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K-Dramas To Binge-Watch Over The Holidays That Will Fuel Your Wanderlust

If for a long time now, you have been stuck in your couch at home, your feet surely crave stepping outside and wandering around the cities or the great outdoors. However, some people do not have much time and energy to keep up with planning and traveling, and yes, we hear that as bad news. Yet, not totally bad, fortunately, we can keep ourselves feeling the wanderlust in us even in just the comfort of our homes. One good way to do so is to watch K-dramas!

Here, we rounded up a list of travel-themed Korean Dramas, so slip into your coziest pajamas, grab a bucket of popcorn, and park yourself in front of the television (or laptop). Here are seven binge-worthy K-Dramas to help cure your wanderlust in the comfort of your own bed.  

 

 

The Package

via JTBC

Fall in love with France in the romantic Korean drama The Package. The story revolves around a tour guide Yoon So So (Lee Yeon-Hee), who’s leading a group of Korean travelers on a tour of France. 

While the story is engrossing with Yoon and heartbroken San Ma Roo (Jung Yong Hwa), the breathtaking panoramas of France are a scene-stealer. As a viewer, you’ll feel as much a part of the tour as the characters on screen as they wander across Paris and the stunningly remote Mont Saint-Michel.

Experience it for yourself and book a tour of Mont Saint-Michel with KKday.

 

Memories of the Alhambra

via tvN

Memories of the Alhambra will offer you a love story that is found when a dreamer who’s just come from a setback of betrayal finds a unique kind of love when he flies to Spain for business.

Granada, Barcelona, Girona, and Gava are just a few of the picturesque locations that are featured in the mystery thriller, which is mostly set in Spain. Experience these Spanish towns’ breathtaking settings by following Yoo Jin-woo (Hyun Bin) and Jung Hee-joo (Park Shin-hye) on their journeys.

The plot of this highly acclaimed K-Drama revolves around a series of enigmatic events connected to an augmented reality game that was motivated by legends surrounding Granada’s renowned fortress Alhambra Palace.

 

 

Encounter

via tvN

Watch your sun-drenched dreams of exotic Cuba play out on screen in Encounter. In this romantic K-drama, wealthy business executive Cha Soo Hyun (Song Hye Kyo) and free-spirited photographer Kim Jin Hyuk (Park Bo Gum) embark on a whirlwind romance in Havana.

Encounter allows the charm of Cuba to jump out of the screen vividly, from the colorful streets and vintage cars to zesty locals and Havana’s incredible nightlife.

 

Lucky Romance

운빨로맨스_12화_수원화성_11.jpeg
via SUWON Cultural Foundation News

Lucky Romance follows the love story formed between a woman who believes in destiny and superstitions and a man who thinks logically and entirely does not believe in superstitions.  The show also takes viewers to a romantic tour of the city of Seoul, featuring cafes, parks, and other date spots that you would surely enjoy with your SO.

One of the most notable cafes that made an appearance in the series is the comic book cafe Nolsoop, which has the motto “Take Your Time, Ease Your Mind.” It offers visitors a variety of board games, books, and comics. Another visit-worthy filming location from the show is the heritage site Hwaseong Fortress in Gyeonggi Province. It was the first time that the palace was used as a dating place for a series.

 

The Third Charm

via JTBC

Put Third Charm, a heart-warming story spanning about 12 years, on your K-Drama list. Part of the story is set in Portugal, where On Joon-Young (Seo Kang-Joon) jetted off to for some soul-searching. 

This Korean drama is a treat to travel-deprived eyes with scenes showing Lisbon’s beautiful architecture, picturesque countryside, and the charm of small neighborhoods. For your future adventure in Portugal, try a small-group walking tour to recreate the magic of Third Charm

 

 

Twelve Nights

via Channel A

Binge-watch Twelve Nights to follow the adventures of Han Yoo-kyung (Han Seung-yeon) and Cha Hyun-oh (Shin Hyun-soo) as they spend 12 days together during three different trips over eight years. Follow the K-Drama as it hops from Japan to New York to South Korea in this engrossing love story that will inspire you to explore these places in real life, too!

 

Crash Landing On You

via tvN Drama

Who would not want to experience the nostalgic places that the hit tvN series Crash Landing On You showed viewers? These locations are actually not the the usual tourist spots in the country however, it is a good chance for the tourists to discover this gems. Take it from the characters Ri Jeong-hyeok (Hyun Bin) and Yoon Se-ri (Son Ye-jin) on how they made Switzerland the most romantic place to be.

One setting in the drama where one of the favorite scenes of the fans was taken, is in the Lake Brienz located in front of the private residences Seepark Iseltwald. It is where the protagonist, Jeong-hyeok, hark back the times he was laying his hands on his piano. Another experience of nostalgia this series offers their audience is the mountain of Klein Scheidegg which is pass in the Swiss Alps and sits in between the Eiger and Lauberhorn. You do not have to worry about your accomodation because the place is surrounded or near the hotels and restaurants.

 

Only You

SBS

Be captivated by Italy in Only You, a K-drama that follows aspiring chef Eun Jae (Han Chae-young) as she pursues her dream in Vicenza, Italy. The storyline is quite complex with a pregnancy and a love triangle in the mix, but Only You does an excellent job of capturing the charm of Vicenza, its people, and the food. 

With this show, you’ll enjoy the simple day-to-day reality of living in picturesque Italy, not just a glimpse of the most famous tourist spots

 

Our Blues

via tvN, Korea Tourism Organization, Visit Jeju

If you are up for a laid-back trip to the country, then Our Blues will surely take you to places where you can remember and experience your youth again. Be inspired by the friendships and romance of the characters played by hallyu heavyweights Kim Woobin, Han Jimin, Shin Minah and many more in the beautiful Jeju Island.

The Pacific Rim Peace Park was showcased when high school sweethearts spent their youthful days along the shore, talking about the future. From the site, you can also view the beautiful Songaksan. Another island scene that gives the viewers the feels of serenity and good life is during the date of Lee Yeong-ok and Park Jeong-jun in the Gapado island. It is best seen and experienced in spring because of the breeze along the landscapes and also it is the time that the green barley festival is held. From this island, you can spot the Sanbangsan on the Seogwipo skyline.

 

 

Goblin

via tvN

Cap off your drama fever with a K-Drama that gained a global following: Goblin. The show is a beautiful romance, but its setting in Quebec, Canada is just as stunning in the backdrop. Throughout the fantasy tale, Kim Shin (Gong Yoo) and Ji Eun-tak (Kim Go-eun) also make their way to Korean destinations, including Seoul, Incheon, Yongpyong, Anseong, and more. 

 

Touch Your Heart

via tvN Drama

Witness the shenanigans that ensue between a top actress and a lawyer when their lives get intertwined for a project in Touch Your Heart. Oh Yoon Seo (Yoo Inna) and Kwon Jung-rok (Lee Dongwook) hustle as a chaotically cute couple in the city of Seoul.

In one episode, Jung-rok and his legal team (which includes Yoon Seo as an intern) held a workshop in the Seounsan Natural Recreational Forest. It is a camp site that is located in Sangjung village of Geumwang Township, City of Anseong in Gyeonggi.  It offers a variety of accommodations to rent like a tent or a caravan. Another gem to check out is the Creativity Garden designated in a hanok in Buam, Jongno District. Experience the quiet and historic part of Seoul in this cafe while sipping a cup of hot coffee.

 

Reply 1988

via tvN Drama

Remembering the times you had in your neighborhood during your childhood is always a fun way to spend your time and is surely something worth looking back to. The moving K-drama series that is Reply 198 will give you the feeling of youthful hangouts.

One place in the series that you might never want to miss visiting is the Donggwang Theater. This is one of the oldest movie theaters that can be found in Dongducheon’s neighborhood Saengyeon of Gyeonggi. It is known to be a 60-year old building to serve movie lovers in the area. You will see in the series a celebration of one of the protagonist’s mom. This scene was taken in the England Tonkatsu Restaurant or England King Pork Cutlet in Incheon. You might want to enjoy a romantic dinner with your lovers or your families with a retro interior and aesthetics.

 

Traveling to Korea soon? Check out these travel essentials you can book on KKday!

 

*Article updated by Elinor Acorda

 

 

 

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