes is the Seodaemun Prison History Hall. Starting its construction in 1995, it was opened in November 1998. From the repression of independence movement during the period of Japanese occupation to political upheavals and democratic movements after the national independence, this site intactly reflects the ordeal and pain of the modern and contemporary history.

The inside of the Seodaemun Prison History Hall contains the basement jail where martyr Gwan-sun Yu was imprisoned and died after the March 1st independence movement. There is also the watchtower, torture chamber, place of execution, 7 jails, and historical exhibition hall. Alongside the torture chamber, the historical exhibition hall that was used for official residence provides media resource, magic vision that presents the independence movement of martyr Wu-gyu Gang, historical room of the prison, wall-mounted jail for visitors’ experience, and solitary confinement. Also, Sigumun, the gate that was made to secretly discard a dead body, was restored next to the place of execution.

This place is a historical site that preserved the original form of the red prison used during the period of Japanese occupation and recently, its original look was almost completely restored including Gyeokbyeokjang, the prisoners’ playground, central wall, and side gates; thus, the prison scenes of most movies and dramas are filmed in the Seodaemun Prison History Hall. The movies and dramas that have been filmed in the Seodaemun Prison History Hall include (1995) <The Hourglass> (1995), <Last Witness (2001)>, <Jail Breaker (2002)>, <The Breath (2007)>, <Harmony (2009)>, and <Hanbando (2012)>.

• Opening hours: 09:30~18:00 for summer (August-October) / 09:30~17:00 for winter (November-February)
• Time consumed for facility tour: About 1 hour ~ 1 and half hour
• Closing day: Every Monday (on the next day if Monday is a holiday), New Year’s Day and Chuseok Holiday

Third_ Yakhyun Catholic Church in Jungrim-dong

Revisit the places in your memories through the filming locations in Seoul

Passing the alley of Jungrim Traditional Market back of the buildings after leaving via exit no. 5 of Chungjeongno Station, you can see the small and simple Yakhyun Catholic Church. Red brick wall, small gothic style steeple, stained -glass that is more splendid when seen at sunset, and pious sound of the bell are the charms of the church.

Yakhyun Catholic Church is a representative structure that symbolizes the culture that gave birth to the modern look of Seoul. Yakhyun Catholic Church was established on the hill where Seosomun shrine is seen after the persecution in 1891 to honor the souls of martyrs and learn the lesson from their spirit in accordance to the church’s tradition. Constructed in 1892, it has existed for more than 100 years; thus on top of its genuine role as a religious shrine, it became a beautiful symbol that proves the dynamic modern changes of Seoul.

This place was shown for the wedding scene in (2010), , and movie . Yakhyun Catholic Church offers a service like other Catholic churches on weekdays and weekends and a real wedding is also held here. The procedure of Catholic wedding requires and by inviting the wedding priest, the wedding service is held. Although the procedure is quite complicated, it is worth knowing the basic procedure in case there are any Kookmin people who dreamt of having a beautiful wedding in a Catholic church while seeing a movie.

If you have remembered Seoul as a dull grey-colored city, this would be a wonderful opportunity for you to rediscover the hidden and dynamic look of Seoul that has never been seen before. Once you find the joy of discovering something special about Seoul, it will be easy for you to experience happiness right at the very sites.

Kookmin Review Yi Young Baik

Revisit the places in your memories through the filming locations in Seoul
Date 2014-08-01 Hit 40076 We all have some places that are somewhat familiar to us. No matter how hard we try to recall, most of the time it is impossible for us to figure out where those places are. It is because the places that just showed up in a drama or movie just passed through our memories. Every place builds history as time goes by and those places contain many veiled meanings and stories. Sometimes, those places became popular as they got vitalized again by a drama. Think of the scenes in movies and let’s go to the filming locations in Seoul to peek into the hidden stories of the sites. First_ Ant Village in Hongje-dong There is a place called Ant Village in Hongje-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, Korea. Located at the entrance of the trail of Mt. Inwang, this village is one of the few shantytowns left in Seoul. Riding no. 7 village bus in front of exit no. 2 of Hongje Station and going up along the narrow asphalt road, a steep hill awaits. This village was first formed as poor people who did not have anywhere to go started living by temporarily pitching a tent. The presence of such huddled tents made it seem like an Indian town in a western film so it was once called as ‘Indian Town’; but since 1983, it has been given the name ‘Ant Village.’ Such name was given as the residents worked hard like an ant. On the right and left sides of the hill in the Ant Village, there are old houses but the colorful and beautifully decorated walls with flowers are the ones to draw the attention of visitors. This village is a town where the hero Yong-gu and his daughter Ye-seung lived in a movie 〈Miracle in Cell No. 7〉. The movie mostly deals with the life in prison; however with the scene of morning greeting between the two and scene of Ye-seung waiting for his father, this village became an unforgettable site to the viewers. The viewers have a beautiful memory of the Ant Village as the most peaceful time and also the past that invites them to go back. Second_ Seodaemun Prison History Hall There is Dongnimmun at the center of the road on the right when leaving via exit no. 5 of Dongnimmun Station and there is a big brown brick building next to it. This building that is standing amidst apartment complexes is the Seodaemun Prison History Hall. Starting its construction in 1995, it was opened in November 1998. From the repression of independence movement during the period of Japanese occupation to political upheavals and democratic movements after the national independence, this site intactly reflects the ordeal and pain of the modern and contemporary history. The inside of the Seodaemun Prison History Hall contains the basement jail where martyr Gwan-sun Yu was imprisoned and died after the March 1st independence movement. There is also the watchtower, torture chamber, place of execution, 7 jails, and historical exhibition hall. Alongside the torture chamber, the historical exhibition hall that was used for official residence provides media resource, magic vision that presents the independence movement of martyr Wu-gyu Gang, historical room of the prison, wall-mounted jail for visitors’ experience, and solitary confinement. Also, Sigumun, the gate that was made to secretly discard a dead body, was restored next to the place of execution. This place is a historical site that preserved the original form of the red prison used during the period of Japanese occupation and recently, its original look was almost completely restored including Gyeokbyeokjang, the prisoners’ playground, central wall, and side gates; thus, the prison scenes of most movies and dramas are filmed in the Seodaemun Prison History Hall. The movies and dramas that have been filmed in the Seodaemun Prison History Hall include (1995) <The Hourglass> (1995), <Last Witness (2001)>, <Jail Breaker (2002)>, <The Breath (2007)>, <Harmony (2009)>, and <Hanbando (2012)>. • Opening hours: 09:30~18:00 for summer (August-October) / 09:30~17:00 for winter (November-February) • Time consumed for facility tour: About 1 hour ~ 1 and half hour • Closing day: Every Monday (on the next day if Monday is a holiday), New Year’s Day and Chuseok Holiday Third_ Yakhyun Catholic Church in Jungrim-dong Passing the alley of Jungrim Traditional Market back of the buildings after leaving via exit no. 5 of Chungjeongno Station, you can see the small and simple Yakhyun Catholic Church. Red brick wall, small gothic style steeple, stained -glass that is more splendid when seen at sunset, and pious sound of the bell are the charms of the church. Yakhyun Catholic Church is a representative structure that symbolizes the culture that gave birth to the modern look of Seoul. Yakhyun Catholic Church was established on the hill where Seosomun shrine is seen after the persecution in 1891 to honor the souls of martyrs and learn the lesson from their spirit in accordance to the church’s tradition. Constructed in 1892, it has existed for more than 100 years; thus on top of its genuine role as a religious shrine, it became a beautiful symbol that proves the dynamic modern changes of Seoul. This place was shown for the wedding scene in (2010), , and movie . Yakhyun Catholic Church offers a service like other Catholic churches on weekdays and weekends and a real wedding is also held here. The procedure of Catholic wedding requires and by inviting the wedding priest, the wedding service is held. Although the procedure is quite complicated, it is worth knowing the basic procedure in case there are any Kookmin people who dreamt of having a beautiful wedding in a Catholic church while seeing a movie. If you have remembered Seoul as a dull grey-colored city, this would be a wonderful opportunity for you to rediscover the hidden and dynamic look of Seoul that has never been seen before. Once you find the joy of discovering something special about Seoul, it will be easy for you to experience happiness right at the very sites. Kookmin Review Yi Young Baik

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