Reply 1988 in Seoul and Beyond: 6 Spots (3 Reported)

Reply 1988 filming locations

Six stops across Seoul, Uijeongbu, Seosan and Goseong.

The alley was a set

The famous Ssangmun-dong alley — the five houses sharing one lane — was built as a set in Nogyang-dong, Uijeongbu, and has since been demolished. The drama was not filmed in real Ssangmun-dong. But the real neighborhood is still worth a quiet walk (stop 1), and the actual filming spots below are all real.

Seoul

Ssangmun Station area is the real Ssangmun-dong — residential, so keep it quiet. Choi Kyu-ha Presidential Residence in Mapo hosted Dong-ryong’s family interiors; public access is unconfirmed. Air Force Hall in Daebang-dong stood in for the wedding hall.

Beyond Seoul

Uijeongbu Arts Center is a quick hop north. Yalgaki Tteokbokki in Seosan’s Haemi-myeon is the surviving “Brazil tteokbokki” shop, still operating with drama memorabilia on the walls. Ayajin Beach in Goseong is the runaway-scene sea.

Good to know: Jjimjilbang (찜질방)

The jjimjilbang is a fixture of the neighborhood life Reply 1988 portrays. Here’s what to expect if you try one.

A jjimjilbang (찜질방) is Korea’s beloved 24-hour bathhouse and sauna complex — part spa, part social club, part budget hotel. The ritual goes like this: pay at the front desk (around ₩10,000–15,000), store your shoes, then head to the gender-separated bathing area. Here’s the part that surprises first-timers: the baths are nude. Shower thoroughly before entering any pool — skipping this is considered extremely rude. After bathing, dry off and change into the provided T-shirt and shorts for the co-ed jjimjil area, where you’ll find themed sauna rooms (salt, jade, clay), heated floors for napping, and a snack bar serving the holy trinity of jjimjilbang food: sikhye (sweet rice drink), baked eggs, and ramyeon. Try folding your towel into the famous sheep-head shape (yangmeori) to keep sweat from your eyes. Key rules: no photos anywhere near the baths (phones stay in your locker), keep voices low in sleeping areas, and don’t stare — everyone is just there to relax. Many Koreans use jjimjilbangs as an affordable overnight stay.

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