Squid Game isn’t just one of the best series Netflix has ever produced, but is one of the greatest television shows of the past decade. Gathering fans from around the world, this Korean drama features iconic locations and unique scenery. Check out these 6 unique travel destinations around South Korea that transport you back into the world of Squid Game (minus the killing, of course).
1. Ssangmun-dong, Seoul | 쌍문동
If you listened to half of what Gi-hun said in Squid Game, you must have heard the word ‘Ssangmun-dong’ about a dozen times. This is the neighborhood in which Gi-hun proudly calls home, and he seldom lets anyone forget it. Ssangmun-dong is indeed a real neighborhood located in Seoul. It’s famous for its older history and quiet residential areas. The neighborhood was also made famous by the popular Kdrama ‘Reply 1988‘ – my favorite Korean show of all time.
Not only can you explore the small streets where Gi-hun grew up, but you can visit one of numerous attractions in the area. Firstly, the neighborhood sits at the base of Seoul’s Bukhansan National Park. The park has plenty of walking paths that are easily accessible from Bukhansan Ui Station (북한산우이역, Ui-Sin Line), just at the tip of Ssangmun-dong. For detailed hiking paths, click here. Please note that this is the largest mountain in Seoul and does have slightly dangerous routes, so choose wisely.
If you’re not in the mood to explore natural scenery, why not visit one of Ssangmun-dong’s many cafes? Start your day off right at the minimalist cafe Slow Hand. If you’re feeling hungry, cross the road to Hippie’s Bagel for a wide variety of cream cheese flavors. Head deeper into Ssangmun-dong for Cafe Tikkle and their fluffy lattes with box cakes boasting unique flavors such as strawberry cream, mugwort, gold kiwi and banana chocolate. Click the names for address details and opening hours.
2. Myeongdong, Seoul | 명동
Myeongdong (명동역 / Myeongdong Station, Line 4) is one of the busiest shopping districts in central Seoul. Although the area has been hit hard due to the COVID-19 pandemic*, there are new businesses popping up all the time. The district is not only for blowing your cash; it’s also full of boutique cafes and award-winning restaurants that make it a must-see stop during your visit to Seoul.
Why would a crowded shopping district make our list of Squid Game locations? This is because the area is a hotspot for fandom souvenirs. You can buy adorable Squid Game accessories here like keychains, plushies, costumes, masks, and even hairpins. Most vendors are flexible on price, so give haggling a try if you’re feeling brave. I’ve succumbed to the consumerism side of Squid Game by purchasing my own set of Pink Soldier keychains.
Another popular place to visit for merchandise that’s especially popular among younger crowds is Hongdae University (홍익대학교역 / Hongik University, Subway Line 2). Stroll the alleyways and outdoor shopping stalls for more affordable Squid Game goodies.
*Please note this article is from 2020.
3. Euljiro, Seoul | 을지로
Euljiro (을지로입구역, Euljiro 1(il)-ga Station, Line 2) is located just next to Myeongdong and is one of the city’s banking and professional districts. The area is lined with big banks, department stores, and telecommunication companies that dot either side of Cheonggyecheon Stream.
Due to the nature of Korean businesses, Euljiro is also a hotspot for outdoor eating and drinking. The area is well-known for its pojangmacha (포장마차), an outdoor tented eating area offering warm food and occassionally alcohol. We see pojangmacha appear more than once in Squid Game, such as when Gi-hun meets his daughter for her birthday, or when he pays a visit to Sang-woo’s hard-working mother in the last episode. Euljiro is also a great place to grab food (preferably ramen) from a convenience store, just as Gi-hun does when he returns to Seoul the first time.
As Seoul has no open container laws, I highly suggest grabbing some food and enjoying it alongside Cheonggyecheon Stream. If you’ve already ticked Euljiro off your list, check out the popular neighborhoods Ikseon-dong (종로3가역 / Jongno 3(sam)-ga Station, Line 5)* and Sinchon (신촌역 / Sinchon Station, Line 2)** for more pojangmacha options.
* Exit 5 will lead you to pojangmacha.
** Exit 8 will lead you to pojangmacha.
4. Let’s Run Park (aka Seoul Race Park), Gwacheon | 과천
One of the first things we learn about Gi-hun is that he has a gambling addiction. Wah wahhhh. Setting us up for some drama at the get-go! His bet of choice? Racehorses. The race park is also where Gi-hun and Saebyeok meet for the first time and have their infamous tumble.
As South Koreans are forbidden to gamble in casinos, many addicted Koreans will wind up betting on racehorses. We suspect you’re not looking to blow all of your cash like Gi-hun, so why not come to enjoy a live race instead? You can check out the official website here for race details. If you’re not a fan of horse racing life myself, you can also visit the compound’s Horse Museum. Additionally, check out some great tourist destinations nearby* such as Gwacheon Reservoir, Gwacheon National Science Museum, and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (Gwacheon). All destinations can be reached from Grand Park Station (대공원역), Line 4.
*Pinpoint Korea does not wish to promote Seoul Grand Park Zoo due to accusations of animal abuse. Please reconsider your visit. If you know any allegations of misconduct against racehorses at Let’s Run Park, please send an email to pinpointkorea.web@gmail.com
5. Dokdo Islands, East Sea | 독도
If you’re familiar with modern politics in East Asia, you likely already know about Dokdo. Dokdo is an island that rests between Japan and Korea and has been a source of contention between the two countries for centuries. Both countries claim the small islands as their own and refer to them with their respective names. You can find Dokdo merchandise all over the country, showing support for the islands’ ownership by South Korea.
Not only are the Dokdo Islands stunning, with their crystal blue waters, but these famous grounds give off echoes of the mysterious island where Squid Game players are trapped. Although Dokdo is considerably smaller, if you’re going to visit any island in South Korea for Squid Game vibes, why miss out on the most famous one?
Dokdo is, unfortunately, not easy to reach due to large waves. Ferry trips can be canceled suddenly and visitors must check the weather carefully before booking. If you’re lucky enough to make it, you’ll first have to make a stop at Ulleungdo (울릉도). This larger island is known for its vibrant community and beautiful bike trails, so make sure you spend time exploring here as well. If you’re traveling from Seoul, we suggest grabbing a ferry from Gangneung (강능) Passenger Terminal. Ferry tickets cost around 60,000 KRW; call the terminal at 1577-8665 for a detailed time schedule.
If you’re looking for the real island featured in Squid Game, you’re looking for Seongapdo in Incheon. This island is not too far from Incheon International Airport. It is, however, privately owned and has no ferry service. If you’re looking for something more tropical, be sure to visit Jeju Island aka the ‘Hawaii’ of East Asia. As this is the largest island in Korea, we recommend exploring for 3-4 days.
6. Korea’s Southern Coast
We’ve already covered our favorite stops on Korea’s southern coast before, as well as in our Yi Sun Shin Tour. Like Dokdo, Korea’s Southern Coast is home to a plethora of heavenly islands. There are nearly 3,500 officially recognized islands off the southern coast and plenty more without a formal title. Many of these islands do not allow visitors, but simply looking at them from national parks is enough to take your breath away. Some of the most popular destinations for travelers are Goje Island, Hongdo Island, and Cheongsan Island.
FAQs
Where is Squid Game located in Korea? ›
In fact, these are actually filmed on real-life sets in the city of Daejeon! Some of the series' casts have posted behind-the-scenes and geotagged Daejeon as their location. Often dubbed as Asia's Silicon Valley, Daejeon is one of South Korea's major cities.
Is Squid Game a real location? ›Condé Nast Traveller writes that “filming took place on a series of sets built for the show in the city of Daejeon, Korea's fifth-largest city and a television-production hub, under the instruction of director Hwang Dong-hyuk and art director Chae Kyoung-sun.”
Is there a Squid Game park? ›Squid Game Theme Park near Seoul
Located in One Mount Theme Park (just an hour away from Seoul), the Squid Game Park lets you try the children's games popularized by Netflix' most-watched series to date.
'New History in K-Drama': South Korea Hails Emmy Success for 'Squid Game' After the dystopian Netflix drama picked up multiple wins, Koreans celebrated the awards as the latest example of their country's rise as a cultural powerhouse.
What is Korean money called? ›The Korean won (KRW) is the national currency of South Korea. Its users denote the won by using the symbol "₩," as in "₩1,000." Since 1950, it has been administered by the nation's central bank, the Bank of Korea.
Where is the squid game doll kept? ›Seoul gives the 'green light' to life-sized Squid Game doll in Olympic Park.
What is the name of 218 in Squid Game? ›Cho Sang-woo (Korean: 조상우), also referred to as Player 218, is the deuteragonist-turned-final antagonist of the first season of the South Korean Netflix drama Squid Game. Sang-woo is Seong Gi-hun's childhood best friend and the former leader of an investment team at a securities company.
Where did 067 want to go? ›If you enjoyed the hit Korean Netflix series Squid Game, then you'll know how Player 067, a young woman named Kang Sae-byeok (Jung Ho-yeon), dreams of moving to Jeju Island with her family — if she wins. Sae-byeok says she saw Jeju on TV, and thought that it “looked exotic and nothing like [mainland] Korea.”
Who is the doll in the Squid Game? ›This story is part of our weekly briefing. Sign up to receive the FREE briefing to your inbox. Younghee, the murderous Squid Game doll and star of Korean children's textbooks, has inspired Halloween costumes, nail art, and even plans for an alarm clock that awakens its owner by firing pellets instead of bullets.
Does BTS play in Squid Game? ›While BTS has never played the titular Squid Game (apparently, it was populars during the 70s and 80s) during Run BTS, they have played many variations on the game Tag.
Why is Squid Game not allowed in Korea? ›
Why is 'Squid Game' banned in North Korea? The drastic punishment on the smuggler and the high schoolers is due to a new North Korean law. North Korea passed a law on the “Elimination of Reactionary Thought and Culture” last year.
Did Korean kids actually play Squid Game? ›The Squid Game was actually a real game played by kids and popular in Korea in the 70s and 80s. Here is a guide on how to play the kids' game. Netflix's show Squid Game has been a sensation around the world.
How much is $1 US in Korea? ›1 USD = 1,247.85 KRW Feb 05, 2023 03:16 UTC
The currency converter below is easy to use and the currency rates are updated frequently.
1,000 KRW to USD – Won to US Dollars
How much is ₩1,000.00 – the one thousand 🇰🇷 won is worth $0.801 (USD) today or 💵 Zero us dollars 80 cents as of 07:00AM UTC. We utilize mid-market currency rates to convert KRW against USD currency pair.
She's real. The doll — the centerpiece of a bloody game of "red light, green light" in the show — resides in Jincheon County, a rural area around three hours north of Seoul. She guards the entrance of a horse carriage museum called Macha Land, according to Koreaboo.
Does the squid game doll have a boyfriend? ›The creepy robot in "Squid Game" will introduce viewers to her boyfriend, Cheol-su, in Season 2. Young-hee and Cheol-su are well-known characters from 1970s South Korean textbooks. News of the robot doll's relationship has sparked a wave of jokingly envious tweets from viewers.
How old is the doll from Squid Game? ›Reagan To explains how she came to voice Squid Game's Doll
For the English language version of the series, the actress who voiced the character is 10-year-old Reagan To, and she joined The Morning Show from Los Angeles and explained how she surprised her parents that she was working on the show.
Ali Abdul (Korean: 알리 압둘), also referred to as Player 199, is a main character in the first season of the South Korean Netflix drama TV series Squid Game. Ali is a migrant worker from Pakistan that came to South Korea with his wife and child, and later joined the Squid Game to win the prize money for his family.
Who is player 465 squid? ›When we're first introduced to Player 067, she's referred to as "the pickpocket" after she steals protagonist Seong Gi-hun, aka Player 465's horserace winnings before they both entered the games.
What was number 69 in squid games? ›
The 069 who entered with his wife is played by Kim Yun-tae and the person in Red Light, Green Light is played by an unknown extra.
How tall is 456 Squid Game? ›From Netflix's popular series Squid Game, comes the Squid Game Seong Gi-Hun Player 456 Pop! Vinyl Figure! Seong Gi-Hun stands approximately 3 3/4-inches tall and comes packaged in a window display box. Follow the rules of each game and don't get eliminated… or else!.
How old is 001 in Squid Game? ›His character, a dying man with dementia dubbed player 001, has a key role in the series. Hence, the 77-year-old actor told MBC's "How Do I Play" about how he has been receiving offers and opportunities since "Squid Game" has made him famous.
Did Player 067 survive in squid? ›Player 067, Kang Sae-byeok (Jung Ho-yeon) - Episode 8, "Front Man" Another of Squid Game's most tragic deaths, Sae-byeok meets her end in the penultimate episode of the season.
Who won squid games? ›Sang-woo, who came this far, sacrificing his sense of decency and humanity in order to win, plunges the knife into his own neck, doing the deed for Gi-hun. His dying wish is for Gi-hun to take care of his mother, and, unwillingly, Gi-hun becomes the winner of the games, though his triumph is hollow.
Is squid creepy doll real? ›And yes, the doll from Squid Game really exists. Situated at the entrance of a carriage museum in Jincheon County, in Chungcheongbuk-do, just a few hours North of Seoul, it was borrowed for filming and immediately returned to the museum to be shown to the public.
Why was squid games created? ›The idea for Squid Game came out of Hwang's own family situation in 2009, after the global financial crisis that hit his homeland hard. “I was very financially straitened because my mother retired from the company she was working for. There was a film I was working on but we failed to get finance.
Are Blackpink in Squid Game? ›If you've made it to the end of Netflix's huge new hit K-Drama Squid Game and watched through the credits, you may have noticed a very surprising name at the end: Jennie, as in BLACKPINK's Jennie.
What game does V play? ›Recently, BTS's V played a series of video games with ARMY including Fall Guys and more. However, that's not the first time he played with fans!
Is Squid Game spoken in Korean? ›Squid Game is by far the hottest new show of 2021, and even though it seems as if every year there's a new hit Netflix series everyone is talking about, Squid Game is a bit different in that it's a South Korean production, meaning English viewers will need to decide between watching with either subtitles or dubbing.
Which country banned Squid Game? ›
North Korean officials clearly do not like the dystopian drama from South Korea, which is illegal under the “Elimination of Reactionary Thought and Culture” law.
How do Koreans feel about Squid Game? ›Maybe some elements of the show don't appeal to Squid Game's native country—but many Koreans, especially those who are middle-aged and older, grew up playing the children's games depicted in the show, and have appreciated the deep sense of nostalgia it stirs in them.
Did a student get sentenced to death for Squid Game? ›Popular on Variety. A man who smuggled copies of smash hit South Korean Netflix series “Squid Game” into North Korea has been sentenced to death, after authorities caught high school students watching the show, according to Radio Free Asia (RFA).
What happens if a 8 year old watch Squid Game? ›"Squid Game has repetitive extreme violence throughout, and other shows might just have one or two scenes," says Dr. Cowan. "Repetitive violence has been shown to lead to increased violence and aggression in children. Additionally, this content can be traumatic for some to watch, leading to increased anxiety."
What are the 3 rules of Squid Game? ›When players sign a contract to compete in Squid Game, there are three provisions: (1) Players must compete in the game, (2) players will be terminated if they stop competing in the game; and (3) the games can be terminated if a majority of the players agree.
What is the Korean finger but game? ›Kanchō (カンチョー) is a prank performed by clasping the hands together in the shape of an imaginary gun and attempting to poke an unsuspecting victim's anus, often while exclaiming "Kan-CHO!". It is a common prank among children in East Asian countries such as Japan. In Korea, it is called ddongchim (Korean: 똥침).
Is Squid Game located in North Korea? ›Squid Game, which became a sensation after it started streaming in September, focuses on a desperately indebted group of people in South Korea.
Can you join Squid Game in real life? ›Interactive gaming company Immersive Gamebox, under a pact with Netflix, has developed an in-person “Squid Game” multiplayer game that will let groups of 2-6 people compete in a series of challenges inspired by the hit Netflix series, including Red Light, Green Light; Marbles; and the “Squid Game” itself.
Which country is Squid Game banned? ›North Korean officials clearly do not like the dystopian drama from South Korea, which is illegal under the “Elimination of Reactionary Thought and Culture” law.
Who won the Squid Game? ›Sang-woo, who came this far, sacrificing his sense of decency and humanity in order to win, plunges the knife into his own neck, doing the deed for Gi-hun. His dying wish is for Gi-hun to take care of his mother, and, unwillingly, Gi-hun becomes the winner of the games, though his triumph is hollow.
Do Koreans like Squid Game? ›
Maybe some elements of the show don't appeal to Squid Game's native country—but many Koreans, especially those who are middle-aged and older, grew up playing the children's games depicted in the show, and have appreciated the deep sense of nostalgia it stirs in them.