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From their humble beginnings as trainees in a small Seoul agency to their meteoric rise as global superstars, BTS has left an indelible mark on the world of music and culture. Behind every iconic music video, album jacket, and concept photo lies a carefully chosen filming location, and many of those spots have evolved into pilgrimage destinations for ARMY. Here is a fan-friendly tour of the BTS filming locations across Korea, from quiet east-coast beaches to royal palaces, that have become woven into the group's visual storytelling.
Hyangho Beach: The BTS Bus Stop in Gangneung
In their 2017 album "You Never Walk Alone," BTS showcased their growth as artists and their deep bond with fans. The concept was brought to life through breathtaking photos shot at a lone bus stop built next to Jumunjin Hyangho Beach in Gangneung, Gangwon Province. The serene East Sea backdrop perfectly complemented the album's introspective themes of vulnerability and companionship. Although the original prop was dismantled after the shoot, the city later reinstalled it as a permanent photo spot after thousands of fans began making the trip. Today, ARMY can sit on the bench, listen to BTS songs piped through nearby speakers, and snap their own pictures with the open sea stretching behind them.
Iryeong Station: The "Spring Day" Train Platform
BTS' music video for "Spring Day," released in February 2017, opens with V waiting alone on a snowy train platform marked "Iryeong." The station, located on the outskirts of Goyang in Gyeonggi Province, opened in the 1960s as a stop on a suburban line before closing to passenger service in 2004 and ending all operations in 2014. Its quiet, slightly haunting atmosphere and proximity to Seoul have made it a favorite shooting site for films, dramas, and commercials. For ARMY, standing on the empty platform is a way to step inside one of the most emotionally resonant moments in BTS history, a song about longing, loss, and the hope of reunion.
National Museum of Korea: "Dear Class of 2020"
Amid the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, BTS chose the National Museum of Korea in Seoul as the setting for their virtual commencement speech, "Dear Class of 2020." Against the museum's calm, contemporary halls and treasured cultural artifacts, the members delivered messages of resilience, hope, and unity to graduates around the world. The location reinforced the speech's message, that even in uncertain times, knowledge, history, and shared experience can ground a generation. The museum remains open to the public and offers free entry to its permanent galleries, making it a meaningful and accessible stop on any BTS-themed itinerary.
Maengbang Beach: The "Butter" Album Jacket
In May 2021, BTS shot the concept images for their summer hit "Butter" at Maengbang Beach in Samcheok, Gangwon Province. The bright sand, open horizon, and rows of colorful umbrellas captured the song's playful, sun-soaked energy. After the album dropped, Samcheok city officials recreated the original set, complete with sunbeds, parasols, a volleyball net, and a yellow signpost styled after the album cover, so fans could pose in the exact same spot. The beach has since drawn thousands of daily visitors and inspired plans for additional BTS-themed installations along the coast.
Camellia Hill: The Love Yourself Era on Jeju
The "Love Yourself" trilogy marked a pivotal era in BTS' discography, anchored in themes of self-acceptance and personal growth. To visualize that journey, the group traveled to Camellia Hill, an arboretum on Jeju Island spread across more than 170,000 square meters and home to thousands of camellia trees from hundreds of species. Jin's solo poster for the "Love Yourself: Her" photobook was shot here, set against the garden's blooming flowers and lush greenery. Open year-round, Camellia Hill remains one of the most photogenic stops on any BTS-inspired Jeju itinerary, especially in winter when the signature red camellias are in full bloom.
Gyeongbokgung Palace: The Tonight Show Performance
In September 2020, BTS opened NBC's "BTS Week" on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" with a pre-recorded performance of "IDOL" filmed in front of Geunjeongjeon Hall at Gyeongbokgung Palace, the throne hall of the Joseon Dynasty. Dressed in black hanbok, the seven members danced against one of Korea's most sacred royal backdrops, layering the song with traditional Korean percussion. It was a rare moment for a pop act to perform at the palace, and the broadcast turned Gyeongbokgung into a global symbol of Korean heritage. The palace is open to visitors daily, and walking through its courtyards is an essential stop for any fan tracing BTS' cultural footprint.
Yongin Daejanggeum Park: Suga's "Daechwita"
Suga's solo project Agust D paid homage to Korean historical dramas with the music video for "Daechwita," shot at Yongin Daejanggeum Park in Gyeonggi Province. Originally built in 2005 as a permanent set for the hit MBC drama "Dae Jang Geum," the park covers 2.5 million square meters with sets that recreate the Three Kingdoms, Goryeo, and Joseon periods. The traditional market featured in the video, along with palace courtyards and stone walls, lets visitors walk through the same backdrop that Suga used to fuse royal imagery with hip-hop energy. The park is open to the public and remains one of Korea's most popular destinations for both K-drama and K-pop fans.
Saemangeum Seawall and Mosan Airfield: Wide-Open Horizons
For ARMY chasing BTS' most cinematic backdrops, the inland and coastal frontiers of Korea reward the journey. Saemangeum Seawall, the world's longest at 33.9 kilometers, was the location for the 2016 "Save Me" music video and later reappeared in the "Love Yourself: Tear" photobook, its vast reclaimed flats lending an almost otherworldly stillness to the group's introspective era. Inland in Jecheon, Mosan Airfield, a disused runway that featured in "Epilogue: Young Forever," has been reborn as a public park where seasonal flower fields line the strip the seven members once walked together. Both sites trade urban density for sweeping horizons, mirroring the openness BTS often sought when their songs leaned toward dreaming and farewell.
Honorable Mentions for ARMY Itineraries
Beyond the headline locations, smaller spots carry just as much emotional weight. Yoojung Sikdang in Gangnam, a ssambap restaurant near the former BigHit office, was the members' go-to meal during their trainee days and now displays fan photos and notes across its walls. The former BigHit Music building in Nonhyeon-dong, modest in scale and easy to miss, has become a graffiti-covered shrine where ARMY leave handwritten messages. Cafes connected to members' families, including Cafe Far Ben in Seongsu-dong and Magnate Cafe in Busan, offer quieter, more personal stops. Together with landmarks like the Han River, Yeouido Hangang Park, and Nodeul Island (featured in "Run"), these spaces map a side of BTS that is less about spectacle and more about daily life.
Planning Your Own BTS Pilgrimage
The BTS filming locations scattered across Korea form an unofficial map of the group's artistic journey, from the trainee years in Gangnam to global stages and royal palaces. For ARMY, visiting these spots is less about ticking off landmarks and more about stepping into the visual world that shaped songs like "Spring Day," "Butter," and "IDOL." Many of the rural locations, from Hyangho to Maengbang to Saemangeum, are most easily reached by intercity bus or rental car, while Seoul-based sites like Gyeongbokgung Palace, Yoojung Sikdang, and the former BigHit building are an easy day-trip combination on the subway. Whichever route you choose, each stop is a chance to walk, quite literally, in the footsteps of BTS.
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