Fight For My Way Filming Spots in Busan: Local Fan Guide

Busan’s hillside neighborhoods are famously built along steep mountain slopes, creating layered cityscapes where rooftop views turn ordinary evening beers into cinematic moments. When KBS aired Fight For My Way in 2017, international K-drama fans fell head over heels for the gritty yet heartwarming story of Dong-man (Park Seo-joon) and Ae-ra (Kim Ji-won). While many K-dramas showcase the shiny skyscrapers of Gangnam or the trendy cafes of Hongdae, this beloved series drew its emotional soul from Busan’s traditional sanbok-doro (hillside roads) and quiet seaside corners.

As a local who has walked these slopes countlessly, I can tell you that visiting these real-life settings hits differently. You feel the cool sea breeze rushing up the hillside, smell the neighborhood eateries, and immediately understand why four lifelong friends chose a breeze-swept rooftop to dream out loud. Whether you are reliving Dong-man’s taekwondo comeback or Ae-ra’s unstoppable announcer aspirations, this guide covers the most memorable fight for my way filming spots across Busan with practical local transit tips.

Hocheon Village: The Iconic Namil Bar View

In the drama, the four main characters gather at night on a cozy rooftop deck named Namil Bar. It is where they unwind after exhausting days, share meals, celebrate small victories, and grapple with their unrealized dreams. The warm fairy lights overlooking a shimmering valley of hillside houses became one of the most recognizable backdrops in modern K-drama history.

In reality, the original private rooftop used during filming sat on a residential home. However, due to the high volume of visiting fans, the local community created an official public replica deck at the Hocheon Village Cultural Center. Here, you will find recreated wooden tables, light strings, and photo zones designed specifically for visitors to enjoy without intruding on residents’ privacy. Hocheon Village itself translates to ‘Tiger Stream Village,’ named after the wild tigers that allegedly roamed its steep forests long ago.

How to get there

Take Busan Metro Line 1 to Beomil Station (Exit 1 or 2). From the bus stop near the exit, transfer to local city bus No. 87 or the smaller neighborhood green bus (Busan Jin-gu 1-1). Ride the bus up the winding hill and get off at Hocheon Village (호천마을) or Hocheon Cultural Center stop. The total ride takes about 10 to 15 minutes from the station.

Hansung Apartment: The Namil Villa Exterior

Remember the pastel-toned courtyard where Dong-man and Ae-ra step out of their apartments across from each other? This charming courtyard setting, with its outdoor staircases and retro railings, serves as the main exterior for Namil Villa, where the main characters live throughout the drama.

In real life, this location is Hansung Apartment (한성주택), a vintage low-rise residential complex built in the late 1970s in Beomcheon-dong. The pastel pink and green exterior walls give it a distinctive nostalgic aesthetic. Because this is an active residential property where local families live, please maintain a quiet volume, stay on public access paths, and avoid taking close-up photos of windows or private entryways.

How to get there

Take Busan Metro Line 1 to Beomnaegol Station (Exit 7) or Beomil Station (Exit 1). It is roughly a 10-minute uphill walk from either station into the Beomcheon-dong residential pocket. Alternatively, a quick 3-minute taxi ride from Beomnaegol Station will bring you directly to the entrance of Hansung Apartment.

Beomil-dong Hillside Staircases

Throughout the series, Dong-man and Ae-ra repeatedly walk up and down steep concrete staircases on their way home from work, having banter-filled conversations that slowly turn into heartfelt romantic confessions.

These winding stairways belong to the mountain-flank alleyways running through Beomil-dong and Beomcheon-dong. These historic elevated districts were formed when refugees settled along Busan’s hills during the Korean War. Today, these staircases offer sweeping panoramic views over Busan Port and the surrounding downtown basin, serving as a living museum of urban history.

How to get there

These stairways surround Hocheon Village and Hansung Apartment. You can easily walk down from Hocheon Village along the main slope road toward Beomil Station, taking taking side pedestrian stairs to explore the neighborhood views.

Ilgwang Beach: Ae-ra’s Festival Hosting Spot

Away from the hillside alleys, Ae-ra takes a big step toward her dream of becoming an announcer by hosting a local seaside event on an outdoor stage. The sparkling sea behind her provides a refreshing backdrop to one of her most empowering moments in the story.

This scene was filmed along Ilgwang Beach (일광해수욕장), located in Gijang-gun on the eastern coast of Busan. Unlike the bustling, crowded shores of Haeundae or Gwangalli, Ilgwang Beach features a gentle curve of soft sand, calm shallow waters, and a relaxed atmosphere popular with families and local artists.

How to get there

Take the Donghae Line (Busan’s commuter rail line) to Ilgwang Station (Exit 1). From the station, walk straight toward the ocean for about 10 to 15 minutes to reach the beachfront promenade where the open-air stage scenes were filmed.

Summary of Locations

Location Name	Drama Significance	District
Hocheon Village	Namil Bar rooftop gatherings	Beomil-dong
Hansung Apartment	Namil Villa exterior courtyard	Beomcheon-dong
Ilgwang Beach	Ae-ra’s festival stage host scene	Gijang-gun

Make a Day of It

Exploring these fight for my way filming spots takes you through some of Busan’s most authentic historical pockets. You can easily combine these drama stops into a complete, delicious day trip across the city.

Start your morning in the Beomil-dong area. Before heading up the hills, treat yourself to a hot bowl of Dwaeji Gukbap (Busan pork rice soup) near Beomil Station. The area around Beomil Market is famous for traditional soup eateries that have been operating for decades. Fuel up on rich pork broth and tender meat before taking on the hillside stairs.

After visiting Hansung Apartment and taking photos at Hocheon Village, ride the Donghae Line out to Gijang to spend your late afternoon at Ilgwang Beach. Gijang is renowned across Korea for fresh seafood. Grab a table at a coastal cafe or enjoy grilled seafood and crab at one of the local restaurants lining the beach. In the evening, return toward central Busan or take a short taxi ride to the nearby Hwangnyeongsan Mountain Observatory for one of the top nighttime cityscape views in Korea.

Photo Tips

• Hocheon Village Rooftop: Visit during dusk (about 30 minutes before sunset). As the sky turns deep blue, the string lights on the recreated Namil Bar set illuminate alongside the glowing hillside village below. Angle your camera low at the wooden bench to capture both the table settings and the urban lights rising behind you.
• Hansung Apartment Courtyard: Visit during late morning when daylight fills the residential courtyard without harsh shadows. Shoot from the central alley looking up at the pastel stairwells to frame the vintage architecture naturally. Always double-check operating hours or local notices before planning your shoot.
• Ilgwang Beach Boardwalk: Mid-afternoon sun offers bright, clear reflections off the water. Walk along the curved wooden pier to get a wide shot combining the crescent bay and the coastal hills.

FAQ

Can you visit the actual rooftop where the actors filmed Namil Bar?

The original rooftop used for filming was a private residential home. To protect the homeowner’s privacy, the local municipality created an official, visitor-friendly replica of Namil Bar at the nearby Hocheon Village Cultural Center. This public space features identical seating arrangements, props, and night views without intruding on residents.

Is Fight For My Way filmed entirely in Busan?

While the exterior street scenes, hillside housing, Namil Bar, and beach moments were filmed in Busan, some interior apartment sets and workplace scenes were filmed in soundstages and streets around Seoul and Incheon. However, Busan remains the core setting that gives the show its distinct aesthetic.

What is the best season to visit these fight for my way filming spots?

Spring (April to May) and autumn (September to November) offer the best weather for exploring Busan’s hillside locations. Walking up steep stairs and spending hours on outdoor rooftops can be tiring in the peak heat of summer or the chilly winds of mid-winter, so mild weather makes for a much more comfortable trip.

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