Goblin Filming Locations in Seoul: A Walking Guide Around Gyeongbokgung and How to Get There

Did you ever watch Goblin and wonder, “Where is that stone wall road?” or “Is that alley real?” Autumn leaves drifting past old walls, tiled rooftops, a grand Western-style house: the Seoul on screen felt both unfamiliar and strangely close.

Most of those scenes were filmed in real places around Gyeongbokgung Palace in central Seoul. You can reach them by subway and see them on foot in a single day.

Why it is harder to find them than it looks

Filming-location information is scattered across the internet. Place names and addresses are in Korean. Some spots are public streets, others are inside a university campus or have a weekly closing day. It is not obvious where to start, or in what order to go, to see everything in one day.

So this guide groups the seven spots by area and tells you which subway station to use, what order to walk them in and what to know before you go.

Your Goblin route through Seoul

The seven spots at a glance

Filming details come from news reports and travel guides, not official announcements, so the exact scenes can differ slightly between sources.

A one-day walking route

1. Deoksugung Stone Wall Road (City Hall Station)
2. Gwanghwamun (about a 15 to 20-minute walk from Deoksugung)
3. Take Subway Line 3 to Anguk Station
4. Unhyeongung Yanggwan and Insadong-gil (around Anguk Station)
5. Gamgodang-gil, Samcheong-dong and Sagan-dong Alley (north of Anguk Station)

There is a fair amount of walking, so wear comfortable shoes. Start in the morning and finish around sunset in Gamgodang-gil and Samcheong-dong.

Check before you go: Palaces and some other sites have weekly closing days, and several close on Mondays. Confirm that your day of visit works, and check subway exits and opening hours on Naver Map or KakaoMap before you set out.

1. Deoksugung Stone Wall Road

Address: 116 Deoksugung-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul In the drama: Associated with the Grim Reaper’s office and with conversation scenes in episodes 1 and 14. The ginkgo-lined stone wall is also known for scenes of the lead characters walking together.

Where it is: This old street runs along the wall of Deoksugung Palace in the center of Seoul, right next to City Hall. It is a calm, atmospheric walk in the middle of a busy city. The stone wall road itself is free and open around the clock.

How to get there

• By subway: From City Hall Station (Lines 1 and 2), Exit 1 leads to Deoksugung’s Daehanmun Gate in about 2 minutes, and Exit 3 brings you to the start of the road in about 1 minute.

The ginkgo leaves turn gold in late autumn (late October to November), when the road is prettiest and busiest. Mornings are quieter. Inside Deoksugung Palace, the grounds are closed on Mondays and need a ticket.

2. Gwanghwamun

Address: 1-57 Sejong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul In the drama: In episode 2, Kim Shin and Eun-tak return from Quebec and walk past Gwanghwamun.

Where it is: Gwanghwamun is the main gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace, the largest royal palace of the Joseon dynasty. Behind it you can see Bugaksan Mountain, and in front of it lies the wide Gwanghwamun Square. It is one of Seoul’s best-known views.

How to get there

• By subway: Walk from Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5) or Gyeongbokgung Station (Line 3).
• From Deoksugung: About a 15 to 20-minute walk.

Gyeongbokgung has a weekly closing day, so check before you plan to go inside.

3. Unhyeongung Yanggwan

Address: 460 Samil-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul In the drama: Known as the exterior of Kim Shin’s house, where the Grim Reaper and Eun-tak later stay. It is also listed as the home of Sato Shin-ichi in the recent tvN drama set in 1932 Seoul, 100 Days of Deception.

Where it is: Yanggwan is a Western-style modern building behind Unhyeongung, the former residence of Heungseon Daewongun, and it sits inside the Duksung Women’s University campus. With the traditional hanok of Unhyeongung right next door, you can see two very different eras in one stop.

How to get there

• By subway: Leave Anguk Station (Line 3) by Exit 4, and the front gate of Unhyeongung is right there, about a 3-minute walk.

Unhyeongung is free to enter and usually closed on Mondays. Opening hours change with the season, and in April to October it is listed as open until 7 p.m. Since Yanggwan is on a university campus, access and hours may vary. Please follow the campus rules out of respect for students and staff.

4. Insadong-gil

Address: 53-2 Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul In the drama: A filming location.

Where it is: Insadong is Seoul’s best-known street for traditional culture, with craft shops, tea houses and galleries. It is a good place to pick up souvenirs or rest in a traditional tea house.

How to get there

• By subway: Walk from Anguk Station (Line 3). It is close to Unhyeongung, so the two pair well.

It gets crowded on weekends and in the afternoon. Come in the morning or on a weekday for a quieter stroll.

5. Gamgodang-gil

Address: 175-91 Anguk-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul In the drama: The stone wall of Duksung Girls’ Middle and High Schools along this road is known for a rainy-day scene. The same alley was also used for Our Beloved Summer.

Where it is: This stone-walled street runs from Anguk Station toward Samcheong-dong. It is named after Gamgodang, the house where Queen Inhyeon, the second queen of King Sukjong, once lived. Hanok and stone walls line the way.

How to get there

• By subway: Leave Anguk Station (Line 3) by Exit 1 and walk toward Jeongdok Library to reach Gamgodang-gil.

The road passes schools and homes, so keep your voice down and do not enter school grounds.

6. Cafe. Birch Tree Story (자작나무이야기)

Address: 74-15 Yulgok-ro 1-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul In the drama: A filming location in the Samcheong-dong and Sagan-dong area. This neighborhood is also known for scenes featuring the Grim Reaper and Sunny.

Where it is: It sits in the quiet alleys between Anguk Station and Jeongdok Library, an area of galleries and hanok.

How to get there

• By subway: Walk from Anguk Station (Line 3). It is easy to include on your way through Gamgodang-gil and Samcheong-dong.

Opening hours and how to visit can change, so check the place’s current details on a map app.

7. Sagan-dong Alley

Address: 40-31 Yulgok-ro 1-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul In the drama: A filming location in the Samcheong-dong and Sagan-dong area.

Where it is: Sagan-dong has long been known as a gallery district. Past Jeongdok Library, the lanes branch off like a maze, and there are hanok-style experience spaces as well.

How to get there

• By subway: Walk from Anguk Station (Line 3) toward Jeongdok Library.

This is a residential area, so walk quietly and be considerate of residents’ privacy when you take photos.

Before you go

• Best season: The ginkgo trees along the stone wall are golden in late autumn, and the walls look different in the rain. Each season gives the scenes a different mood.
• Closing days: Places such as Deoksugung and Unhyeongung often close on Mondays. Check before you go.
• Transit card: Load a T-money card to ride the subway easily.
• Map apps: Google Maps directions are limited in Korea. Install Naver Map or KakaoMap.
• Be considerate: Gamgodang-gil, Samcheong-dong and Sagan-dong are neighborhoods where people live. Keep it quiet and be mindful when you take photos.
• Filming information: It comes from news reports and fan guides. If you want to see a particular scene, check first.

Final thoughts

Walking through Goblin‘s Seoul is a bit like rewatching the drama. Stone walls, hanok lanes and palace gates bring back the scenes one by one.

Want to watch Goblin again before your trip? Search for it on WatchKorean to see where it is streaming in your country.