Along With The Gods Filming Locations You Can Visit in Korea

When Kim Ja-hong plunges from a burning high-rise in the opening minutes of Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds, the fiery spectacle unfolds right in the heart of downtown Seoul. The two-part blockbuster franchise—comprising The Two Worlds and The Last 49 Days—became one of the highest-grossing film series in South Korean cinematic history. While director Kim Yong-hwa used groundbreaking visual effects to construct the Seven Hells of the afterlife inside VFX soundstages, the grounded emotional core of both movies rests entirely on tangible, real-world Korean landscapes.

As a local movie lover who watched both films in packed Seoul theaters on opening weekend, I can tell you that visiting these real filming locations adds a whole new dimension to the story. You get to see how cinematic trickery transformed everyday city centers into mystical transit points between life, death, and reincarnation. Whether you are retracing Ja-hong’s heroic sacrifice or Seongju God’s quiet defense of an old neighborhood, walking these streets lets you feel like an afterlife guardian on a mission across the mortal realm.

Gwanghwamun Plaza: The Heroic Rescue Scene

The film opens with an intense action sequence where firefighter Kim Ja-hong (played by Cha Tae-hyun) leaps off a burning building while cradling a young child. This tragic yet heroic moment sets off the entire narrative as the grim reapers Gang-lim, Haewonmak, and Lee Deok-choon arrive to escort his soul.

In real life, Gwanghwamun Plaza is Seoul’s most prominent public civic square, located directly in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace. The production team utilized practical urban shooting along the grand avenue, combining practical stunt work with massive green screen additions. Standing in the plaza, you are surrounded by the statue of King Sejong the Great, Admiral Yi Sun-sin’s majestic monument, and towering modern office glass structures framing Mount Bugaksan in the distance.

How to Get There

Take Seoul Subway Line 5 directly to Gwanghwamun Station. Walk toward Exit 7 or Exit 9, which opens straight onto the central pedestrian plaza. Alternatively, you can take Line 3 to Gyeongbokgung Station (Exit 6) and walk five minutes south.

Cheongju Land: The Retro Amusement Park

In Along With the Gods: The Last 49 Days, the Household Deity Seongju God (played by Ma Dong-seok) takes young Hur Hyun-dong to a vibrant, slightly weathered amusement park. He spends his scarce savings to buy the young boy a day of pure, unadulterated joy on the rides before his life changes forever.

This heartwarming scene was shot on location at Cheongju Land, a classic municipal amusement and family park situated in Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do. Built decades ago, Cheongju Land retains a wonderfully nostalgic 1990s retro aesthetic. The bright yellow Ferris wheel, vintage carousel, and small train tracks look almost frozen in time, providing a colorful visual contrast to the heavy themes of the film.

How to Get There

From Seoul, head to the Seoul Express Bus Terminal (Subway Lines 3, 7, and 9) and take an intercity bus to Cheongju Express Bus Terminal (takes roughly 1.5 hours). From the terminal, board local Cheongju Bus 862 or 863 and ride it directly to the Cheongju Land stop. Always check local transit apps like Naver Map for updated departure schedules.

Ahyeon-dong Alleyways: The House Guardian’s Home

The entire mortal realm storyline of The Last 49 Days revolves around a humble, slated-roof house located in an old neighborhood slated for redevelopment. Here, Seongju God protects little Hyun-dong and his grandfather from real estate developers and afterlife messengers alike.

The scenes capturing this steep, winding neighborhood were filmed around the remaining historic hilly enclaves of Ahyeon-dong and nearby Malli-dong in Seoul. Known locally as daldongne (moon villages), these traditional areas feature narrow concrete staircases, vintage brick walls, and low-rise residential structures perched above the modern city. Please note that these are real residential quarters where locals live. Visitors should wander quietly, refrain from taking photos directly into private doorways, and remain on public paths.

How to Get There

Take Seoul Subway Line 2 to Ahyeon Station (Exit 1 or 2). Walk uphill toward the residential residential streets heading south toward Malli-dong. The terrain involves steep walking trails, so wearing comfortable walking shoes is essential.

Songdo Central Park: Modern Guardians on Investigation

When the grim reaper Gang-lim (Ha Jung-woo) travels into the living world to investigate the mysterious circumstances surrounding a vengeful spirit, he moves across sleek, hyper-modern urban backdrops that contrast sharply with the ancient afterlife realms.

These modern urban sequences highlight Songdo International Business District in Incheon, specifically around Songdo Central Park and Songdo Convensia. Built on reclaimed land, Songdo features futuristic glass skyscrapers, broad pedestrian promenades, and an artificial seawater canal where water taxis glide past architectural landmarks like the Tri-Bowl cultural center.

How to Get There

Take the Seoul Metropolitan Subway to Incheon Line 1 and get off at Central Park Station (Exit 3). The park exit places you directly beside the futuristic Tri-Bowl building and the central canal walkway.

Make a Day of It

To maximize your travel itinerary, you can easily combine these real-world filming sites with authentic local dining and cultural experiences nearby. Here is how to structure your day trips efficiently:

• Seoul City Day Trip: Start your morning early at Gwanghwamun Plaza. After taking photos near the statues, head into Gyeongbokgung Palace or grab a bowl of hot ginseng chicken soup (*samgyetang*) at the famous Tosokchon restaurant nearby. In the afternoon, take Line 2 down to Ahyeon Station to explore the traditional alleyways, finishing your evening with roasted pork belly at a local restaurant in Mapo.
• Cheongju Out-of-City Excursion: Dedicate a full day to visiting Cheongju Land. After enjoying the retro park grounds, head over to Suamgol Mural Village in Cheongju. Suamgol is an iconic hillside village famous for vibrant street murals, cozy rooftop cafes, and spectacular panoramic night views of the entire city. Make sure to try Cheongju-style grilled pork belly (*seopsal*) before heading back to Seoul.

Location	City	Best Vibe Highlight
Gwanghwamun Plaza	Seoul	Grand historical architecture & cityscape
Cheongju Land	Cheongju	Retro 1990s amusement park nostalgia
Ahyeon-dong Alleys	Seoul	Traditional moon village atmosphere
Songdo Central Park	Incheon	Futuristic skyline & scenic canal walks

Photo Tips for Movie Fans

To capture photos that feel like movie stills, timing and angles are everything. Here is how to shoot each spot:

• Gwanghwamun Plaza: Stand near the base of the Admiral Yi Sun-sin statue looking north toward Gyeongbokgung Palace. Shoot during late afternoon golden hour when the sun lights up the granite mountains framing the background.
• Cheongju Land: Crouch down near the entrance pathways and use a wide-angle lens setting to capture the full yellow Ferris wheel against the sky, mirroring the warm tone of Seongju God’s scenes.
• Ahyeon-dong: Position yourself at the top of one of the long stone staircases looking down. Frame the shot so the historic low-rise roofs sit in the foreground with Seoul’s modern high-rise towers looming in the distant background.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the Seven Hells from Along With The Gods real places you can visit?

No, the underworld trials shown in the movie—such as the Hell of Murder, the Hell of Indolence, and the Hell of Deceit—were created almost entirely using green screens and advanced CGI by Korea’s Dexter Studios. However, natural landscapes like Mount Wolchulsan and various rocky river valleys across Gangwon-do served as visual inspiration for the digital environments.

Can you enter the exact house seen in Ahyeon-dong?

The specific residential house set featured in The Last 49 Days was located on private property in a neighborhood undergoing urban renewal. While you cannot enter private residences, walking along the public alleyways of Ahyeon-dong and Malli-dong provides the exact same street-level atmosphere shown in the film.

Is Cheongju Land open year-round?

Cheongju Land is a municipally operated public facility and is generally open throughout the year, but individual rides and indoor facilities may operate on seasonal schedules or close on Mondays and during severe winter weather. It is recommended to check operational statuses on Korean mapping services like Naver Map before making the trip from Seoul.

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