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13 Kdramas Filmed at Yonsei University ( vs Choong Ang High School)

ByRoseanne Ducut

As a big kdrama fan, I knew I had to visit Yonsei University during my visit to Seoul.

It’s a popular kdrama filming location for campus scenes like those in True Beauty and Extraordinary You.

I’ve visited Yonsei University a few times now during summers and autumns, and it’s worth visiting in different seasons.

Here’s 13 kdramas filmed at Yonsei University PLUS kdramas filmed at Choong Ang High School, which looks very similar and often gets mixed up.

📖 Read next:

Is Yonsei University Open to Visitors and Tourists?

Yonsei University in Summer Kdrama Site - Seoul South Korea: A lush summer view of Yonsei University, featuring a historic stone building covered in thick, green ivy. The building is surrounded by beautifully manicured hedges and topiary trees, which create a vibrant, green landscape. The bright summer foliage contrasts with the ivy-covered walls, giving the scene a fresh and lively atmosphere. This picturesque setting is a popular filming location for Korean dramas, showcasing the university's elegant and timeless charm.

Yonsei University has an official campus tour for free that you can join but it’s mostly geared towards potential students.

If you’re visiting just to look and walk around, there are no restrictions or gates to enter.

Unfortunately (but understandably), Choong Ang High School is not open to visitors.

You can instead visit Yonsei University, which looks very similar especially in the summer.

Kdramas Filmed at Yonsei University vs Choong Ang High School

Yonsei University Building during Summer, covered in green leaves and pink flowers

Kdramas filmed at Yonsei University:

  • Extraordinary You
  • A Time Called You
  • Reply 1994
  • Romance is a Bonus Book
  • Hello, My Twenties!
  • Snowdrop
  • Cheer Up

Kdramas filmed at Choong Ang High School:

  • Lovely Runner
  • Doctor Slump
  • Our Beloved Summer
  • Goblin
  • Love Alarm season 1 + 2

Kdramas filmed on both campuses:

  • True Beauty
  • Undercover High School

Kdramas Filmed at Yonsei University

1. True Beauty

photo credit: tvN

Saebom High School in True Beauty used both Yonsei University and Choong Ang High School for filming locations.

Filmed at Choong Ang High School:

A scene from "True Beauty" filmed at Choong Ang High School in Seoul, where two students in maroon blazers and gray skirts stand in conversation under the sunlight. Other students in similar uniforms walk by in the background, with the school's stone buildings and manicured trees creating a picturesque setting.
photo credit: tvN

2. Extraordinary You

A scene from "Extraordinary You" filmed at Yonsei University in Seoul, where a female student in a dark school uniform walks toward a grand ivy-covered building. Other students in matching uniforms are seen in the background, adding to the bustling school atmosphere.
photo credit: MBC

The prestigious Seuli High School in Extraordinary You was filmed at Yonsei University.

3. Reply 1994

A nostalgic moment from "Reply 1994" set at Yonsei University in Seoul, where a group of friends sits on the steps in front of an ivy-covered stone building. They are focused on a book labeled "Magic," with one of them appearing deep in thought.
photo credit: tvN

The main characters in Reply 1994 attend college in Seoul, with Yonsei University serving as a key filming location.

4. Hello, My Twenties!

A casual scene from "Hello, My Twenties!" filmed at Yonsei University in Seoul, featuring students walking through a lush campus with neatly trimmed bushes and trees. The bright green landscape contrasts with the classic stone architecture of the university buildings.
photo credit: JTBC

The characters in Hello, My Twenties! are university students, and some of their campus scenes were filmed at Yonsei University.

5. Cheer Up

A scene from "Cheer Up" filmed at Yonsei University in Seoul, featuring a young woman in casual clothes walking along a lush green pathway. The ivy-covered buildings and neatly trimmed bushes create a picturesque campus setting.
photo credit: SBS

The cheerleading team in Cheer Up performs and trains at a university, which was actually Yonsei University.

6. Romance is a Bonus Book

A scene from "Romance is a Bonus Book" featuring a character walking down the steps of Yonsei University, with the university's grand stone building in the background. The symmetrical landscaping and classic architecture highlight the prestige of the setting.
photo credit: tvN

In Romance is a Bonus Book, Yonsei University appears as the backdrop for Cha Eun-ho’s workplace as a professor.

7. A Time Called You

A scene from "A Time Called You" filmed at Yonsei University in Seoul, where a group of high school students in white uniforms stand in a beautifully landscaped garden. The background features ivy-covered university buildings, adding to the serene atmosphere of the moment.
photo credit: Netflix

Several campus scenes in A Time Called You were shot at Yonsei University.

Kdramas filmed at Choong Ang High School

8. Lovely Runner

A young man holding a blue umbrella walks through a lush garden in front of Choong ang High School, an ivy-covered historic building in Seoul, Korea. The scene captures soft rain falling, adding a serene and reflective atmosphere. Includes "Lovely Runner filming locations."
photo credit: tvN

The high school scenes in Lovely Runner were filmed at Choong Ang High School. It’s often mistaken for Yonsei University.

➡️ Read next: 21 Lovely Runner Filming Locations in Suwon, Seoul +More

9. Doctor Slump

The school flashbacks in Doctor Slump were filmed at Choong Ang High School.

GPT A man in a light gray suit stands with his back to the camera, overlooking the lush greenery enveloping an old stone building, likely a filming location for the Korean drama "Doctor Slump" at Yonsei University. Students can be seen walking by in the background, and a banner with Korean text flutters above the entrance
photo credit: JTBC
A young woman in a navy school uniform walks across the courtyard at Choong Ang High School in Seoul while reading a book. Other students in gray uniforms are seen talking and walking in the background. The scene includes a stone building, a statue, and trimmed greenery.
photo credit: JTBC

10. Our Beloved Summer

A high school student in a white short-sleeved shirt and dark pants runs across a paved courtyard in front of Choong Ang High School in Seoul. Other students in uniforms walk along the pathways or sit on a bench. The background features the school’s historic stone building with greenery.
photo credit: SBS

The high school where Choi Woong and Kook Yeon-soo first met in Our Beloved Summer was portrayed using Choong Ang High School.

11. Goblin

A group of high school girls in uniform chat outside a historic stone building at Choong Ang High School in Seoul, a common filming location for K-dramas. The girl in the center, wearing a camel-colored duffle coat and a red bow tie, looks straight ahead while her friends talk around her. The setting includes autumn foliage and an ivy-covered building.
photo credit: tvN

A few scenes in Goblin, Ji Eun-Tak’s high school, were filmed at Choong Ang High School.

12. Love Alarm

A woman in beige pants and a light jacket walks toward the ivy-covered stone building at Choong Ang High School in Seoul. The courtyard features neatly trimmed bushes, a statue, and paved walkways. The school’s architecture and setting are commonly used in K-dramas.
photo credit: Netflix

The school where Kim Jo-jo, Hwang Sun-oh, and Lee Hye-young go to in Love Alarm were set at Choong Ang High School.

13. Undercover High School

A scene from "Undercover High School" filmed at Choong Ang High School in Seoul, where students in navy blazers and khaki uniforms walk towards the grand stone building. The ivy-covered facade and neatly manicured greenery frame the entrance, adding to the school's classic atmosphere.
photo credit: MBC

Undercover High School had a few scenes filmed at Yonsei University, but most exterior campus shots were filmed at Choong Ang High School.

Filmed at Yonsei University:

A scene from "Undercover" filmed at Yonsei University in Seoul, where a woman in a brown sweater and beige skirt has a conversation with a security guard in uniform. The background showcases the university’s manicured gardens and an ivy-covered building.
photo credit: MBC

Best Time to Visit Yonsei University

Yonsei University changes with the seasons, and each season is a beautiful time to visit.

I went during summer in Seoul, and the buildings were covered in greenery.

I also visited during two autumns in Seoul, and foliage was everywhere.

There are also benches to sit on throughout the university. You’ll see both local and international students throughout the campus.

"View of Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, during autumn, with buildings covered in ivy and surrounded by neatly trimmed hedges and colorful fall foliage. The campus is a popular filming location for Korean dramas."

How to Get to Yonsei University

Once you enter the university, you’ll go down the main entrance’s walking quad.

Just keep walking up and you’ll see several halls and gothic-style buildings.

Do note there are slightly steep hills walking up to buildings.

Yonsei University Building during Summer, covered in green leaves 2

By Subway

The closest train station to Yonsei University is Sinchon Station.

Take exit 2. The walk to the university entrance is a 20-minute walk, but you’ll pass by charming shops and restaurants that give the area a college-town feel to it.

By Bus

Depending on where you’re coming from, there are many buses that stop right at the university entrance.

By Taxi

You can also hail a taxi to the university. Uber works in Seoul if you don’t have the Kakao Taxi app, or don’t want to hail a taxi.

Is Yonsei University Worth Visiting?

Yonsei University in Autumn Kdrama Site - Seoul South Korea: A picturesque view of Yonsei University during autumn, featuring a historic stone building partially covered with ivy, surrounded by meticulously trimmed hedges and topiary trees. The landscape is a mix of vibrant autumn colors with golden and orange leaves contrasting against the green foliage. The scene is tranquil and elegant, with the well-maintained gardens leading up to the stately building, which has been featured in various Korean dramas. The sky is overcast, adding a soft light to the serene and academic atmosphere of the campus.

If you’re visiting Seoul, I recommend adding a visit to Yonsei University to your trip, especially if you’re a kdrama fan or just enjoy visiting beautiful campuses.

The area also has a nice college town feel to it, away from the main tourist spots.

🎥 Watch my short Yonsei University video:
📍Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea. Filming site of True Beauty & other kdramas 🎬 #shorts

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🪂 K-Drama ‘Crash Landing on You’ Private Tour

🚌 Queen of Tears Mungyeong Filming Location Day Tour

🎫 From Seoul: Classic K-Drama Dae Jang Geum Park Tour

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Roseanne Ducut is a solo female traveler and Filipina from the Bay Area, California. She writes practical and culture-rich travel guides and lives a not-so-secret double life as a fangirl. A veghead for over 15 years, Roseanne also writes vegan guides to help others plan their trips.