During a trip along Korea’s East Coast, I stopped by the famous Jumunjin Goblin Filming Location in Gangneung.
Although Korean dramas have gained global popularity, I rarely watch series from start to finish. However, tvN’s hit drama ‘Goblin’ (Guardian: The Lonely and Great God) was one of the few shows I thoroughly enjoyed until the very end, which made visiting this filming location particularly exciting.
Overview of the Jumunjin Goblin Filming Location and Parking
The spot widely referred to as the Jumunjin Goblin Filming Location is administratively located in Gyohang-ri, Jumunjin-eup, Gangneung-si.
Checking the map to see if the beach has a specific name reveals that it connects directly to Yeongjin Port and Yeongjin Beach to the south, making ‘Yeongjin Beach’ its proper geographical designation, even though it sits quite close to Jumunjin Port.
Since Jumunjin Beach itself lies north of Jumunjin Port right next to Hyangho Beach (famous for the BTS bus stop), the sandy stretch hosting the drama site is indeed part of Yeongjin Beach.
The official public parking lot is situated about 630 meters (0.39 miles) away. Because walking a round trip of 1.26 km (0.78 miles) to retrieve a vehicle can be inconvenient, many visitors temporarily park along the roadside next to the breakwater.
While not officially designated as a parking zone, short-term parking seems generally tolerated, though long-term parking should be avoided.
While traveling along the East Coast, it remains a worthwhile stop.
I half-expected long queues, but surprisingly, there were fewer crowds than anticipated.
While fewer people makes it easier to take solo photos, I personally prefer capturing landscapes and fellow travelers enjoying the atmosphere rather than posing myself.
As a solo traveler on most trips, I rarely take self-portraits. Given privacy considerations nowadays, it is best to avoid capturing faces directly or to seek permission when necessary.
Observing the area, a group of five travelers ahead appeared to be tourists from China whom I had previously spotted near the BTS bus stop at Hyangho Beach.
It seemed they were continuing their journey along the East Coast as well.
While a bright blue sky would have yielded vibrant photos, the Jumunjin Goblin filming site carried a slightly quiet, lonely ambiance under the overcast summer rainy season.
Right beside the main filming spot, a similar stone breakwater has also become a popular photo point.
Visitors likely chose this secondary structure to avoid waiting in long lines at the main location, and in photos, it is almost impossible to distinguish between the two spots.
I noticed a Korean family taking photos together, looking tall and stylish.
With an older daughter and a younger son, they represented what many consider a picture-perfect family setup. They were perhaps the most impressive family group I encountered during this East Coast excursion.
Regardless of whether this spot is famous or not, a lone seagull stood relaxed on the sand watching the rolling waves. It makes one wonder if seagulls in places like this actually engage in thought or simply operate on pure instinct to scout for food.
Understanding the Coastline: Breakwaters and Navigation Markers
To the left of the official drama shooting site, other visitors could be seen taking photos atop another breakwater.
People often mistake these structures for piers or boat ramps, but technically they are groins or breakwaters designed to protect the shoreline from wave-induced coastal erosion.
Looking past the stone breakwater, the outer breakwater of Jumunjin Port comes into view, sheltering the inner harbor area.
The Red and White Lighthouses of Jumunjin Port
A white lighthouse stands near the entrance of Jumunjin Port.
Red and white colors on coastal structures serve as navigational aids to mark harbor channels. Facing away from the port, the red mark is on the left and white is on the right. Conversely, when ships enter the harbor from the open sea, the red marker is on the right side and the white marker is on the left.
These two lights play a vital role in marking safe navigation channels for incoming vessels. Although commonly called red and white lighthouses, their legal terms are light beacons or breakwater lights.
Further out, yellow and red markers on isolated breakwaters indicate specific boundaries. In particular, yellow markers serve as Special Marks designating specific maritime zones or facilities. Exploring these technical details added an interesting side detour to this coastal journey.
Even after some time had passed, photo sessions along the breakwater continued. Based on conversations and gestures, one group appeared to be Chinese tour group members. While large tour groups frequently include travelers from China, taking extensive photos is certainly not unique to any single nationality.
Among older Korean tour groups, it is common to see members taking individual photos first, followed by small group shots, and finally a large group photo. Naturally, during such long photo sessions, consideration for others waiting behind can sometimes fall short.
Courtesy in public spaces remains an essential practice for everyone to maintain.
As a side note, both ‘Gangneung Goblin Filming Location’ and ‘Jumunjin Goblin Filming Location’ refer to the exact same spot.
Reflecting on the Cast of the K-Drama ‘Goblin’
Visiting the site brought back memories of actress Yoo In-na, whom I first discovered through the drama ‘Goblin’.
Beyond Gong Yoo’s undeniable charm and Kim Go-eun’s surprisingly adorable portrayal of Ji Eun-tak, I was particularly struck by how beautifully actress Yoo In-na was framed on screen.
Wondering if the camera director gave extra dedication to capturing her scenes, I looked up details about actress Yoo In-na and learned that while the cinematography was exceptional, she is simply naturally stunning.
It certainly made me a fan.
Then there are Gong Yoo and Kim Go-eun, who require no explanation.
They have been long-time favorites of mine, and my admiration for their acting will certainly continue in the future.
