Squid Game in Korea: accessible locations and a side trip to Jeju

The trip’s stops

Gi-hun’s neighborhood, a subway platform, a sugar-candy shop: the easiest Squid Game locations to find are part of everyday Korea. The large game rooms require a different kind of planning. Netflix says their sets, built in Daejeon, have been dismantled. Seongapdo Island, associated with the site of the games, is privately owned and inaccessible to the public.

For a Squid Game-inspired trip, we therefore recommend three areas: Seoul’s neighborhoods, a day trip to Wolmido in Incheon, and, if you have several extra days, Jeju. The last stop extends one of the story’s themes: the refuge Sae-byeok imagines. Above all, it offers a chance to discover the island for itself, with time by the water and among its volcanic landscapes.

The series can guide a few visits without taking over every day. In Seoul, first choose the location you want to recognize: the area around the Ssangmun shop, a station connected to the recruitment scene, or the dalgona area in Hyehwa. Then plan a walk or meal in the same area. You’ll avoid crossing the capital for a photograph that takes only a few minutes.

The itinerary suggested here works without a temporary exhibition. The events announced by the city for June and July 2025 belong to that past edition; they are not a program for your 2026 trip.

Ssangmun, Gi-hun’s neighborhood

Ssangmun-dong, in Dobong District in northern Seoul, brings the story closer to its urban setting. Netflix lists this residential neighborhood among the series’ locations. The visit’s appeal lies in this everyday scale: shops, lived-in streets, and ordinary journeys, far from the monumental constructions used for the games.

The Seoul tourism office identifies CU Ssangmun Uicheon as the shop where Gi-hun and Il-nam share a moment in the first season. Its listing gives the address as 11 Uicheon-ro 39-gil and directions from April 19th National Cemetery station on the Ui-Sinseol Line. This is a more precise location reference than the name “Ssangmun” alone, which covers a wider area.

The tourism listing was updated in 2023. Check the address on a local map before setting out: a storefront, terrace, or shop furnishings may have changed. Plan a neighborhood walk, with a stop outside the building if access allows, rather than expecting an extended indoor visit like a museum.

When you’re there, keep entrances clear and ask staff for permission before taking photos inside the shop. A small purchase can accompany your stop; local residents still use these shops. For the same reason, avoid noisy recreations in front of homes. A relaxed half-day in northern Seoul gives you time to find the area without rushing to the next scene.

Stations and ddakji

The meeting with the recruiter gives the subway a special place in the trip. Ddakji is played with folded-paper tiles that players try to flip over by striking them against the ground. On screen, this very simple game turns a transit space into a turning point for the character.

Two station names appear in official references. Visit Seoul’s guide to the first season places the opening scene at Yangjae Citizen’s Forest, on the platform toward Gangnam on the Shinbundang Line. Netflix’s general guide, published in June 2025, mentions Seoul Forest in connection with ddakji. The two stations have similar English names but are in different areas: keep this distinction in mind when planning your route.

To find the location described in the first-season guide, note Yangjae Citizen’s Forest. To follow Netflix’s guide reference and continue toward Seoul Forest, choose that second area. Save an image of the scene you’re interested in and the exact station name; these will be more useful than an imprecise search for “the Squid Game station.”

A working station should be visited at the pace of its passengers. Stay behind safety lines, keep doors and walkways clear, and put away props while moving around. A photo of the station sign may be enough as a keepsake. To try ddakji, choose a place where playing is allowed and foot traffic remains unobstructed, away from the platforms.

Dalgona around Hyehwa

Dalgona is made by heating sugar with a small amount of baking soda, then shaping it into a flat candy stamped with a pattern. The challenge is to cut out the design without breaking the candy. Its fragility explains why the scene works: the task takes patience, even without any competition.

Visit Seoul documented a stand near Hyehwa that had supplied dalgona to the production. The listed address is 17 Daehak-ro 10-gil, in front of Daehangno Art Theater, near Exit 2 of Hyehwa station on Line 4. This historic connection makes it worth a stop if you’re already exploring the Daehangno area.

However, plan your outing around the neighborhood and its streets, with the candy as a possible stop. The official page dates back several years and does not confirm the vendor’s current hours. A recent map or a local check can keep your whole half-day from depending on a mobile stand. If you find dalgona made elsewhere, simply describe it as a taste of the same kind of candy.

It’s especially suitable for a break between visits. Let the sugar cool before handling the candy, and supervise children around the hot mixture or sharp tools. If you want to take some home, choose rigid packaging and protect it from bumps: the pattern breaks easily in a bag.

Namsan and the view over Seoul

Netflix includes Namsan in its Squid Game geography, with the park, cable car and N Seoul Tower. This stop also offers a way to read the capital. From the heights, the density of the buildings and the terrain beyond the neighborhoods help you understand distances that subway journeys can sometimes make seem abstract.

Place Namsan in a day devoted to the city center rather than between Ssangmun and a departure for Incheon. You can decide on the spot how long to spend walking, depending on the weather and your energy. The park paths, cable car and observatory are distinct experiences: before buying, check exactly which access is covered by your chosen ticket.

For this guide, the main appeal is the outdoor panorama and the walk. A visit to the tower can round out the itinerary if you want a purpose-built viewpoint. Bring an extra layer if you plan to stay outdoors for a long time toward the end of the day, along with shoes suited to the slopes and steps on your route.

The opening photograph shows a view north from Namsan. It situates the cityscape of the trip; it does not identify the exact framing of a scene. Once there, too, enjoy the full view before looking for a match with an image from the series. This stop offers a breather in a day made up of very specific landmarks.

Incheon and the Wolmido area

Incheon merits a dedicated outing. The Netflix guide confirms filming at the international airport, as well as at Wolmido and Wolmi Theme Park. The city therefore lets you extend the theme to the coast, in an environment quite different from Seoul’s residential streets.

For a first visit, we recommend making Wolmido the focus of the day. The amusement park and the waterfront area let you combine several stops in the same district. Choose rides based on your preferences and the conditions posted on site; a simple walk can already make for an enjoyable part of the outing. Check the park’s hours before setting your departure time.

The airport is first and foremost a transport facility. If your flight passes through it, you may recognize some public areas during your normal journey. Respect restricted zones and photography instructions; a scene filmed in a terminal does not grant access to controlled areas. We do not recommend returning to the airport solely to add another stop to the list.

On your route map, be sure to distinguish the airport from the Wolmido area. Calculate the round trip from your hotel, including transfers and the final walk. A day with no evening commitments lets you enjoy the waterfront and return without rushing. After a long-haul arrival, settle into your accommodation first and save this excursion for a day when you are rested.

The game sets

The dormitory, challenge areas and island form the most spectacular part of the Squid Game universe. Their status is crucial when planning a trip. Netflix says the game sets were built in Daejeon and then dismantled. A visit to the city therefore does not let you walk through these rooms as they appear on screen.

Seongapdo is a different case again. Netflix describes it as a private island inaccessible to the general public. No tourist crossing to the games’ compound is part of the itinerary presented here. If a boat trip is offered along the Incheon coast, check its specific route and landing points before associating it with a filming claim.

Immersive experiences should be checked separately. In May 2025, Korea.net presented an installation at S Factory in the Seongsu district, with an announced run from February 28 to June 25, 2025. The city of Seoul also held a parade on June 28 and activities from June 29 to July 6, 2025. These announcements help explain the photographs and stories that still circulate online.

To book today, look for a sales listing with an identifiable venue, date and organizer for your departure. An old announcement, a photograph of a giant doll or the name of an amusement park is not enough to establish that it is currently open. Our itinerary is based on urban locations and landscapes, without a temporary exhibition ticket.

A customized private tour

A guide can be useful for organizing a half-day around your favorite scenes, especially if you want to talk with shopkeepers or adjust your travel between stops. The selected service is a four-hour private tour in Seoul with an English-speaking guide. The provider mentions the option of building a Squid Game theme from among several customized itineraries.

Before booking, send a short list: the Ssangmun area, for example, or Hyehwa and a walk through the central neighborhoods. Ask the provider to confirm what fits into four hours from your starting point. The listing offers an option for a group of three to five people; choose a booking that actually matches your group.

The service includes the guide. Transport, meals and personal expenses are separate. The meeting can be at a hotel or an agreed location in Seoul; pickup from Gimpo and Incheon airports is excluded. If the time slot includes lunch or dinner, the listing also provides for a contribution toward the guide’s meal, which should be included in the quote.

This option suits those who want to ask questions and select a few locations with a local contact. An independent itinerary is easy to plan if you have one or two well-located landmarks in mind. The map below links to the exact service: its price and reviews are consolidated there, while the themed itinerary must be arranged with the organizer.

Jeju and Sae-byeok’s dream

Jeju holds a special place in the story: Sae-byeok dreams of living there with her family. The island’s tourism office has devoted a page to this reference. Netflix nevertheless specifies that no Squid Game scenes were filmed there. Choosing to stay there is therefore about the landscapes and island culture, after visiting the urban filming locations.

Plan for three nights if you want to add this stop, as a suggested pace for a first visit. Jeju’s tourism office says the flight from Seoul takes about an hour; you also need to allow for getting to the airport, check-in, baggage and the trip to your accommodation. An arrival followed by a light schedule leaves more useful time than booking several visits for the same day.

Then choose an area to explore rather than trying to cover everything. The east around Seongsan can shape a day around volcanic terrain and the coastline. Another day can be devoted to part of an Olle Trail, a cultural site or a beach, depending on the season and weather. The tourism office also highlights Hallasan and the heritage of the haenyeo, Jeju’s female divers: these subjects deserve a visit planned specifically around them.

For walking, adapt your route to the wind, daylight and your gear. A summit or a long hike requires different preparation from a coastal stroll. Check with the relevant managers about access and any reservations required for your chosen trail. The photograph of hydrangeas in front of Seongsan illustrates the landscape in another season; it does not indicate that they will be in bloom for a late-October trip.

The itinerary and getting around

Here is a suggested itinerary to fit into a longer stay in Korea. You can spread out the days dedicated to the series to explore other neighborhoods between outings.

Day 1, in Seoul: Ssangmun and the area around the shop documented by Visit Seoul. After checking the address, take a walk and have a meal in an area you have chosen in advance. If you book a guide, this time slot lets you focus the conversation on the neighborhood and its role in the story.

Day 2, in Seoul: Hyehwa for the historical dalgona spot, then explore the city center and Namsan. Add a stop connected to ddakji only if it fits into your itinerary; plan Yangjae Citizen’s Forest and Seoul Forest as separate options. You can also set aside another time for the station of your choice.

Day 3: Take a trip to Incheon around Wolmido, allowing time for the journey there and back. On the following days, stay in Seoul or continue your travels. For Jeju, add a flight and three nights, then allow enough flexibility before your international flight.

For your budget, separate accommodation, daily transport, meals, and paid activities. Stops in the neighborhoods and outside the buildings do not require a themed package. The guide, rides, tower, and flight extension each add a separate optional expense. Compare the total cost for your group, including transport excluded from a private tour.

Save the exact place names and addresses on your phone, along with a screenshot of your route. Check the last departures if you plan to stay out late. In late October, bring layers for outdoor stops; on Jeju, leave enough flexibility to change a day’s plans if it is windy. Part of the appeal of the trip is also the time spent between the series’ locations.