Extraordinary Attorney Woo Filming Locations: The Complete Korea Road Trip

"Extraordinary Attorney Woo" became a global phenomenon in 2022, making millions of viewers fall in love with Seoul and the coastal landscapes of Korea. Woo Young-woo's encyclopedic love of whales turned Taean National Marine Park into one of Korea's most-searched travel destinations overnight. Whether you're a die-hard fan or just discovered the drama, this road trip lets you experience the real Korea behind the story.

The Drama That Made Taean Famous

ENA and Netflix's "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" (이상한 변호사 우영우) premiered in June 2022 and became one of Korea's biggest international hits. Park Eun-bin plays Woo Young-woo, a brilliant lawyer with autism who has an encyclopedic love of whales — and the habit of entering every revolving door twice.

The drama's genius was in grounding a Seoul legal procedural in vivid, real places. From Yeouido's glass-tower financial district to the windswept west coast of Chungnam province, every location tells part of the story. The good news for travelers: nearly all of them are accessible by rental car.

Seoul — The Hanbada Law Firm District

Most of the drama takes place in Seoul. The fictional Hanbada Law Firm is set in Yeouido, Seoul's financial district — home to the National Assembly, major TV networks, and gleaming corporate towers. The area has exactly the "powerful law firm" energy that matches the show.

For the most atmospheric experience, walk around the IFC Seoul and Parc1 Tower complexes in Yeouido. These glass-and-steel buildings serve as the visual template for Hanbada's headquarters. Get there early on a weekday for authentic lawyer-commute vibes.

• District: Yeouido-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul
• Subway: Yeouido Station (Lines 5 and 9)
• Parking: Yeouido Park underground parking, open 24 hours
• Drive from Incheon Airport: ~40 minutes via Olympicdaero

Another key Seoul location is Seocho-gu, where Korea's main legal district sits. The Seoul Central District Court (서울중앙지방법원) and surrounding justice buildings bring the courtroom scenes to life. Public visitors can observe open hearings on weekday mornings — a genuinely fascinating window into Korean legal culture.

The Whale Episode: Taean National Marine Park

Episodes 10 and 11 are the ones every fan wants to relive. Young-woo travels to a coastal village for a case involving a whale sighting — and it's here the drama shifts from courtroom to open coast. The filming drew heavily on the landscapes of Taean National Marine Park (태안해안국립공원), Korea's only coastal national park.

Taean sits 2.5 hours southwest of Seoul on the west coast, and the drive itself is half the point. Pine forests run right to the sand, tidal flats stretch for kilometers, and at sunset the Yellow Sea turns deep orange. It's easy to see why production chose this region for the drama's most emotional episodes.

Anmyeon Island (안면도)

Connected to the mainland by bridge, Anmyeon Island has long pine-fringed beaches and the striking Anmyeonam Temple (안면암), a small Buddhist complex perched above the sea. The combination of ancient forest, granite rock, and open horizon captures the drama's coastal mood perfectly.

• Address: 198-160 Yeosu-haegil, Anmyeon-eup, Taean-gun, South Chungcheong
• Parking: Free lot above the temple; 5-minute walk down to the water
• Best time: Early morning for mist over the sea — arrives uncrowded before 9am
• Entry: Free

Mallipo Beach Area

The broader Taean coast near Mallipo Beach has the open-horizon views used for the drama's whale-watching sequences. Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins genuinely appear in these waters in summer — no CGI required. Bring a picnic, find a pine-shaded spot, and watch the tidal flats shift with the sea.

• Drive from Seoul: ~2.5 hours via Seohaean Expressway (서해안고속도로)
• Toll: ~14,000 KRW each way
• Best season: June–September for warm water and long sunsets
• Nearby: Cheollipo Arboretum (천리포수목원) is a beautiful morning stop en route

Woo Young-woo's Whale Obsession — and Real Cetaceans

Young-woo's whale monologues are one of the show's most beloved running gags — and every fact she recites is accurate. Minke whales (밍크고래) and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (인도-태평양 혹등돌고래) are the species most likely to be spotted in Korean waters near Taean.

Ulsan, on Korea's southeast coast, has a dedicated whale museum (Jangsaengpo Whale Museum, 장생포고래박물관) and is the site of Korea's only whale-watching cruises. It's a longer side trip from Taean but completes the whale-themed itinerary for serious fans. The museum includes life-size whale skeletons and a small whale aquarium.

• Jangsaengpo Whale Museum: 9:00–18:00, closed Mondays, 2,000 KRW entry
• Ulsan drive from Seoul: ~4 hours via Gyeongbu Expressway
• Whale watching boats: Available June–October from Jangsaengpo Port

Young-woo's Gimbap: Eat Like a Genius Lawyer

If the drama had a signature food, it's gimbap (김밥). Young-woo eats it every single day — it's both a comfort food and a running character joke. Her father runs a small neighborhood gimbap restaurant, and the show treats the dish with genuine affection.

The real-world hook: gimbap shops (분식집) are everywhere in Korea and they're among the best quick-stop options on a road trip. Look for 분식 signs near highway rest stops and in Taean town center. One roll costs 2,000–3,500 KRW — tuna gimbap (참치김밥) is the most popular option with foreign visitors.

• Classic gimbap (기본김밥): rice, pickled radish, carrot, egg, spinach — ~2,000 KRW
• Tuna gimbap (참치김밥): the most popular — ~3,000 KRW
• Cheese gimbap (치즈김밥): fan favorite, especially good warm — ~3,500 KRW
• Tip: Get it at a gas station convenience store (GS25, CU) if the bunsik place is closed

Quick Tips for Drama Tourists

1. 1The drama's most iconic coastal scenes are at dusk — arrive at Taean locations at least 90 minutes before sunset.
2. 2Use Naver Map (네이버 지도) and search 촬영지 (filming locations) to find fan-documented spots with photos and GPS coordinates.
3. 3Weekends at Anmyeon Island get crowded in summer — book accommodation by Thursday if staying overnight.
4. 4The phrase 고래 봤어요? ("Did you see any whales?") will make every Korean local smile. Reaction guaranteed.
5. 5Young-woo famously enters revolving doors twice — every major Seoul hotel lobby has one. It's a free photo opportunity.

FAQ

"Extraordinary Attorney Woo" is one of those rare dramas that makes you fall in love with a place as much as a character. Get behind the wheel, let Young-woo's whale facts echo in your head, and point the car toward Taean. The coast will do the rest.