Gangnam K-Drama Filming Locations in Record of Youth and Beyond

Walking past the glowing glass towers around Gangnam Station during evening rush hour delivers an instant wave of recognition. You are standing inside the high-octane, polished frame of modern Korean television. While Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon Hanok Village bring historical sageuks to life north of the Han River, Gangnam is where contemporary K-dramas capture youth, ambition, luxury, and romance. From the sprawling wooden book walls featured in Record of Youth to the underground fashion alleys seen in My ID is Gangnam Beauty, this vibrant district offers international fans a direct look into real-world Seoul style.

Navigating Gangnam as a traveler can feel intimidating because of its scale and fast pace. However, many of the most famous shooting locations are clustered near public metro stations, making it surprisingly easy to craft a seamless self-guided day trip. Here is your local breakdown of the top Gangnam filming spots, how to reach them smoothly, and where to eat along the way.

2 Starfield Library at COEX Mall

In Record of Youth, model-turned-actor Sa Hye-jun (Park Bo-gum) and makeup artist An Jeong-ha (Park So-dam) share a quiet, lingering moment surrounded by endless rows of books. This striking visual backdrop also appears in Lovestruck in the City, framing key urban romance scenes against soaring lighted shelves.

In real life, Starfield Library is an open-concept public cultural space located at the center of COEX Mall in Samseong-dong. Rising two stories high with 13-meter tall illuminated bookshelves, the library holds over 70,000 titles, international magazines, and open seating tables. It is completely free to enter, serving as both a working quiet space for locals and a popular gathering point for shoppers.

3 How to get there

Take Seoul Subway Line 2 to Samseong Station. Take Exits 5 or 6, which connect directly into the underground concourse of COEX Mall. Follow the clear blue directions on the mall floor pointing toward Starfield Library. Alternatively, if you are arriving via Line 9, exit at Bongeunsa Station Exit 7 and walk through the northern mall entrance for five minutes.

3 Photo Tips

For the classic wide angle seen on screen, take the wooden escalator moving between the ground level and the upper floor. Hold your phone low and tilt slightly upward to capture the curved top of the main bookshelf. The best time to visit for clean photos without heavy crowds is right when the mall opens around 10:00 AM. If you prefer a warmer ambience, visit after 8:00 PM when the main overhead lights dim and the golden illumination of the shelves creates a cozy glow.

2 Gangnam Station Underground Shopping Center

In My ID is Gangnam Beauty, Kang Mi-rae (Im Soo-hyang) walks through the crowded clothing aisles of Gangnam, absorbing the latest fashion trends as she starts her fresh university journey. The bustling Underground Shopping Center captures the practical, everyday side of youth culture in Seoul.

This retail complex sits directly inside Gangnam Station, ranking among the busiest transit shopping hubs in South Korea. Hundreds of compact boutique stalls line the subterranean walkways, selling trendy Korean street style, knitwear, shoes, smartphone accessories, and K-beauty items at accessible prices. It is an ideal spot to pick up affordable local fashion pieces while experiencing true daily commuter flow.

3 How to get there

Take Seoul Subway Line 2 or the Shinbundang Line to Gangnam Station. You do not need to exit through the ticket turnstiles to find the shopping area; the concourse immediately surrounding Exits 1 through 12 forms the retail center. Simply exit the train doors and head up to the main station mezzanine level.

Focus on the long perspective of the brightly lit shopping corridors. Frame your shot near the concourse around Exit 11 looking down the main walkway. To capture the brightly colored racks without getting caught in heavy pedestrian traffic, aim for early afternoon on a weekday around 1:30 PM, right after the lunch rush clears out.

2 K-Star ROAD and Apgujeong Rodeo Street

Seen in luxury-focused dramas like Cheongdam-dong Alice and featured across multiple idol entertainment show sequences, this glossy corridor embodies the sleek world of high fashion, talent agencies, and flagship boutiques. Characters in modern dramas often stroll these wide, tree-lined sidewalks when depicting elite Seoul lifestyles.

K-Star ROAD is a designated pedestrian route running along Dosan-daero in the Cheongdam-dong and Apgujeong neighborhoods. It is famous for the GangnamDol bear statues—artfully painted, giant bear sculptures that represent major K-pop artists including BTS, EXO, Super Junior, and TVXQ. The street connects directly to Apgujeong Rodeo Street, known for indie designer boutiques, aesthetic cafes, and high-end retail flagships.

Take the Suin-Bundang Line to Apgujeong Rodeo Station. Head out through Exit 2 to immediately join K-Star ROAD, where you will spot the large GangnamDol human-sized bear statues lined up along the sidewalk. To reach the main cafe district, cross toward Exit 5 and walk south into Apgujeong Rodeo Street.

Stand at a three-quarter angle next to your favorite group’s GangnamDol statue with the tree-lined avenue stretching out behind you. Late morning sunlight around 10:30 AM provides clean, even light without harsh shadows cast by surrounding high-rises. Be sure to stay on the wide sidewalk, as vehicle traffic along Dosan-daero moves quickly.

2 Dosan Park Cafe District

The quiet, stylish streets circling Dosan Park served as elegant backdrops in workplace dramas like Search: WWW and Her Private Life. The polished concrete cafe exteriors, floor-to-ceiling glass windows, and tree-lined alleys frame upscale coffee dates and dramatic career discussions.

Dosan Park is a peaceful public park established to honor the independence leader An Chang-ho. The neighborhood encircling the green space has evolved into Seoul’s premier trendsetting district for experimental architecture, high-concept dessert cafes, and luxury lifestyle brands. While it is home to high-profile commercial spaces, remember that residential apartments sit nearby, so keeping noise levels polite is appreciated by locals.

Take Seoul Subway Line 3 to Apgujeong Station Exit 3, or use the Suin-Bundang Line to Apgujeong Rodeo Station Exit 5. Walk approximately 10 to 12 minutes toward Dosan-daero 45-gil. The entrance to Dosan Park serves as the central anchor for all neighboring side streets.

Position your camera across the narrow street, using low-hanging tree branches or modern cafe brick facades to frame your photo. Autumn afternoon light between 3:00 PM and 4:30 PM filters through the leaves of Dosan Park, casting golden tones across the surrounding brick buildings and outdoor cafe seating.

You can easily connect all these spots into a full-day itinerary without spending hours in transit. Gangnam is structured logically along major metro lines, making geographic routing simple.

Time	Location	Activity
Morning	COEX Mall	Explore Starfield Library and browse the Hyundai Department Store food hall.
Afternoon	Gangnam Station	Shop underground fashion stalls and enjoy casual street food snacks.
Late Afternoon	Apgujeong Rodeo	Walk K-Star ROAD and visit concept bakeries around Dosan Park.

For lunch near COEX Mall, head to the Hyundai Department Store Trade Center food hall located on the basement floor. It offers high-quality local dishes, ranging from traditional cold buckwheat noodles (naengmyeon) to modern Korean comfort snacks, in a clean, self-serve environment. In the late afternoon around Dosan Park, take a break at one of the neighborhood’s famous artisan bakeries for seasonal pastries and espresso.

3 Do I need to pay an admission fee to visit Starfield Library?

No, Starfield Library is an open public space inside COEX Mall. Entry is completely free for all visitors, and you are welcome to sit, read, and take photographs without purchasing a ticket.

The Seoul Subway system is the fastest and cheapest method. Taking Line 2 connects Gangnam Station directly to Samseong Station (COEX Mall) in less than ten minutes. Switching to the Suin-Bundang Line brings you quickly to Apgujeong Rodeo Station.

Yes, most clothing and accessory stalls inside the underground mall are open seven days a week, generally operating from around 10:30 AM to 10:00 PM. Note that individual vendor hours can vary slightly, so arriving by early evening ensures all stalls are open.