DDP K-Drama Filming Spots in Vincenzo and My Love from the Star

Walking through Dongdaemun Design Plaza at night feels like stepping directly onto a high-budget science fiction film set. To K-drama fans, these neo-futuristic silver curves belong to unforgettable moments from hit shows like My Love from the Star, Vincenzo, Record of Youth, and She Was Pretty. Designed by the visionary architect Zaha Hadid, the venue known locally as DDP (동대문디자인플라자) opened its doors in 2014 and instantly transformed Seoul’s urban skyline into a global design hub. Korean drama directors frequently choose this sprawling space because its metallic skin, fluid ramps, and dramatic architectural lighting immediately create an ethereal, high-fashion aesthetic on screen.

As a Seoul resident and long-time drama enthusiast, I always urge visiting friends to put DDP near the top of their itinerary. It is one of the few places in the city where cutting-edge modern design seamlessly overlaps with iconic pop culture nostalgia. You do not need an expensive tour ticket to experience it. Whether you want to recreate the high-energy runway steps from Record of Youth or walk the exact outdoor plaza where alien professor Do Min-joon demonstrated his powers in My Love from the Star, this landmark offers an unforgettable connection to the scenes you have watched on screen.

DDP Oullim Square

In My Love from the Star, this sunken lower courtyard serves as the striking backdrop for a high-profile outdoor celebrity event where Do Min-joon (played by Kim Soo-hyun) uses his supernatural abilities during a dramatic encounter. It also appears in She Was Pretty during energetic urban montage sequences that capture the fast-paced lifestyle of fashion magazine editors working in heart of Seoul.

In real life, Oullim Square is the primary open-air subterranean plaza that connects the nearby subway station directly to DDP’s main exhibition halls. The space regularly hosts seasonal design markets, art installations, outdoor concerts, and cultural gatherings. Standing in the middle of Oullim Square gives you an incredible sense of scale as the curved aluminum panels sweep gracefully upward toward the open sky above.

How to Get There

Take Seoul Subway Line 2, 4, or 5 to Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station. Head directly toward Exit 1, which leads straight into the sunken courtyard of Oullim Square without requiring you to go above ground first.

Exterior Slopes and Fashion Ramps

In Record of Youth, aspiring model Sa Hye-jun (played by Park Bo-gum) struts down these massive, sloping metallic walkways during Seoul Fashion Week, capturing both the glamour and intense pressure of the fashion industry. The location is also featured prominently in Vincenzo, where the sleek background accentuates the legal drama’s stylish and authoritative atmosphere.

These expansive outdoor ramps surround the outer hull of the complex, allowing visitors to walk continuously from the ground level up to the elevated park spaces. The building exterior features over 45,000 uniquely shaped aluminum panels, meaning the light reflects differently depending on the angle and weather conditions. The outdoor walkways remain accessible 24 hours a day, making them a favorite spot for evening strolls among local residents and late-night photographers.

How to Get There

From Exit 1 of Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station, walk into Oullim Square and follow the wide, sloping concrete ramps that wrap around the outside of the Art Hall building.

The Design Pathway

In Are You Human Too? and Record of Youth, characters are seen walking along smooth, endless indoor white staircases and gently curving hallways that create a sleek, futuristic backdrop for quiet conversations and emotional decisions.

Known as the Design Pathway (디자인둘레길), this remarkable feature is a continuous 533-meter indoor ramp located inside the Design Lab (Salim-teo) building. It spirals smoothly upwards without traditional stairs, allowing visitors to travel between floors effortlessly. The interior architecture relies on minimalist white surfaces, recessed lighting, and soft continuous curves, completely eliminating sharp corners to create an almost surreal interior environment.

How to Get There

Enter the main doors of the DDP Design Lab building from the central courtyard. Look for the signs indicating the start of the Design Pathway on the first floor and follow the gentle inclines upward.

Grass Hill and Rooftop Park Area

In The Producers and Fated to Love You, characters gather along elevated green spaces to talk quietly while looking out over the glowing city lights below. These quiet green spots offer a romantic contrast to the busy commercial district across the street.

The Grass Hill is an open-air green roof built directly onto the upper architectural layers of the DDP complex. It blends soft green lawns directly with the hard metallic structure, creating an elevated urban park. From here, you can enjoy unobstructed views of both the modern architectural curves of the plaza and the historic stone walls of ancient Seoul running along the distant hillsides.

How to Get There

Follow the outdoor pedestrian ramps upward from Oullim Square toward the back of the Art Hall and Museum buildings until the pathway levels out into green lawn spaces.

Make a Day of It

Dongdaemun is one of Seoul’s most dynamic neighborhoods, famous for operating around the clock. Once you finish exploring the filming spots across the plaza, you can easily spend the rest of your day discovering historical landmarks and legendary local eateries nearby.

Here are a few recommended places to complete your neighborhood itinerary:

• Dongdaemun Shopping District: Located right across the main boulevard, multi-story shopping centers like Doota Mall, Hyundai City Outlets, and APM offer fashion shopping, cafes, and rooftop views. Many wholesale centers stay open until early morning.
• Dongdaemun Dakhanmari Alley: A short ten-minute walk from DDP leads you to a famed culinary street dedicated to Dakhanmari (whole chicken hot pot simmered in rich broth). It is a beloved comfort food spot for locals and visitors alike.
• Heunginjimun Gate and Seoul City Wall Trail: Located just north of the plaza, Heunginjimun is the historic East Gate of ancient Seoul. From the gate, you can follow the preserved stone wall trail up the slopes of Naksan Park for scenic nighttime views across the city skyline.

Attraction	Type	Walking Time from DDP
Heunginjimun Gate	Historic Site	5 minutes
Dakhanmari Alley	Local Food Street	10 minutes
Naksan Park Trail	Scenic Viewpoint	15 minutes

Photo Tips

To capture cinematic photos that mirror scenes from your favorite dramas, consider these timing and framing suggestions:

• The Wide Angle Perspective: Stand at the lowest point of Oullim Square and point your camera upward toward the elevated walkways. Using a wide-angle smartphone setting helps capture the massive, curving metallic structures above you.
• The Nighttime Glow: Visit roughly thirty minutes after sunset. As the sky turns dark blue, DDP’s integrated exterior lights illuminate the silver facade, giving your photos the exact atmosphere seen in evening scenes of Vincenzo.
• Minimalist Interiors: Head inside the Design Lab pathway on weekday mornings when foot traffic is light. The clean white walls and soft ambient lighting provide a distraction-free background for portrait photography.

FAQ

Is Dongdaemun Design Plaza free to enter?

Walking around the exterior grounds, Oullim Square, rooftop ramps, and public indoor corridors like the Design Pathway is entirely free of charge. However, temporary design exhibitions, art museum galleries, or special events held inside the building halls may require separate admission tickets. Always check the official event schedule before visiting specific shows.

Can I visit the filming spots late at night?

Yes, all outdoor areas of DDP remain accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The exterior architectural lighting stays illuminated throughout the evening, making it a safe, clean, and popular location for late-night walks and night photography.

Is the famous LED Rose Garden still open at DDP?

The LED Rose Garden, which appeared prominently in dramas like The Producers and Love Alarm, was originally installed as a short-term temporary exhibition. Due to immense public popularity, the display was extended for several years before officially closing to make way for new public park layouts. While the physical lights are no longer installed, the grassy rooftop area where they once stood remains open to visitors as part of the public park space.

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