Traveling Korea with 'KPop Demon Hunters'

Some 1,200 drones light up the night sky at Ttukseom Hangang Park in eastern Seoul’s Gwangjin District, Sunday, during the 2025 Han River Light Performance themed around the hit Netflix film "KPop Demon Hunters." The drone show will continue with performances on Sept. 13, 20 and 26 and Oct. 18. Yonhap

What if your next trip to Korea feels like stepping into an animated blockbuster? Netflix hit "KPop Demon Hunters" is inspiring fans to follow the footsteps of fictional idol-warriors Huntrix through real-world landmarks across the country.

That journey may begin — or end — with a spectacle in the sky.

Last Sunday, the warm air of a September evening filled with the sound of collective awe as 1,200 drones lifted into the night sky above eastern Seoul's Ttukseom Hangang Park. Their LEDs swirled and shifted until the characters from "KPop Demon Hunters" flickered into view, neon silhouettes soaring above the river like guardians of Seoul.

The show was part of the city's expanding Han River Light Performance, a nighttime program that has quickly become one of the capital's flagship tourist draws. More than 22,000 people attended each performance during its spring season and the autumn calendar promises four more shows, on Sept. 13, 20 and 26 and Oct. 18.

A scene featuring fictional K-pop trio Huntrix from the Netflix original animated film, "KPop Demon Hunters" / Courtesy of Netflix

This season's twist is a collaboration with "KPop Demon Hunters," weaving imagery from the animated film into the drone choreography. For the thousands gathered on the riverbanks, it was as if the movie's fantasy world had spilled over into the night sky.

For visitors who have been retracing the film's trail through Seoul and beyond, the drone spectacle was only the latest reminder of how cultural content is reshaping the way people experience real-world destinations.

"KPop Demon Hunters" doesn't just tell a supernatural story of idol singers battling demons — it transforms Korea's landmarks into stages for global imaginations. Fans of the film, which has become the most watched title on Netflix, now flock to sites in Seoul not only to see them, but to measure the distance between fantasy and reality.

N Seoul Tower serves as the backdrop for a climactic showdown between Huntrix and Saja boys in "KPop Demon Hunters." gettyimagesbank

N Seoul Tower: Battlefield reimagined

Few places embody that tension more vividly than the N Seoul Tower, perched above Mount Nam in central Seoul.

In the film, the tower becomes the setting for a climactic showdown, as the five-member demon boy band Saja Boys perform "Your Idol," before being confronted by the musical power of Huntrix.

For the film, a concert stadium sits at the base of the tower, drenched in magenta and crimson light as the three heroines clash with the demons. In reality, the mountaintop doesn't have the space to host a full-scale stadium — but in the film’s animated world, scale bends to spectacle and imagination doesn't abide by zoning laws.

A scene from Netflix's original animated film "KPop Demon Hunters" / Courtesy of Netflix

Real-life scenes can be far more tender. On a recent afternoon, couples rode the cable car hand in hand, pausing to snap selfies as the tower came into view. Families clustered around the observation deck, drifting to the railings for long looks at the city sprawling in every direction. Far from a battlefield, N Seoul Tower remains one of Seoul's most romantic vantage points.

"My daughters love the film," a mother of two elementary school daughters surnamed Moon told The Korea Times on a calm Sunday afternoon near the tower.

"We just came for a stroll, but I can't help being reminded of how this place was reimagined in the movie. Now it's a completely different mood, so I'm not sure if the kids realize," she said with a laugh.

The best time to visit is at sunset, say locals, when the city's skyscrapers turn to silhouettes and the tower itself is lit up cinematically.

In "KPop Demon Hunters," Rumi meets Jinu on a hanok roof reminiscent of Bukchon Hanok Village in the heart of Seoul. gettyimagesbank

Bukchon Hanok Village: Shadows, storytelling

If Mount Nam was reimagined as an ominous concert venue, Bukchon Hanok Village became the setting for something more intimate.

In "KPop Demon Hunters," the hanok rooftops frame a quiet encounter between Jinu, frontman of the villainous boy band, and Huntrix's Rumi. Under the moonlight, the two share a conversation that builds towards a potential romance, leaving fans yearning for more.

In reality, Bukchon is more cheerful than dramatic.

By day, the alleys are crowded with tourists from all over the world dressed in rented hanbok, posing before wooden gates and tiled eaves. At dusk, the tourists disappear and the neighborhood softens, its rooftops glowing in the fading light.

But unlike in the movie, lovers cannot roam across the rooftops — these are private homes with actual residents and the narrow lanes demand quiet respect. Some residential areas even enforce restricted entry hours to protect the safety and privacy of local residents.

A scene featuring Jinu, left, and Rumi from the Netflix original animated film, "KPop Demon Hunters" / Courtesy of Netflix

"I came with my girls, but it still feels romantic. I wish I had a boyfriend with me," chuckled Sarah, a tourist in her 20s from the U.S. "It wasn't exactly what I expected with all the other tourists around, but overall it's a great experience."

For travelers, the experience is best savored slowly by walking uphill from Anguk Station on Seoul Metro Line 3, ducking into hanok teahouses and pausing at scenic outlooks where traditional rooftops meet the high-rises of downtown.

The film may add a layer of mystique and touch of romance, but the village's true charm lies in the way past and present coexist in its alleys.

In "KPop Demon Hunters," Rumi and Jinu sing "Free" as they stroll through a moonlit park inspired by Seoul’s real-life Naksan Park. gettyimagesbank

Naksan Park: Fortress walls under moonlight

Naksan Park near Dongdaemun Gate stretches along Seoul's old fortress wall, which the film recasts as a stage for even more romance.

It is here that Jinu and Rumi finally open up to each other, sharing what could be labeled a date — though Rumi refuses to call it that. Perched on the stone ramparts, the two idols sing a love song, "Free," in a moment of quiet vulnerability.

In real life, however, Naksan Park is way less private than the film suggests.

The fortress wall does offer quiet at night, but the path is almost always busy with strolling couples, families out for an evening walk and students sipping coffee on benches. Far from a secluded rendezvous for real-life K-pop idols, it's a highly popular lookout where city life hums just below.

The best route begins near Hyehwa Station on Seoul Metro Line 4, winding up to the park before descending through Ihwa Mural Village, where painted murals brighten the hillside with color and whimsy.

The members of K-pop girl group IVE pose during the band's recent show at KSPO Dome in Songpa District, Seoul. Courtesy of Starship Entertainment

KSPO Dome: From concert stage to arena of magic

In the explosive opening sequence of "KPop Demon Hunters," music itself becomes a weapon for Huntrix. The three heroines descend from a private jet and launch into a performance that doubles as an exorcism, their choreography rippling into sonic waves that scatter demons across the stands while reinforcing the honmun — a fictional seal that keeps the forces of darkness away.

The real-life venue that inspired this electrifying scene needs little cinematic embellishment to feel charged with power.

The KSPO Dome in Seoul's Songpa District is one of Korea's largest concert venues and a mecca for fans eager to experience the anticipation, nerves and collective thrill of a live K-pop show. It has hosted K-pop superstars from BTS to BLACKPINK, drawing millions of fans from around the world. Even on quiet days when no concerts fill its seats, families and friends linger at the gates, snapping photos and imagining the supernatural spectacle from the film.

Fans pose for photos before entering the “SUGA | Agust D TOUR D-DAY THE FINAL” concert at KSPO Dome in Seoul on Aug. 6, 2023. Newsis

From nearby Olympic Park, visitors can also glimpse Lotte World Tower piercing the skyline — one of Seoul's tallest landmarks and the inspiration for Huntrix's sleek fictional headquarters.

"K-pop never fails to amaze, especially when I'm attending live shows," Maddison, an American fan of the girl group TWICE, told The Korea Times. "I think the movie captured the fan experience perfectly."

For the full effect, visitors must secure tickets to a live performance — an increasingly difficult feat. For those who cannot, Olympic Park still offers sculpture gardens, lakes and leafy walking paths, a reminder of how culture and leisure intertwine in Seoul.

Bridges over the Han River are an iconic part of Seoul and among them, the double-decker Cheongdam Bridge served as visual inspiration for a battle scene in "KPop Demon Hunters." gettyimagesbank

Cheongdam Bridge: Runway of light

Seoul's bridges have long been part of its landscape, but "KPop Demon Hunters" elevates these crossings into a luminous battlefield. In the film, the three Huntrix members dash across the river's expanse on top of subway trains, their powers glowing as they charge into battle with the demons.

Cheongdam Bridge over the Han River is believed to have inspired the fictional structure with its double-decker design, with cars speeding across the upper level while Seoul Metro Line 7 runs below.

Especially when viewed from the riverbanks, the bridge does not disappoint. Its presence reflects across the water, changing hues with the light. At ground level, traffic hums with commuters rather than warriors, but the view retains a cinematic quality.

Tourists can also rent bikes to ride along river paths for the best views, or join the locals who sprawl on mats at night with cans of beer in hand, turning the riverside into an outdoor living room.

A scene featuring the ancestors of the demon hunter trio from the Netflix original animated film, "KPop Demon Hunters" / Courtesy of Netflix

Jeju Folk Village's Seonangdang: Rituals reframed

Located farther from Seoul, another site offers not only a change of scenery but also the most grounded, traditional rendition of Korea's folklore in the film.

"KPop Demon Hunters" begins by introducing generational trios of demon hunters, a lineage tasked with keeping evil at bay. The emotional opening scene is set against a backdrop inspired by the Seonangdang found at Jeju Folk Village, a shrine where islanders once prayed to guardian spirits. The animated film heightens Korea's traditional mysticism: branches glowing, winds swirling, voices rising in unison.

The reality is humbler but no less moving. The shrine is a modest altar beneath an old tree, its quiet dignity a reminder of how communities once sought protection through offerings and prayer.

The folk village is worth the journey south, as its wider complex showcases Jeju Island's volcanic stone houses, traditional tools and performances of local shamans rituals — a living museum. It offers a deep dive into the southern island's traditional lifestyle, making it a meaningful counterpart to the urban settings in Seoul.

A scene featuring fictional K-pop trio Huntrix from the Netflix original animated film "KPop Demon Hunters" / Courtesy of Netflix

For travelers, that blending of fantasy and place is the essence of the journey — from Netflix to Mount Nam, from animation to alleyway, from shrine to sky. And for Korea, it signals a future in which the nation stages its identity not only on screens, but also across its streets and even in the heavens above.