Real Squid Game Filming Locations in Seoul and Incheon

Exploring the Real World Behind the Global Hit

When Squid Game shattered global streaming records, local Seoulites started noticing visitors wandering through Ssangmun-dong, holding up smartphones and gazing at modest neighborhood fish stalls. Director Hwang Dong-hyuk chose places steeped in authentic Korean daily life to ground the show’s hyper-surreal narrative. While the neon-colored maze staircases and giant playground sets were built inside sound stages in Daejeon, many of the show’s most grounded exterior scenes were filmed in real neighborhoods across Seoul and Incheon.

If you are planning a trip to South Korea to walk in the footsteps of Seong Gi-hun and Cho Sang-woo, you can easily visit several real-world filming sites using public transit. Exploring these spots offers a fascinating glimpse into working-class Seoul markets, seaside amusement parks, and suburban transit hubs that rarely make standard tourist itineraries.

Ssangmun-dong Baekun Market

In the series, Ssangmun-dong serves as the emotional hometown anchor for both Seong Gi-hun and Cho Sang-woo. This is where Gi-hun lives with his elderly mother and where Sang-woo’s mother works hard running a small market stall selling fresh fish and seafood.

In real life, Baekun Market (Baekun Sijang) is a quiet traditional market located in Dobong-gu, northern Seoul. It is not a glossy tourist shopping street, but rather a functional, warm neighborhood market where local residents buy seasonal vegetables, fresh seafood, and daily groceries. Walking through the narrow covered aisle, you will immediately recognize the street layout where Gi-hun walks after returning home. Please keep in mind that this is an active residential area and working market. Always ask before photographing shop owners, and purchase a small snack or fruit if you want to support the local vendors.

How to Get There

Take Seoul Subway Line 4 to Ssangmun Station and take Exit 2. From there, you can walk about 10 to 15 minutes north along Ssangmun-ro, or take local neighborhood bus Dobong 07 or Dobong 02 for a three-stop ride directly to the Baekun Market entrance stop.

Photo Tips

Stand at the central junction of the market aisle looking down the row of lighted shop banners to capture the exact low-angle perspective featured in the show’s early episodes. The lighting is best in the late afternoon around 4:00 PM when the market lanterns begin to illuminate the stalls.

Yangjae Citizen’s Forest Station

This location sets the entire plot into motion when Seong Gi-hun meets the mysterious gentleman in a suit on a deserted subway platform, accepting a proposition to play a game of ddakji for cold hard cash.

The scenes were filmed along the platform level of Yangjae Citizen’s Forest Station on the Shinbundang Line in southern Seoul. Unlike older subway lines, the Shinbundang Line features clean glass screen doors, polished granite floors, and modern LED lighting that give it a sleek, almost clinical feel. Visiting late in the evening gives you a quiet view of the exact platform column where the intense card-flipping scene took place.

How to Get There

Ride the Shinbundang Line (red line) to Yangjae Citizen’s Forest Station. Head down to the subway platform level servicing trains heading toward Gwanggyo. The wide platform layout near the central glass safety doors matches the scene precisely.

Photo Tips

Frame your photo parallel to the glass screen doors, using the long vanishing line of the platform pillars to recreate the dramatic cinematic depth. Visit after 9:00 PM on a weekday to avoid commuter crowds in your shot.

Wolmi Theme Park in Incheon

During the off-game scenes where contestant Jang Deok-su meets his criminal associates to plan his next move, the colorful, flashing lights of an amusement park spin in the background.

That setting is Wolmi Theme Park, located on Wolmi Island along the coast of Incheon. Established decades ago, Wolmi Theme Park is famous throughout Korea for its retro atmosphere, wild ride operators, and seaside carnival games. The park features a vibrant double-decker carousel, high-swinging Viking ship rides, and classic neon signs that create a striking backdrop at night against the dark ocean waters.

How to Get There

Take Seoul Subway Line 1 all the way to its western terminus at Incheon Station (Exit 1). From the bus stop outside, hop on City Bus 45, 10, or 2 and ride it for about 10 minutes until you reach the Wolmido / Wolmi Theme Park stop.

Photo Tips

Position yourself on the seaside promenade facing the glowing double-decker carousel at dusk. The contrast between the colorful carnival lights and the night sky captures the eerie, nostalgic mood of the show perfectly.

Seungbongdo Island

In the drama, the contestants are blindfolded and transported by ferry to a remote, isolated island surrounded by steep cliffs and dense fog, where the secret facility is hidden deep underground.

While the game facility itself was built on a soundstage, the striking exterior shots of the island and its dramatic coastlines were filmed around Seungbongdo Island and nearby uninhabited islets off the coast of Incheon. Seungbongdo is a tranquil island home to small fishing villages, pine forest walking trails, and unique rock formations like the famous Eudrak-bawi (Rock). It offers a peaceful retreat far removed from Seoul’s urban rush.

How to Get There

Take Seoul Subway Line 1 to Dongincheon Station or Line 2 to Gangnam Station and catch an express bus to the Incheon Port International Passenger Terminal. From Incheon Port, catch a daily passenger ferry bound for Seungbongdo Island. The ferry journey takes approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes. Be sure to check ferry schedules online in advance as departures depend heavily on weather conditions.

Photo Tips

Walk to the southern shoreline at Gulup-ri beach during low tide. Frame the jagged rocky outcrops against the wide ocean horizon to recreate the mysterious offshore island atmosphere seen in the show’s maritime transit scenes.

Make a Day of It

Visiting these filming locations allows you to explore vibrant neighborhoods that offer excellent food and cultural experiences nearby. Here is how you can build a full day around your filming site visits:

• Ssangmun-dong Morning Trip: Start your morning at Baekun Market. Grab a freshly fried hotteok (sweet brown sugar pancake) or warm fish cake skewers from market vendors. Walk 10 minutes west to explore the Dooly Museum or take a stroll along the scenic footpaths of nearby Deoksung Women’s University campus.
• Incheon Waterfront Afternoon: Combine your trip to Wolmi Theme Park with a visit to Incheon Chinatown and the historic Open Port Area, both located right next to Incheon Station. Sample authentic Korean-style Jajangmyeon (black bean noodles) at one of the neighborhood’s historic restaurants before catching the bus to Wolmi Island for sunset.

Location	Primary Attraction	Nearby Local Food
Ssangmun Baekun Market	Neighborhood Street Scenes	Market Hotteok, Fresh Tteokbokki
Yangjae Citizen’s Forest	Subway Ddakji Scene	Korean BBQ, Gangnam Cafe Street
Wolmi Theme Park	Deok-su Gang Scene	Seafood Noodle Soup (Kalguksu)

Photo Tips

Timing and Etiquette for Drama Fans

When taking photos at real-life filming locations in South Korea, timing and cultural sensitivity are key to a great experience:

• Respect Private Spaces: Baekun Market and the surrounding residential alleys are home to working families and seniors. Keep conversation volumes low, avoid filming directly into private residential doorways, and ask permission before taking close-up shots of market vendors.
• Subway Station Etiquette: At Yangjae Citizen’s Forest Station, step clear of active passenger boarding lanes and train door paths. Avoid using tripods on platform levels, as station security personnel may request you to fold them away for safety reasons.
• Golden Hour at the Coast: For seaside locations like Wolmido and Seungbongdo, arrive about 45 minutes before sunset. The coastal lighting over the West Sea provides brilliant golden tones that bring out the colors of the theme park rides and rugged shorelines.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the giant Red Light Green Light robot doll located?

The iconic giant doll used in the first game was temporarily displayed at Macha Land, a carriage-themed museum in Jincheon County, Chungcheongbuk-do. It was later moved into storage for studio production. Replicas and pop-up exhibitions occasionally appear at Netflix promo events in Seoul, so check current event listings before traveling.

Can tourists tour the indoor studio sets where the games were shot?

No, the interior sets—including the rainbow maze staircases, the marble game alley, and the glass bridge room—were constructed inside private production soundstages at the Daejeon Visual Art Tech Center. These stages are closed working facilities and are not open to the public for walk-in tours.

Are Ssangmun-dong and Baekun Market safe to visit for solo travelers?

Yes, Ssangmun-dong is extremely safe, quiet, and welcoming for solo travelers. Like almost all residential neighborhoods in Seoul, violent crime is exceptionally rare. Navigating the area on foot is easy using English mapping applications like Naver Map or KakaoMap.

Keep Reading

• 4 Scenic Korean Campus Filming Spots from Top K-Dramas
• Visiting Sunshine Studio Nonsan: Mr. Sunshine Film Set Guide
• Real KDrama Cafes in Seoul Every Fan Should Visit
• Boys Over Flowers Filming Locations You Can Still Visit