The Thieves Movie Filming Locations You Can Visit in Busan

When Choi Dong-hoon’s ensemble heist blockbuster The Thieves exploded into South Korean cinemas in 2012, it shattered box office records by selling over 12.9 million tickets nationwide. A major reason fans remain spellbound by the film over a decade later is its breathtaking backdrop—a stylish, heart-pounding contrast between Macau’s shimmering casino strip and Busan’s dramatically layered coastal landscape. While Macau gave the crew its glamorous international heist setup, South Korea’s second city provided the gritty, high-octane canvas for some of the most memorable stunt sequences in Asian cinema history.

For film lovers visiting South Korea, walking through these actual filming sites in Busan offers a fascinating look into how modern Korean cinema turns everyday urban infrastructure into legendary action set pieces. From glass-walled skyscraper facades rising directly out of the ocean to historic hillside staircases overlooking industrial harbor basins, these real-world spots capture the raw energy and slick aesthetic that defined the movie.

Marine City Towers in Haeundae

This oceanfront skyscraper district serves as the dramatic setting for the film’s heart-stopping exterior high-wire sequence. It is here that Yenicall scales glass facades high above the pavement, dodging incoming fire while suspended on thin rappelling ropes against the ocean breeze.

In real life, Marine City is Busan’s premier modern waterfront enclave, built on reclaimed land in the Haeundae district. The neighborhood consists of ultra-luxury residential skyscrapers that form one of Asia’s most famous coastal skylines. The exact buildings featured in the exterior stunts are private residential complexes, but the surrounding public seaside boardwalk and nearby marina offer identical perspectives of the glass towers towering over the blue water of the bay.

How to get there

Take Busan Subway Line 2 to Dongbaek Station and leave through Exit 1. Walk straight down Dongbaek-ro toward the coast for approximately 10 to 12 minutes. As you approach the water near the Bay 101 complex, you will find yourself directly across the basin from the towering residential skyscrapers seen in the movie.

Busan Port and Gamman Dock Precinct

The industrial docks and shipping container lots around Busan Port set the stage for the crew’s underground smuggling deals and tactical maneuvering before the main heist unfolds. Heavy shipping machinery, towering cranes, and endless rows of metal ocean containers frame the tense exchanges between crew members.

Busan Port is one of the busiest maritime hubs on the planet and the true economic heartbeat of southern South Korea. While the active working container terminals have strict maritime security controls that prevent general walk-in traffic, the public viewing points, surrounding maritime roads, and nearby harbor bridges provide an authentic look into the massive industrial scale seen on screen.

How to get there

Take Busan Subway Line 1 to Busan Station and depart from Exit 7. From the bus stop directly outside, hop on local Bus 26 or Bus 134 heading south towards the port district. You can disembark near the Busan Port Coastal Passenger Terminal or the surrounding harbor overlooks to take in the sprawling waterfront docks.

Choryang-dong Sanbok-doro (Hillside Road)

During ground-level chase scenes and quiet transitional moments, the movie captures the gang moving through steep residential alleyways and dramatic rooftop views overlooking the city below. These scenes highlight the sharp contrast between the polished lives of high-stakes thieves and the rugged urban real estate of old Busan.

Sanbok-doro, which translates literally to ‘mountain belt road,’ refers to the winding arterial streets carved into the steep hillsides behind Busan Station. Originally settled by refugees during the Korean War, Choryang-dong has transformed into a vibrant cultural district filled with colorful hillside homes, observation decks, narrow stairways, and sweeping panoramic views of the entire port city.

How to get there

Take Busan Subway Line 1 to Busan Station and exit via Exit 5. Walk to the main bus stop in front of the station and take local Bus 333 or Bus 190 up the winding hillside. Get off at the Choryang Story Theway stop or the nearby Sanbok-doro observation platform.

Gwangan Bridge Coastal Arterial

Slick nighttime driving shots showcase the characters navigating Busan’s oceanfront highways, with the glowing suspension bridge lit up dramatically across the ocean bay in the background.

Gwangan Bridge, also known as the Diamond Bridge, is a double-decked suspension bridge spanning over seven kilometers across the ocean. It features an advanced LED lighting system that changes colors depending on the season and day of the week. The pedestrian sea wall along Gwangalli Beach provides the ultimate vantage point to watch the bridge lights reflect across the ocean waves.

How to get there

Take Busan Subway Line 2 to Gwangan Station and use Exit 3 or Exit 5. Walk straight down Gwangan-ro for about 10 minutes until the street opens up onto the sandy shores and sea wall promenade of Gwangalli Beach.

Make a Day of It

Busan’s filming locations line up conveniently along the city’s coastal transit routes, making it simple to build a full one-day itinerary around these movie sites. Here is how to plan a seamless film-themed day out in South Korea’s maritime capital.

Morning: Old City Charm in Choryang-dong

Start your morning high above the harbor in Choryang-dong along Sanbok-doro. Explore the 168 Stairs and the local observation decks before stopping for a classic Busan breakfast. Try a steaming bowl of Dwaeji Gukbap (Busan-style pork rice soup) at one of the traditional eateries clustered around the base of the hill near Busan Station. This hearty dish is a beloved local staple with deep roots in the city’s working-class history.

Afternoon: Coastal Views and Modern Architecture

Head east along Subway Line 2 toward Haeundae. Stop at Gwangalli Beach for lunch or a quick coffee at an oceanfront café while taking in the massive span of Gwangan Bridge. From there, continue on to Marine City. Spend the late afternoon walking along the Marine City sea wall promenade, admiring the reflection of the glass towers off the harbor water, and wandering through nearby Dongbaekseom Island’s pine-shaded coastal walking paths.

Evening: Seafood and Waterfront Lights

As dusk falls, head to Bay 101 adjacent to Marine City. Grab a table at the outdoor boardwalk dining area for fish and chips or local craft beer. End your evening with dinner at a seaside pojangmacha (tent bar) near Haeundae Beach, enjoying freshly grilled seafood and clams just like local film crews do after wrapped shoot days.

Location	Best Nearby Dish	Nearby Attraction
Choryang Sanbok-doro	Dwaeji Gukbap (Pork Rice Soup)	168 Stairs & Monorail
Marine City	Fresh Seafood & Grilled Clams	Dongbaekseom Coastal Trail
Gwangalli Beach	Milmyeon (Chilled Wheat Noodles)	Gwangalli Sea Wall Walk

Photo Tips

To capture the vertical scale of the Marine City skyscrapers, set up your camera at the Bay 101 wooden boardwalk during blue hour—roughly 20 to 30 minutes after sunset. Point your camera across the harbor basin toward the glass towers to catch their brilliant ambient interior lighting reflecting off the calm water surface. For the best angle of Choryang-dong’s hillside alleyways, visit the Skyway Observatory along Sanbok-doro during late afternoon golden hour. Position your shot to frame the steep residential staircases in the foreground against the massive industrial cranes and ships of Busan Port in the background.

FAQ

Can visitors enter the residential towers in Marine City featured in the action scenes?

No, the high-rise skyscrapers in Marine City are private residential apartment buildings equipped with strict security access for residents only. However, the public sea wall, public footpaths, and nearby Bay 101 boardwalk offer unobstructed public views directly beneath the building facades featured on film.

How much time should I set aside to visit these Busan film spots?

Allocating one full day allows you to visit all the primary Busan filming locations comfortably without rushing. Using Busan’s efficient subway system and inexpensive local buses, you can explore the hillside districts of Choryang-dong in the morning and spend the afternoon and evening around the Haeundae and Marine City waterfronts.

Are the Macau locations from the movie easily accessible from South Korea?

Yes, direct flights operate daily between South Korea (both Incheon International Airport in Seoul and Gimhae International Airport in Busan) and Macau International Airport. The flight takes approximately 3.5 to 4 hours, making it easy for international travelers to combine both Korean and Macau film locations into a single extended East Asian vacation.

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