[WEEKEND GETAWAY] Flex like a real-life chaebol at these four luxury K-drama spots

K-campus

Published: 06 Apr. 2024, 10:09 Updated: 06 Apr. 2024, 10:14

[WEEKEND GETAWAY] Flex like a real-life chaebol at these four luxury K-drama spots

The main couple from ″Queen of Tears″ gets married at the outdoor wedding hall at Aston House in Grand Walkerhill Seoul, Gwangjin District in eastern Seoul. [TVN]

The main character plunging through the big and small challenges in the life of a chaebol, or Korean family-run conglomerate, is a classic K-drama theme.

The wealth, the luxury and the consequent 'flex' tendency are not hard to spot in dramas, like the recently aired tVN drama series "Queen of Tears" and the SBS drama series "Flex X Cop."

Hong Hae-in and Jin I-soo, the lead characters from the respective dramas, are both third-generation chaebol who are heirs of their prosperous family businesses. Throughout the series, the audience can trace their wealthy lifestyle through the luxurious places they visit, the style they rock and the mansions they live in.

If you are a fan of such wonderfully cliche but entertaining K-drama setting, do not hesitate to relish these four fancy filming locations where the characters of these dramas nonchalantly charge through their daily challenges on screen.

Aston House, Grand Walkerhill Seoul
워커힐 호텔, 애스톤하우스

Aston House in Grand Walkerhill Seoul was where the celebrity couple Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin had their wedding. [VAST ENTERTAINMENT]

In the first episode of "Queen of Tears," the two leading characters, Baek Hyun-woo and Hong Hae-in, played by Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Ji-won, get married in an outdoor wedding hall surrounded by a bed of roses and decorations that scream splendor. The palatial wedding scene was shot in Aston House, a private European-styled villa in Grand Walkerhill Seoul in Gwangjin District, eastern Seoul. Aston House has already been home to weddings of celebrities and influential personalities, like the actor couples Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin, Bae Yong-joon and Park Soo-jin and a real-life chaebol, eldest daughter of SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won.

Aston House's wedding hall costs around 150 million won ($110,900) including the rental fee and the buffet for 150 guests. Overlooking the Han River and nestled at the foot of Mout Acha, the location guarantees a great view and security.

177 Walkerhill-ro, Gwangjin District, eastern Seoul
(서울특별시 광진구 워커힐로 177)
Phone number: 02-455-5000
Website: https://www.walkerhill.com/en/

Sayuwon
사유원

Sayuwon in Gunwi County, Daegu, is an arboretum that aims to offer a chance to wind down and contemplate. [KWON HYUK-JAE]

Hae-in is the granddaughter of the Queens Family who gathers for a hunting session at a vast plot of green land. The enormous place where they enjoy a shooting-hunting session, a hobby extremely rare among ordinary citizens, is Sayuwon, a private arboretum located near Mount Palgong in Daegu.

Sayu, which means contemplation and meditation, was given the name to encourage all visitors to practice and embrace the act of deep self-reflection.

The enormous land of 323 square meters (80 acres) consists of multiple attractions and installations like themed gardens, pavilions, a cafe, a small chapel and observatories. Domestic and foreign architects and gardeners have contributed to creating artistic installations harmonious with the aesthetically crafted gardens.

The arboretum operates only through reservations, available through the official website and on the Naver Map app. You must book a spot at least one day before visiting. The admission fee costs 50,000 won on weekdays and 69,000 won on weekends, a pricey cost but worthwhile if you spend four to five hours there.

1176 Chisanhyoryeong-ro Bugye-myeon, Gunwi County, Daegu

(대구광역시 군위군 부계면 치산효령로 1176)

Operation hours: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Closed on Mondays, Lunar New Year Holiday and Chuseok)
Admission Fee: 50,000 won from Monday to Friday, 69,000 won on Saturday and Sunday

Phone number: 054-383-1278

Website: https://www.sayuwon.com/

Charles H. Bar
찰스 H.

Charles H. Bar in Jongno District, central Seoul, is a speakeasy bar located in Four Seasons Hotel Seoul. [FOUR SEASONS HOTEL SEOUL]

Yoon Eun-sung is a wealthy investor played by Park Sung-hoon, well-known for his role as the antagonist Jeon Jae-jun in the Netlifx drama series "The Glory" (2022-23). This former Wall Street analyst, who turns out to be a villain in "Queen of Tears," meets up discreetly with an acquainted counterpart from the Queens Family at a hotel bar. The luxurious interior design and the dim golden light accentuate the bar's fanciness, yet the bar doesn't have a significant post not to mention that the door is barely visible since it is attached to the hidden wall on the basement floor. The mysterious bar scene was shot in Charles H. Bar at the Four Seasons Hotel in Jongno District, central Seoul.

Charles H. Bar ranked No. 7 in Asia's 50 Best Bars in 2022, and No.1 in Korea, curated by the global brand, The World's 50 Best Restaurants. This speakeasy bar gained fame from the fans impressed by the contrast between the glamorous interior and unmarked secret exteriors. The bar displays multiple specialty cocktails too, using different ingredients that align with the regional themes. Kowloon Old Fashioned (32,000 won) is one of the original cocktails, a Hong Kong specialty, with Michter's US 1 Bourbon, Mushroom Butter, Sesame and Chinese Five-Spice Demerara infused.

@fourseasons

97 Saemunan-ro, Jongno District, central Seoul

(서울특별시 종로구 새문안로 97)

Operation hours: 6 p.m. - 1:30 a.m.

Phone number: 02-6388-5000

Website: https://www.fourseasons.com/seoul/dining/lounges/charles_h/

Seoul Marina Club & Yacht
서울마리나 클럽&요트

Seoul Marina Club & Yacht in Yeongdeungpo District, western Seoul, is where Jin I-soo from the SBS series ″Flex X Cop″ charges on his yacht during his investigation. [SEOUL MARINA]

"Flex X Cop" aired its last episode of the first season on March 23. Jin I-soo, an immature chaebol who becomes a detective, finds his way through unraveling a case using his human resources and his wealth. Jin charges up on his yacht to roam across the crime scene, which was shot at Seoul Marina in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo District in western Seoul.

The yacht area in the drama is depicted as a harbor where an array of expensive yachts are lined up, but in real life, Han River accommodates anyone willing to pay for the ride, like the Golden Blue Marina or The River Marina in Seocho District, southern Seoul. Seoul Marina can accommodate up to around 90 yachts and cruises but is not exclusive to personally-owned yachts. The ride options vary from a private couple's ride on the yacht to a 24 crew ride on a party yacht. You can check the details and proceed with the reservations on the Naver Map App.

Apart from the cruise extravaganza, signing up for wake surfing, wakeboarding and jet skiing is an option too. As the Han River Park at Yeouido is a heavily crowded place every spring and summer, this might be a chance to join the fun and try out some of the extreme activities offered at the venue.

@seoulmarina
160 Yeouiseo-ro, Yeongdeungpo District, western Seoul

(서울특별시 영등포구 여의동 여의서로 160)

Phone number: 02-3780-8400

Website: http://www.seoul-marina.com/marina/6/

BY BAEK JONG-HYUN, KIM DONG-EUN [kim.dongeun@joongang.co.kr]