The East Palace is an occult period drama set in a Joseon-era palace, released worldwide on 17 July 2026. It entered the Netflix Top 10 in about 83 countries and topped the chart in 17. Most of the palace was a purpose-built set on private land, so unlike a city-street K-drama there is only a short list of places a visitor can actually stand in. This guide keeps that distinction clear so you don't travel a long way to a spot that isn't there.
1. Hoseo University Soryuji
Multiple regional news outlets confirmed this as a filming site, and visitor numbers there rose sharply after the show aired.
Soryuji reservoir walkway, Hoseo University Asan campus
Scene in the drama
The lakeside walkway that appears as the gate linking the worlds of the living and the dead; the pond where the water spirit dwells.
Address
20, Hoseo-ro 79beon-gil, Baebang-eup, Asan-si, Chungcheongnam-do (Hoseo University Asan campus)
Getting there
KTX / SRT from Seoul Station or Yongsan → Cheonan-Asan Station (~35–45 min) → taxi ~15 min to the campus. Local buses also serve the campus; check Naver Map or Kakao Map for live times.
Cost & hours
Open campus grounds, free, no ticket. Come in daylight; there is no dedicated visitor facility.
On-site tips
This is a working university. Keep your voice down near lecture buildings, don't enter classrooms or offices, and expect busy car access on weekends (traffic roughly doubled after the drama aired). Cherry blossom is around early April; autumn foliage is late October to mid-November. No drones on campus.
2. Seoul's royal palaces
If what you want is to walk through a real Joseon palace like the ones in the drama, these are all a short subway ride apart. Wearing hanbok gets you in free.
| Palace | Subway | Adult admission | Closed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gyeongbokgung | Line 3 Gyeongbokgung Stn, or Line 5 Gwanghwamun Stn | ~₩3,000 (free in hanbok) | Tuesdays | Largest palace; the changing-of-the-guard ceremony runs at the main gate. |
| Changdeokgung | Line 3 Anguk Stn | ~₩3,000 (+₩5,000 Secret Garden) | Mondays | UNESCO-listed; the Huwon (Secret Garden) is a timed guided tour — book ahead. |
| Changgyeonggung | Line 4 Hyehwa Stn, or Line 3 Anguk Stn | ~₩1,000 (free in hanbok) | Mondays | Quieter, connects to Changdeokgung on foot; lovely at dusk. |
Hanbok worn as a full set qualifies for free entry; a top or bottom mixed with everyday clothes (jeans, a T-shirt) does not. Hours shift by season — check royal.khs.go.kr.
3. Sageuk sets you can tour — not confirmed The East Palace locations
Yongin Daejanggeum Park
- Baegam-myeon, Cheoin-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do (run by MBC)
- Adult admission ~₩9,500 (2026); ~09:00–18:00, shorter in winter
- Palace halls, a market street and prison sets used by many hit sageuk
- By transit: complex — check Naver / Kakao Map from your location; many visitors drive or use a taxi from Yongin
Mungyeong Saejae Open Set
- Mungyeong-eup, Mungyeong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, inside Mungyeong Saejae Provincial Park
- Park free; open set adult ~₩2,000; ~09:00–18:00, shorter in winter
- 130-odd buildings including Gwanghwamun, Gyotaejeon and a hall labelled 동궁 — here that word is the generic term for a crown prince's residence, unrelated to the drama
- By transit: intercity bus from Dong Seoul Bus Terminal (Line 2 Gangbyeon Stn) to Mungyeong, then a local bus or taxi (~15 min)
4. Tips for foreign fans
- Hanbok = free palace entry. Rental shops cluster near Gyeongbokgung and Anguk stations; a full set (not a mix with jeans) is the rule.
- Keep it quiet on campus. Hoseo University is a place of study, not a theme park — no entering buildings, no blocking paths for photos.
- No drones. Palaces, campuses, provincial parks and set sites all restrict or ban drone filming. Don't assume; check on-site signs.
- Private / unreleased sets are off-limits. Most palace scenes were shot on private sets not open to the public — don't cross fences or enter farmland to reach one.
- Check the day before you go. Palace closing days (Mon/Tue), set opening seasons and campus events all change; confirm on the official site.
- Best light: April cherry blossom and late-October to mid-November foliage, both at the Soryuji walkway and the palaces.
FAQ
Which The East Palace filming location can I actually visit?
The one publicly confirmed and freely accessible spot is the Soryuji reservoir walkway on Hoseo University's Asan campus in Chungcheongnam-do, used for the pond scenes. The palace interiors and courtyards were shot on a private production set that is not open to the public.
How do I get to the Hoseo University Asan campus from Seoul?
Take a KTX or SRT train from Seoul Station or Yongsan to Cheonan-Asan Station (about 35 to 45 minutes), then a taxi for the last stretch of roughly 15 minutes. The campus grounds are open and there is no entrance fee.
Are Daejanggeum Park and Mungyeong Saejae official The East Palace locations?
No. Neither has been announced by the production or Netflix as a filming site for this drama. They are Korea's best-known general sageuk (historical drama) sets, are open to visitors, and give a similar palace atmosphere, which is why fans often tour them anyway.
Is there a way to see a real Joseon palace in Seoul?
Yes. Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung and Changgyeonggung are all reachable by subway. Admission is about 3,000 won or less, and visitors wearing hanbok enter free. Gyeongbokgung is closed on Tuesdays; Changdeokgung and Changgyeonggung are closed on Mondays.
Can I fly a drone at these places?
No. Drone flights are restricted or banned at the royal palaces, on university grounds and around most set sites and cultural properties. Assume drones are not allowed unless on-site signage says otherwise, and never enter closed or private set areas.