Why visit Seoul and Busan on this trip
Welcome, First Time in Korea? (어서와~ 한국은 처음이지?) has aired on MBC every1 since 2017 with a simple format: a foreign resident of Korea hosts friends visiting the country for the first time, and the cameras follow what they actually do. In March 2023 the guests were three friends from the UK, and their host was a fellow Brit living in Busan. The Seoul leg aired Mar 9, 2023, and the Busan leg aired Mar 16, 2023.
That structure is what makes this trip worth copying. The five public places below are not obscure filming trivia: they are a first-timer’s greatest-hits route across two cities. Seoul gives you the capital from above at N Seoul Tower, then the home of Korea’s national sport at Kukkiwon, where the friends tried a taekwondo class, including their first board break. Busan answers with the sea: a temple on the rocks at Haedong Yonggungsa, an afternoon on the sand at Gwangalli Beach, and the whole city lit up below you at Hwangnyeongsan Observatory after dark.
Follow the places in airing order and the trip builds naturally — tower panorama, then a hands-on class, then coast, beach, and night view. Everything listed here is a public place you can visit on your own. The hotel, a skin-care shop, the restaurants shown, and the host’s home are not listed, because they are lodging, unnamed businesses, or private places.
Seoul
N Seoul Tower
What the episode shows. In the Mar 9, 2023 episode, the friends ride the Namsan cable car up to N Seoul Tower and look out over the city, according to the broadcaster’s episode publicity.
What to see. VisitKorea describes N Seoul Tower as Korea’s first multipurpose tower, combining a sightseeing observatory with a broadcasting tower, and a landmark for more than 40 years. The observatory offers an unobstructed view of the whole city. The Namsan Cable Car, another highlight of the tower, has run since 1962, carrying passengers from the foot of the mountain to the base of the tower, and VisitKorea notes shuttle buses to the cable car run from downtown Seoul. VisitKorea also notes that locks for wishes are sold at the souvenir shop near the cable car station at the top of the mountain.
How to get there. The tower stands at 105 Namsangongwon-gil, Yongsan-gu, on Namsan in central Seoul. Reach it on foot, by bus, or by the Namsan cable car. Check routes on Naver Map (English UI).
Tips. The grounds are free; the observatory and cable car are ticketed, and prices change, so check the tower’s official site for current hours and tickets before you go.
Kukkiwon
What the episode shows. In the same March 9 episode, the friends visit Kukkiwon’s museum and then try a taekwondo class in uniforms, including their first board break, according to the broadcaster’s episode publicity.
What to see. Kukkiwon is the world taekwondo headquarters. VisitKorea says it was established in 1972, trains taekwondo instructors, researches taekwondo techniques, and hosts the World Taekwondo Hanmadang. Its Memorial Hall collects and exhibits artifacts from taekwondo’s history, which is what the museum visit in the episode covers. Kukkiwon also appears in this show’s KPop Demon Hunters director’s family trip.
How to get there. Kukkiwon is at 32 Teheran-ro 7-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Find the route on Seoul Metro or Naver Map.
Tips. VisitKorea lists the Memorial Hall as open 09:00–17:30 with a lunch closure 11:30–13:00, free entry, and closed on national holidays and Kukkiwon organization holidays. Check Kukkiwon’s official site for public programs and performance days before you go.
Busan
Haedong Yonggungsa Temple
What the episode shows. In the Mar 16, 2023 episode, the first Busan stop is Haedong Yonggungsa, the temple by the sea, reached down its 108 steps. Busan City’s own release on the episode names it too, which is why this stop is confirmed.
What to see. Visit Busan describes the approach: first the 12 zodiac animal deities, where you can find the animal of your birth year, then the Iljumun Gate, then the 108 stairs through the pine grove to the temple embracing the blue ocean. Above Yongmungyo Bridge, connected to the temple, many visitors throw coins and make wishes — legend says the temple grants at least one wish. For photographs of the ocean, climb the stairs next to Daeungjeon Hall, and meet the Seaside Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva there. If you want more coast, follow the coastal trail, part of Haeparang Trail Route 1, to the sunrise rock.
How to get there. The temple is at 86 Yonggung-gil, Gijang-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan. From Haeundae Station (Metro Line 2) Exit 7, transfer to Bus 181, 100 or Haeundae 9 and get off at Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, per Visit Busan. From Osiria Station (Donghae Line) Exit 1, transfer to Bus 139.
Tips. Visit Busan lists hours of 04:30–19:20 with last entry by 18:50, and free entry; the temple parking lot is charged. This is a working Buddhist temple: lower your voice inside, use only the side doors when entering and leaving the Buddhist Sanctuary, and organize your shoes.
Gwangalli Beach
What the episode shows. Busan City says the friends’ tour of the city started at Gwangalli’s beach. A second source has not confirmed this place yet, so it stays reported.
What to see. VisitKorea describes Gwangalli Beach as 1.4 kilometers long and 25 to 110 meters wide, famous for its fine sand, sitting west of Haeundae Beach. The beachfront area holds restaurants and cafes, and many people come in the evening to take in the bright lights of Gwangandaegyo Bridge stretching across the horizon. The beach’s promenade faces Gwangan Bridge, so an evening walk is the point of this stop. Gwangalli’s beach road also appears in the Black Panther Busan guide.
How to get there. The beach is at 219 Gwanganhaebyeon-ro, Suyeong-gu, Busan. Find the route on Naver Map (English UI).
Tips. VisitKorea lists the beach as open 24 hours, open all year round, with free entry. Come before dark if you want the coastline in daylight, then stay as the bridge lights come on.
Hwangnyeongsan Observatory
What the episode shows. The group ends the day at the Hwangnyeongsan observatory, staying a long time over Busan’s night view, according to Busan City and the broadcaster’s episode publicity. Two independent sources name it, so this stop is confirmed.
What to see. VisitKorea says Hwangnyeongsan Mountain sits in the center of Busan, spanning four districts (Busanjin-gu, Yeonje-gu, Suyeong-gu and Nam-gu), and is a popular driving course in spring when cherry blossoms bloom along the road. The observatory is a place for a night tour: the city below looks more beautiful with the lights that illuminate the observatory and the sparkling radio tower.
How to get there. The observatory’s listed address is 391-39 Hwangnyeongsan-ro, Nam-gu, Busan. Plan the trip with the Kakao Map and Naver Map links on this card.
Tips. VisitKorea lists the observatory as open 24 hours, open all year round, with parking available, and entry is free. Go after dark; check road and parking notices before you go.
Plan your trip
Follow the airing order. Base yourself in Seoul first, then Busan. The March 9 episode covers both Seoul stops; the March 16 episode covers all three Busan stops in the order temple, beach, then observatory after dark.
Best bases. In Seoul, stay in Myeong-dong, close to Namsan for N Seoul Tower. In Busan, stay at Gwangalli, the beachfront base for the Busan leg. The “Where to stay” links on this page search by neighborhood rather than naming the places the friends stayed, which are not listed.
Seoul to Busan. Search Seoul → Busan on Korail for trains on your travel date, and plan each Busan leg with Kakao Map or Naver Map. Within Seoul, find each leg on Seoul Metro or Naver Map (English UI).
More Busan on this site. For another Busan filming trip, see Black Panther in Busan, Pachinko in Busan, and Train to Busan.
FAQ
Which places are confirmed and which are only reported?
Haedong Yonggungsa and Hwangnyeongsan are confirmed: Busan City’s press release and the broadcaster’s publicity name them independently. Gwangalli and both Seoul stops are reported, each with a single source so far.
Can I stay where the friends stayed?
No. Lodging, the host’s home and unnamed businesses are not listed. The “Where to stay” links search by neighborhood instead.
Is N Seoul Tower free to visit?
The grounds are free; the observatory and the Namsan cable car are ticketed. Prices change, so check the tower’s official site before you go.
What are Kukkiwon’s Memorial Hall hours, and does it cost anything?
VisitKorea lists the Memorial Hall as open 09:00–17:30 with a lunch closure 11:30–13:00, free entry, and closed on national holidays and Kukkiwon organization holidays. Recheck hours on the official listing before you go.
What are Haedong Yonggungsa’s hours, and what etiquette should I follow?
Visit Busan lists hours of 04:30–19:20 with last entry by 18:50, and free entry. Lower your voice inside the temple, use only the side doors when entering and leaving the Buddhist Sanctuary, and organize your shoes.
Is Gwangalli Beach free, and when is it open?
Yes, free. VisitKorea lists the beach as open 24 hours and open all year round.
Is Hwangnyeongsan Observatory free, and when is it open?
Yes, free. VisitKorea lists the observatory as open 24 hours and open all year round, with parking available. Go after dark for the night view the episode ends on.
How do I get from Seoul to Busan?
Search Seoul → Busan on Korail for trains on your travel date, and plan each Busan leg with Kakao Map or Naver Map.
Will this page use images from the show?
No. All photos here are location photos of the real places, credited on each card. No stills from the show are used.
How we checked
A spot is confirmed when two independent sources name it as a filming location; it is reported when the sources trace back to a single origin. Haedong Yonggungsa and Hwangnyeongsan are confirmed: Busan City’s press release (Mar 17, 2023) and the broadcaster’s publicity (Xports News, MBC entertainment news) name them independently. Gwangalli is reported (Busan City only), and both Seoul stops are reported (broadcaster publicity only).
During the Oct 18, 2026 enrichment we added practical information from VisitKorea for N Seoul Tower, Kukkiwon, Gwangalli Beach and Hwangnyeongsan Observatory, and from Visit Busan for Haedong Yonggungsa Temple — addresses, hours, fees, transit and temple etiquette. Those sources describe the places themselves; they do not change the filming-location statuses above, which still rest on the episode publicity and the Busan City release. We do not list private homes, lodging, or unnamed businesses, and we do not claim exact bus routes or interior filming without a source. Hours and fees change; recheck the official listings before you go.
Last checked: Oct 18, 2026 for spot status and practical details. We re-verify spot status periodically and update when places close, change, or gain new sources.
Photos: Every stop on this page carries a verified location photo — Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0 / CC BY 4.0) or KOGL Type 1 — credited on its card, plus the hero image of N Seoul Tower (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0). No stills from the show are used.
Sources
All sources for this guide
Accessed Oct 2, 2026 (Asia/Seoul) unless noted.
- Busan City — Busan’s attractions on Welcome, First Time in Korea? (press release, Mar 17, 2023)
- Financial News — Busan episode airs (Mar 17, 2023)
- Xports News — Haedong Yonggungsa visit (Mar 16, 2023)
- MBC entertainment news — UK friends’ Busan trip (2023-03)
- Xports News — Taekwondo class (Mar 9, 2023)
- Etnews — Taekwondo class (Mar 9, 2023)
- VisitKorea — N Seoul Tower (accessed Oct 18, 2026)
- VisitKorea — Kukkiwon (World Taekwondo Headquarters) (accessed Oct 18, 2026)
- Visit Busan — Haedong Yonggungsa Temple (accessed Oct 18, 2026)
- VisitKorea — Gwangalli Beach (accessed Oct 18, 2026)
- VisitKorea — Hwangnyeongsan Observatory (accessed Oct 18, 2026)
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