Squid Game Filming Locations: Complete Drive Guide for Foreign Fans (2026 Update)

Squid Game became Netflix's most-watched show ever, and millions of fans now want to walk where Seong Gi-hun walked. Most of the iconic pink-stairs and pink-soldier scenes were shot on closed sets—but several real Korean locations were used, and they're all visitable. This is the actual driving guide to the places you can see, the island you mostly can't, and the recreated sets where fans take photos.

Ssangmun-dong (쌍문동) — Seong Gi-hun's Neighborhood

Director Hwang Dong-hyuk set Gi-hun's home in Ssangmun-dong (쌍문동), a quiet residential district in Dobong-gu, northern Seoul. The narrow alleys, sloped stairs, and old-school storefronts you see in the show are real. This is the most accessible Squid Game pilgrimage spot in Seoul.

• Where: Ssangmun-dong, Dobong-gu, northern Seoul
• By car: ~35 min from Gangnam via Dongbu Expressway
• By subway: Line 4 Ssangmun Station (Exit 2 or 3)
• What to see: Sloped alleys, old shopfronts, the staircase look-alikes
• Parking: Use Ssangmun Station public parking (~1,500 KRW/hr) or a paid lot on Dobong-ro
• Best time: Weekday mornings—it's a real neighborhood, not a film set

Walk the alleys behind the station and you'll catch the same low-rise vibe used in flashback scenes. Bring a coffee from a local café, keep your voice down, and avoid pointing cameras into private homes. Residents are tired of loud tour groups—be the polite fan they remember.

Dapsimni Station (답십리역) — The Recruiter Scene

The unforgettable ddakji recruiting scene with Gong Yoo was filmed at Dapsimni Station (답십리역) on Seoul Subway Line 5. It's a real, fully operational station, and fans visit daily to recreate the slap shot on the platform.

• Where: Dapsimni Station, Line 5, Dongdaemun-gu
• By car: ~25 min from Myeongdong via Cheonggyecheon-ro
• Parking: Limited street parking—use Dapsimni Antique Market lot nearby (~2,000 KRW/hr)
• Inside the station: Look for the bench seating area on the platform
• Photo tip: Bring a red and blue paper square for the ddakji pose
• Cost to enter: Subway minimum fare (1,400 KRW) if you don't have a ticket

Don't block the platform during rush hour (7:30-9:00 AM, 6:00-8:00 PM). After the photo, walk five minutes to Dapsimni Antique Market—Korea's largest vintage market with the same retro feel that defines the show's flashbacks.

The Island — Seongapdo (선갑도)

The mysterious Squid Game island where players are taken is Seongapdo Island (선갑도) in the West Sea off Incheon. Here's the hard truth: Seongapdo is privately owned and not open to the public. Aerial shots and exterior scenes were filmed there, but interior dorms and game arenas were built on closed sets in Daejeon.

• Official location: Seongapdo Island, Ongjin-gun, Incheon
• Access: Private island—no ferry service, no public landing
• Closest viewpoints: Drive to Incheon Port or Sorae Port for distant West Sea views
• Realistic alternative: Wolmido (월미도) in Incheon for boardwalk and ferry vibes
• Day-trip option: Yeongjongdo Island via Incheon Bridge for accessible island scenery

If you want the seaside feel without the trespassing, drive to Wolmido—about 45 minutes from central Seoul. It has ocean views, an old-school amusement park, and Korean-style fish markets. From there you can take the Wolmi Sea Train monorail for elevated coastal shots that work for your Squid Game travel reel.

Recreated Sets Open to Fans

Netflix has run several Squid Game: The Trials experiences in Seoul, where fans physically play Red Light Green Light, the dalgona challenge, and tug-of-war. These rotate locations—check the official Netflix Korea Instagram before you go.

• Squid Game: The Trials: Pop-up immersive game experience (when active)
• Common venues: Seoul Plaza, Yeouido Hangang Park, DDP (Dongdaemun Design Plaza)
• Free photo zones: Pink staircases and guard mannequins during Season launches
• Permanent option: Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang sometimes hosts K-content exhibitions
• Cost: Free for photo zones, 25,000-45,000 KRW for full Trials experiences

If no pop-up is running, head to DDP in Dongdaemun—the curvy aluminum complex regularly hosts Netflix and K-content exhibitions, and you'll usually find at least one set-recreation worth photographing.

Day Trip Itinerary — The Squid Game Pilgrimage

Total drive time runs about 2.5-3 hours across the day. Expect tolls of 5,000-8,000 KRW if you take expressways, and budget 20,000-30,000 KRW in parking depending on stops. A rental car beats subway hopping for this route—Ssangmun and Wolmido are awkward by train.

Drive Tips for Foreign Fans

These locations are spread across northern Seoul, eastern Seoul, and the Incheon coast. Without a car, you'll burn three hours on transfers. With one, you'll move between sets in 20-30 minutes each.

• Rent from Incheon Airport: Pick up on arrival, save Seoul taxi costs
• Use Naver Map or Kakao Map: Google Maps doesn't do real-time Korean traffic well
• Ssangmun parking: Use station lot, not residential streets (you'll get ticketed)
• Dapsimni parking: Antique market lot is your best bet
• Wolmido: Big public lots near the boardwalk, ~2,000 KRW/hr
• Respect residents: Ssangmun is real housing—no flash photography into windows

Best time of day: Weekday mid-morning. Weekends bring Korean fan groups, and the alleys get crowded. Sunset is excellent for Wolmido shots but adds traffic going home.

Quick Tips

1. 1Bring ddakji paper: A red and blue folded square makes every photo instantly recognizable
2. 2Wear the tracksuit: A green Squid Game-style tracksuit costs ~25,000 KRW at Dongdaemun Market
3. 3Don't trespass: Seongapdo is private, and so are the homes in Ssangmun-dong
4. 4Tag locations: Use #쌍문동 and #답십리역 to find recent fan photos
5. 5Combine with: A [Crash Landing on You drive](/journal/crash-landing-on-you-filming-locations) or [Queen of Tears tour](/journal/queen-of-tears-filming-locations) for a full K-drama week

Frequently Asked Questions

Squid Game's real Korea is quieter than the show suggests—residential alleys, an ordinary subway station, and an island you can only see from a distance. That's actually the point. Drive between them, treat the neighborhoods with respect, and you'll get the rarest souvenir a Korea trip can offer: the moment a Netflix scene becomes a real street under your feet. Rent a car, pick up your [IDP](/journal/incheon-airport-car-rental), and start your pilgrimage. The first round is yours.