True Beauty | Our Visit To The Filming Locations
We visited the filming locations of the popular Webtoon-turned-drama True Beauty!
Based on the popular Webtoon with the same name, the drama series True Beauty aired between December and February.
Starring Astro's Cha Eun-woo and actress Moon Ga-young, it follows a high school girl who transforms herself into a "goddess" by mastering the art of makeup.
The rom-com then gives us a great love triangle between the main character and two handsome-looking boys.
Many scenes in the drama were shot in beautiful locations, and we decided to head out to find them!
Most of the shooting locations can be found in Seoul, making it possible to visit several of them in the same day!
Yonsei University, Yeonhui-gwan
연세대학교 연희관
This is where the main character Ju-kyung appears on her first day of school after transferring schools.
Screenshot from True Beauty
Having mastered the art of make-up, Ju-kyung looks stunning on her first day at her new school!
Screenshot from True Beauty
It is a beautiful school, indeed.
The school also served as shooting location for the dramas such as Reply 1994 and Iris, as well as movies such as My Sassy Girl and The Classic.
Screenshot from True Beauty
You can take some beautiful pictures of the building on a visit here.
Funny fact: Yonsei University students are said to avoid the building because of all the insects.
But the building looks splendid in all seasons, and it is well worth the trip!
Screenshot from True Beauty
You can see the building in several scenes, like the one where the two boys simultaneously grab hold of Ju-kyung's wrists, wanting her to come with them.
Take a stroll around the area to get some stunning shots of the building.
From some angles, it looks more like a park than a school, and people will pester you to find out where you took the pictures!
Yonsei University is huge with plenty to see, and we highly recommend a visit to the school if you want to relive the drama or just take some pretty pictures.
Address: 서울 서대문구 연세로 50
Ikseon-dong
익선동
Ikseon-dong is a popular neighborhood in Seoul that many of you will already know about.
Within walking distance from Anguk and Insa-dong, the streets are lined with historical Hanok buildings.
Screenshot from True Beauty
This is another popular shooting location for Korean dramas and movies.
In the picture above, you can find one of the shooting locations of the TvN drama Goblin!
We discover new fancy stores and cafes every time we visit Ikseon-dong.
The picture above is from April this year.
Although there are not that many foreigners on the streets because of travel restrictions, many Koreans could be seen enjoying the beautiful weather and surroundings.
Hopefully it won't be too long before foreign visitors can be seen in larger numbers again.
Screenshot from True Beauty
This is where the heartbreaking scene from the last episode of True Beauty was shot. We couldn't hold our tears when Ju-kyung broke down in crying.
Continue reading as we will present some fancy places in Ikseon-dong below!
Address: 서울 종로구 익선동
Com Com Play Ikseon-dong
콤콤오락실 익선동점
In the drama, the main character Ju-kyung goes to Ikseon-dong with her new friends on her first day after transferring schools.
But rather than visiting a café, they enter an arcade to play games. Their colorful outfits match perfectly with the atmosphere of the arcade!
Screenshot from True Beauty
Ikseon-dong is mainly famous for its many restaurants, cafes and small shops.
If you haven't been to Ikseon-dong before, you would hardly expect to find an arcade here. But there is one!
Let's visit Com Com Play (콤콤오락실)!
Once you step into the arcade, which also goes by the name Retro Game Arcade, you'll find both video game machines and crane games.
The funky and retro atmosphere of the place is perhaps the biggest highlight!
We probably spent more time taking pictures than playing games!
Screenshot from True Beauty
The arcade recently moved locations, and at the same time its interior got a major overhaul.
Keep your eyes out for directions to Retro Game Arcade like in the pictures below when you try to locate the arcade!
Also make sure to have the exact address of the arcade if you want to pay a visit!
The game arcade too has featured in several TV shows and dramas, for example the KBS drama When The Camellia Blooms.
Why not have a go at some games at this famous retro arcade while in Ikseon-dong?
Address: 서울 종로구 수표로28길 23-6
Hours: Open 24/7
Namdo Bunsik Ikseon-dong
남도분식 익선점
Next, we visited the tteokbokki restaurant seen in the scene below.
Screenshot from True Beauty
Namdo Bunsik is very popular among both Koreans and foreigners.
Perhaps some of you have already visited the restaurant?
Screenshot from True Beauty
We have to admit that this wasn't our first time visit to the tteokbokki restaurant.
We really like the charming restaurant and its retro style interior and plates!
The food taste great too!
The restaurant specializes in food and snacks originating from Jeolla Province, and it offers great opportunities for pretty and colorful pictures.
Wrapping gimbap and meat in lettuce leaves before putting it in our mouths was a new experience. The tteok-bokki in the picture above was also addictively good!
Jeolla Province is quite some distance from the capital, so we enjoyed having the opportunity to try some famous dishes from the region here.
Screenshot from True Beauty
It's pretty exterior is another reason for the restaurant's popularity among young Koreans.
Definitely put this on your list for places to go in Ikseon-dong!
Address: 서울 종로구 수표로28길 33
Hours: 11:30-21:30
Y & ANIMA
와이앤아니마
In one of the street corners of Yunposun-gil, a hanok house with a beautifully tiled roof will greet you. On its wall is a sign saying 만화방 (manhwa-bang).
Screenshot from True Beauty
In the drama, the building is introduced as a manhwa shop and café where Ju-kyung and Su-ho often go on dates.
The shop is a special place for the two characters, and they are seen reading manhwa books and eating snacks and noodles together.
Screenshot from True Beauty
The actual store is called Y & Anima, and it sells small items such as bags, as well as a variety of accessories, including dreamcatchers and more.
You can also buy a cup of coffee or other beverages to go.
Unfortunately the store was closed when we went there, so we couldn't take any pictures of the interior.
You can find the opening hours below to make sure that you can see the store from the inside on your visit!
Screenshot from True Beauty
It seems like you can find the bracelet that Su-ho and Seo-jun wore in the shop!
Screenshot from True Beauty
You get this beautiful view of the street if you come from Anguk Station.
Screenshot from True Beauty
Yunposun-gil can be accessed from Exit 1 of Anguk Station. Nearby is the Constitutional Court, Duksung Girls High School, Yun Posun Residence and more.
There are plenty of coffee shops and small stores selling accessories along the street, making it a hidden gem to visit for tourists.
Marked in pink in the picture above, you can find Yunposun-gil.
Have your camera ready to take some pretty pictures of the many beautiful buildings and shops in the area!
Address: 서울 종로구 윤보선길 31
Hours: 12:00 - 19:00
Mon: Closed
NIN (Natural In Nature)
닌
This is the building Ju-kyung's mother runs a salon called "Pandora Shop" in the drama.
Screenshot from True Beauty
In the drama, Ju-kyung's mother runs a hair salon, but the actual store sells handmade leather goods!
Originally located on Gyedong-gil in Bukchon Hanok Village, they have been in business for 12 years, although they moved locations when they expanded their business.
Their new location can be found here: 서울 종로구 창덕궁1길 23-1. Opening hours are 11:00-19:00 (closed on Mondays).
The building that was used as a shooting location in the drama is the old shop which was closed after their relocation.
Even so, the façade of the building has a romantic and rustic feeling to it which worked very well with the overall atmosphere of True Beauty.
Address: 서울 종로구 계동길 9-1
SOSHO
소쇼
This is Ju-kyung's family house in the drama!
Screenshot from True Beauty
The building actually houses a small art gallery called SOSHO.
The building can be seen frequently in the drama, with many scenes of Su-ho walking Ju-kyung home.
Screenshot from True Beauty
At the time of writing, SOSHO are temporarily closed, so unfortunately we couldn't take a look inside. But you can enjoy the view from the outside as seen in the drama!
The art gallery has gained fame after RM from BTS visited it.
Of course, Creatrip has been to the gallery in the past. Click here to find out more about the gallery and the story of RM's visit!
Address: 서울 종로구 북촌로6길 32-4
Hours: 12:00 - 18:00
Mon: Closed
*Temporarily closed at the time of writing
Coffee Hanyakbang Hyehwa
커피한약방 혜화점
This is the café where Ju-kyung and her friends are seen studying together.
Screenshot from True Beauty
Screenshot from True Beauty
As you can see in the pictures, the coffee shop is decorated in a retro style.
When you enter the café, it almost feels like you're entering a manhwa world!
Screenshot from True Beauty
Su-ho never fails to look like he came straight out of a manhwa book!
Screenshot from True Beauty
The picture above shows the very spot where Ju-kyung and her friends sat down to study in the drama.
Screenshot from True Beauty
The charming exterior of the café also looks identical to the one we see in the drama!
The coffee house offers brewed coffee instead of Americano.
This is what we ordered when we went to the café!
You can see that they have put a lot of effort into details such as cutlery and plates!
(Right) Filter Coffee Brazil - 4,500 won / (Left) Filter Coffee Blend - 4,500 won
Coffee Hanyakbang offers three different kinds of brewed coffee, so there should be something to most people's taste.
The Brazilian coffee to the left was pleasant-smelling with a strong acidity, whereas the Blend option to the right, served with shaved ice cubes, was really refreshing.
These iced coffees will be great to pick up in the summer!
Apricot Tart - 4.000 won
We also ordered a lovely apricot tart with our coffees.
Even the cake looks retro to us!
The café offers a variety of cakes and various breads.
We really enjoyed everything about Coffee Hanyakbang, from its elaborately decorated interior, to small details like the beautiful cutlery.
Many have fallen in love with the coffee house, and you should be prepared to face a line if you come here on a weekend.
Coffee Hanyakbang Hyeahwa Branch is located 6 minutes on foot from Exit 2 of Hyehwa station.
They also run a coffee house close to Euljiro 3-ga Station which you might want to check out!
Address: 서울특별시 종로구 동숭2길 9
Hours: 12:00 - 21:00
Hyundai Premium Outlet Space 1
남양주 현대아울렛 스페이스원
Hyundai Premium Outlet SPACE 1 in Namyangju is where Ju-kyung and Seo-jun go shopping together, and it is also the shooting location for Ju-kyung and Su-ho's first date!
Screenshot from True Beauty
We found the place were Ju-kyung and Seo-jun met up in the drama!
The outlet opened not long ago, and just like in the drama it is sparkling clean.
Screenshot from True Beauty
Screenshot from True Beauty
It's a huge shopping outlet! You can easily spend a day here without seeing everything.
Screenshot from True Beauty
Do you remember the scene where Ju-kung and Seo-jun look for a birthday present for Seo-jun's little sister Go-woon?
We found the very spot where the scene was shot!
Screenshot from True Beauty
Surely you remember the scene above!
The baseball player Hyung-jin sees Ju-kyung, and he steps in with his umbrella to protect her from the rain, beating both Su-ho and Seo-jun to it!
We really enjoyed the tension in the scene!
Screenshot from True Beauty
Screenshot from True Beauty
This is where Ju-kyung and Su-ho had their secret first date!
The actual outlet is spacious with plenty of things to see, and it would make for a great spot to go to for a date.
The main square in Hyundai Premium Outlet SPACE 1 looks like this from above.
There are several playgrounds for children to play, so families too can enjoy a day at the outlet.
Namyangju is located some distance from Seoul, but with plenty of charming cafes and stores in the area, we can recommend going there for a day trip!
Address: 경기 남양주시 다산순환로 50
Hours: 10:30 - 21:00
Meongteongguri Jeukseok Tteokbokki Gongneung
멍텅구리즉석떡볶이 공릉점
This is the tteokbokki place where Ju-kyung and her sister go on double date in the drama.
It turned out to be a quite hilarious scene where the two sisters are arguing with each other, and the tteokbokki tasting great was about the only thing that they could agree on.
Screenshot from True Beauty
You can see plenty of scribbling and drawings on the walls, a sign that it is likely a popular mat-jib (맛집)!
This kind of wall grafitti and scribblings is often be seen in restaurants in Korea.
Meyongteongguri Jeukseok Tteokbokki is a popular restaurant that has been serving tteokbokki for the last 20 years.
There are many signatures of famous Koreans on the wall, as well as pictures of dramas and other productions where the restaurant was used as a shooting location.
We managed to get the very same table where the four characters in the drama sat down over some tteokbokki!
Let's do like Cha Eun-woo when he played Su-ho in the drama and have some tteokbokki!
Screenshot from True Beauty
After a quick glance at the meny, we ordered their MT Special Tteokbokki, which is what almost everyone will order.
Screenshot from True Beauty
MT Special Tteokbokki - 15000 won
We were quite surprised by the sheer amount of ingredients in the dish!
It looks quite different from the tteokbokki that was served in True Beauty.
Above you see a picture of the smallest serving that you can order.
Among other ingredients, you will find two kinds of noodles, sundae blood sausage, sausages, eggs and fish cake in the pot!
Considering the amount of food you get, it's reasonably priced, making it a valid option for students as well.
Let it boil for a while before you start eating.
It taste a bit different from the tteokbokki that we are used to.
Not spicy at all, the taste resembles the black bean sauce you get with jjajang noodles.
It's an interesting take on the traditional dish that you should give a try if you have the chance.
Screenshot from True Beauty
After finishing most of the pot, many will order fried rice (bokkum-bap) to finish off a hearthy meal.
For those looking for a big serving of non-spicy tteokbokki, we can recommend a visit to Meyongteongguri Jeukseok Tteokbokki Gongneung!
The restaurant is located 10 minutes from Exit 1 of Gongreung station.
Just remember that the name of the restaurant is all in hangul.
Address: 서울 노원구 공릉로51길 14-2 우림고시원
Hours: 10:00 - 21:00
Mon: Closed
That wraps up our tour of shooting places for the drama True Beauty!
We really enjoyed the drama for its colorful settings and makeup. If you haven't seen the drama yet, perhaps some of the pictures in this article made you want to give it a shot?
The actual shooting locations also delivered, and you'll have plenty of opportunities to take some pretty pictures.
Most of the locations can be found in Seoul, so you can visit several of them in the same day if you come to the capital.