(Credits: Netflix)

KPop Demon Hunters takes place in a world of fantasy where the fate of humanity rests on the shoulders of three heroic K-pop icons and demon hunters. But even though that universe is fictional, you cannot say the same about the real-life locations the Netflix film reimagines, which can easily serve as your next guide to Seoul, South Korea.

As it turns out, KPop Demon Hunters’ artistic leadership explored various locations across Korea, and art director Wendell Dalit ensured his creative crew studied and carefully observed the pictures from the trip. “It’s a fine balance between making it accurate and adding our own stylisation,” visual effects supervisor Clara Chan explained (via Tudum).

“We started from real satellite data of Seoul to make sure the terrains were accurate. And we scattered our uniquely designed buildings procedurally throughout the city. The result was a Seoul built from data, shaped by design, and filled with the small, authentic details that made it real.”

So, for those interested in joining in on a digital trip to Seoul, South Korea, through the lens of KPop Demon Hunters, here is a guide.

Bukchon Hanok Village

Remember the place where Rumi and Jinu met up for the first time? It’s inspired by Bukchon Hanok Village, a picturesque neighbourhood located in the Jongno District, featuring old-world architecture and narrow pathways from the 14th century. Rumi arrives in Bukchon Hanok, ready to take on Jinu, right after receiving his letter via Derpy Tiger and Sussie.

While Jinu defends himself from Rumi’s unrelenting attacks, he doesn’t flinch from questioning her about her patterns before letting her in on his secrets. Eventually, they return to the tiled rooftops where Rumi confesses that opening up to Jinu has healed her voice, before singing ‘Free,’ and wandering off.

Cheongdam Bridge

Cheongdam Bridge is what connects the districts of Gwangjin and Gangnam, spanning the Han River. In one of the high-octane sequences from KPop Demon Hunters, we witness the demon-slaying trio, Rumi, Mira, and Zoey, take on multiple demons on top of a fast-moving train as they debate which song to perform at the Idol Awards the next day, simultaneously trying to reason with Rumi’s strange behaviour.

As they cross the river, slicing through the flock of demons descending from a major tear in the Honmoon, the trio start singing their new diss track, ‘Takedown.’

Coex K-Pop Square

Coex K-Pop Square features a huge wraparound LED, which makes everything on screen appear three-dimensional. In the animated movie, both HUNTR/X and Saja Boys appear on the iconic screen. For the K-pop group of girls, the moment takes place when Rumi catches everyone off guard by releasing their brand-new track ‘Golden.’

Meanwhile, in the aftermath of the Idol Awards, the Saja Boys are projected on Coex K-Pop Square, where they announce a special live performance, as a way to cheer fans up after the breakup of HUNTR/X. Contrary to the claims, however, the scheme acts as a ruse to lure more souls for Gwi-Ma to feast on.

Gyeongbokgung

Gyeongbokgung was a royal palace that the Joseon dynasty called home in 1395. KPop Demon Hunters offers viewers a glimpse of how it must have looked years ago, albeit in an animated version. When Rumi meets Jinu in Bukchan Hanok Village, near the former palace, which was also established during the same period, Jinu explains how Gwi-Ma took him under his control 400 years ago.

Jinu and his family were extremely poverty-stricken back then, which made Gwi-Ma convince him to sell his soul. Following the agreement, the Korean royal court took heed of Jinu’s voice. As a result, they were invited to move into the palace grounds.

Lotte World Tower

According to the film’s environmental art director, Celine Kim, the inspiration behind the creation of the building with the elite penthouse in which HUNTR/X stays came from a landmark in the Sincheon-dong neighbourhood. “I don’t know if many people have realised, but [HUNTR/X’s home] is located right where the Lotte Tower is on our map,” Kim clarified on Threads.

“The girls are so over the top that they live in the penthouse of an iconic skyscraper, literally reflecting the feeling of being on top of the world and at the height of their careers when this movie opens,” production designer Mingjue Helen Chen adds.

Myeongdong

Myeong-dong is Seoul’s primary shopping district, the perfect destination for shopaholics. While it’s swarming with luxury retail stores and street food vendors, the location is also marked by its historically significant sites, such as Myeongdong Cathedral and Myeongdong Theatre. Viewers can most remarkably spot the circular designs on the tiled walkway outside the theatre, which is featured in one of the most rewatched scenes of KPop Demon Hunters, where Saja Boys perform ‘Soda Pop.’

“For Myeongdong, we leaned into the modern Seoul, with straight lines and modern materials like steel, concrete, and plastics,” Chen said to Netflix.

Naksan Park

Naksan Park is the place where Rumi secretly meets Jinu the second time to come up with a plan to make HUNTER/X win the Idol Awards, which would, in turn, loosen the demon world’s grasp on Jinu with the permanent sealing of the Honmoon, freeing him from Gwi-Ma’s hundreds of years of control.

The park is a real place with walking pathways and observation decks. It also comes with a breathtaking view of downtown Seoul beyond the Fortress Wall.

N Seoul Tower

After Gwi-Ma enters the mortal world, he lures hordes of fans inside a fictional stadium right below N Seoul Tower, AKA Namsan Tower, where the Saja Boys plan to perform ‘Your Idol’ and the demon king feasts on souls. In a conversation with Tudum, Chris Appelhans called the scene a “Pied-Piper-into-Hell moment,” continuing, “The Saja Boys concert is staged on the hill of Namsan Tower, a beacon at the heart of the city, summoning everybody.”

Seoul Olympic Stadium

Originally built for the 1998 Olympics, Seoul Olympic Stadium has also hosted several musical acts, including those performed by Backstreet Boys and BTS. In the world of KPop Demon Hunters, HUNTR/X also gets its chance. In one of the early scenes, the K-pop group of girls find themselves late to a concert after demons hijack their jet. After taking them down, they skydive into the film version of Seoul Olympic Stadium, which is swarming with crowds.

Real-life locations featured in KPop Demon Hunters

• Bukchon Hanok Village
• Cheongdam Bridge
• Coex K-Pop Square
• Gyeongbokgung
• Lotte World Tower
• Myeongdong
• Naksan Park
• N Seoul Tower
• Seoul Olympic Stadium