Real Parasite Movie Filming Locations Tour in Seoul

Tracing the Steps of Bong Joon-ho’s Oscar Winner

When Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite swept the Academy Awards in 2020, Seoul locals watched the screen with a surreal mix of pride and instant recognition. While the opulent Park family mansion was a meticulously constructed set built on a soundstage in Jeonju, the rain-soaked alleys, steep staircases, and neighborhood corner stores were shot on location in working-class neighborhoods across Seoul. Director Bong deliberately used Seoul’s dramatic topography—where wealthy ridge tops overlook deep, shadowy valleys—to turn the city’s physical elevation into a metaphor for class hierarchy.

Walking these filming spots gives you a rare look at the everyday rhythms of older Seoul neighborhoods. Visiting these sites requires walking through quiet residential areas where everyday citizens live, so taking your time and being mindful of the residents is key to enjoying the tour. Here is how you can find the actual real-world locations featured in the film without getting lost in the city’s winding alleyways.

Doore Supermarket (Featured as Woori Supermarket)

In the opening act of the film, this small neighborhood shop serves as the meeting spot where Min-hyuk hands over the famous scholar’s stone (suseok) to Ki-woo and suggests he take over the English tutoring job. Later, Ki-woo and his father sit outside on plastic chairs under a blue umbrella, drinking cheap beer while discussing the opportunity.

In real life, this location is Doore Supermarket (두리슈퍼), a quintessential Korean corner store that has stood in Ahyeon-dong for decades. The shop continues to serve local residents, stocking basic groceries, snacks, and cold beverages. The owners have proudly kept a few subtle movie mementos on display inside, though the outside remains largely unchanged from what you see on screen.

How to get there

Take Seoul Subway Line 2 to Ahyeon Station and leave through Exit 3. Walk straight along the main street for about three minutes, then turn left into the neighborhood alleyways along Songhak-gil. The walk takes roughly 7 to 10 minutes total uphill through a traditional residential pocket. You can also reach it from Chungjeongno Station (Line 2 or Line 5) Exit 6 by following the pedestrian maps toward the hillside housing blocks.

Songhak-gil Staircase (The Kim Family Neighborhood)

Just a few steps from Doore Supermarket lies the steep stone staircase featured in several transitional scenes. This is where Ki-jeong walks up while holding her peach before entering the Park residence, and where Ki-woo climbs up with his forged university papers in hand.

This hillside staircase is a classic feature of Seoul’s older residential zones, often called daldongne or moon villages. These elevated communities were built on steep terrain during rapid urban expansion. Standing at the top looking down gives you an immediate sense of the neighborhood’s dense layout and historic character before modern high-rise apartments transformed the surrounding skyline.

How to get there

Because these stairs sit right next to Doore Supermarket in Mapo-gu, you can easily visit both in one stop. From the front door of Doore Supermarket, turn directly into the immediate side alley along Songhak 8-gil. The staircase rises directly beside the residential brick buildings. Please remember that people live right along these steps, so keep voice levels down while taking photos.

Jahamun Tunnel Pedestrian Stairs

This setting anchors the climax of the film’s infamous torrential rain sequence. After fleeing the Park family mansion in the middle of the night, the Kim family runs endlessly downward through a blinding storm, descending deeper and deeper into the flooded lower quarters of the city.

The location is the steep pedestrian staircase leading down into Jahamun Tunnel in Buam-dong, Jongno-gu. In daylight, Buam-dong is a peaceful, artistic neighborhood nestled at the foot of Inwangsan Mountain, known for quiet cafes and art galleries. The dramatic contrast between the neighborhood’s calm daytime atmosphere and the dark, watery descent portrayed in the film highlights how masterfully atmosphere was constructed for the scene.

How to get there

Take Seoul Subway Line 3 to Gyeongbokgung Station and take Exit 3. Head to the bus stop right outside the exit and board local bus 1020, 7022, or 7212. Ride the bus for about 10 minutes and get off at the Jahamun Tunnel / Sukjeongmun Gate stop. The pedestrian stairs lead directly down alongside the tunnel entrance along the main roadway.

Sky Pizza (Featured as Pizza Age)

This small pizzeria is where the Kim family works together folding stack after stack of delivery pizza boxes in their semi-basement apartment, and where they later argue with the shop manager over folded boxes and missing sauce containers.

In reality, the restaurant is a small, real family-operated pizza shop called Sky Pizza (피자시대), located in Noryangjin-dong. The shop is operated by a welcoming family who kept the original “Pizza Age” box props on display inside the store. Visitors can sit down for a fresh personal pizza while admiring photos taken with Director Bong Joon-ho during the production period.

How to get there

Take Seoul Subway Line 1 or Line 9 to Noryangjin Station and exit via Exit 6. Walk straight for about 100 meters, turn right onto Deokbong-ro, and continue through the quiet street for approximately 8 to 10 minutes. Sky Pizza is located on the ground floor of a modest residential brick building along the neighborhood roadway.

Make a Day of It

Because these filming locations are spread across different districts in Seoul, grouping them into regional itineraries helps you make the most of your day without spending hours in transit.

Northern Seoul Itinerary: Buam-dong and Jongno

Start your morning in Buam-dong by visiting the Jahamun Tunnel stairs. Afterward, explore the neighborhood’s rich food and cultural scene. Buam-dong is famous for its traditional tea houses, small art galleries, and fried chicken shops. You can walk through the historic Seochon Village nearby, visit Gyeongbokgung Palace, or hike a portion of the Hanyangdoseong (Seoul City Wall) trail along Mount Inwangsan for panoramic views over the capital.

Central and Southern Itinerary: Mapo and Noryangjin

Combine your visit to Doore Supermarket and the Songhak-gil stairs with an exploration of Mapo-gu. After walking through Ahyeon-dong, head down to Ahyeon Traditional Market to try authentic street food like hand-poured jeon (savory pancakes) and fresh gimbap. In the afternoon, cross the Han River south to Noryangjin. After trying a pizza at Sky Pizza, walk over to the famous Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market to experience one of Korea’s largest seafood hubs.

District	Key Filming Spot	Nearby Highlights
Jongno-gu	Jahamun Tunnel Stairs	Buam-dong Cafes, Seoul City Wall, Seochon Village
Mapo-gu	Doore Supermarket & Stairs	Ahyeon Traditional Market, Ewha Shopping Area
Dongjak-gu	Sky Pizza	Noryangjin Fish Market, Yeouido Hangang Park

Photo Tips

To capture photos that match the mood of the film, keep these framing techniques in mind:

• Jahamun Tunnel Stairs: Stand at the very top of the staircase and angle your camera downwards toward the tunnel opening. Visiting on overcast days or late in the afternoon provides a soft, moody lighting effect similar to the film’s rain sequence.
• Doore Supermarket: Frame your photo from across the narrow street to capture the full storefront and overhead street signs. Early morning light is best here before parked cars block the clear view.
• Songhak-gil Stairs: Crouch low near the base of the staircase looking up to emphasize the extreme incline and dramatic depth of the steps.

FAQ

Can you visit the Park family mansion in Seoul?

No, the luxury mansion shown in the film was a set specifically built inside an outdoor film studio lot in Jeonju, south of Seoul. The set was completely dismantled after filming concluded. The real-life residential neighborhood of Seongbuk-dong served as inspiration for the exterior street walks, but the house itself does not exist in Seoul.

Are these filming locations open to the public every day?

The Jahamun Tunnel stairs and Songhak-gil residential staircases are public structures accessible 24 hours a day for free. Doore Supermarket and Sky Pizza are small, privately owned local businesses. Their operating hours vary based on owner schedules, so it is recommended to plan visits during standard business hours and purchase a small item or meal to support the shop owners.

How should visitors behave when visiting these residential areas?

Most of these locations sit inside quiet neighborhoods where long-time residents live. Keep your noise levels low, avoid pointing cameras directly into private home windows or lower-ground semi-basement apartments, and take photos efficiently without blocking narrow walkways or residential traffic.

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