Is a Jeju Guided Tour Worth It? Tour vs Public Bus Without a Car

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  JEJU ISLAND GUIDE KOREA TRAVEL COMPARISON Public buses make car-free Jeju possible, but they do not always make it efficient. A guided tour costs more, yet it can save hours when several attractions are spread across the island. The better choice depends on whether you value lower transportation cost or more usable sightseeing time. Quick answer: Choose a guided day tour if this is your first Jeju trip and you want to cover several major attractions in one day without driving. Choose public buses if your budget matters more, you prefer a slower pace, or you plan to focus on only one or two areas each day. Transportation and activity information checked on August 21, 2026. Jeju bus routes, fares, tour itineraries, pickup points, and attraction stops can change. Affiliate disclosure: This post contains a Klook affiliate link. I may earn a commission from qualifying bookings at no additional cost to you. Table of Contents 30-Second Verdict What a Car-Free Jej...

Vincenzo Filming Locations in Seoul: Geumga Plaza and 3 More Places

 

Travel collage showing Sewoon Shopping Center, the Bank of Korea Money Museum, Seoullo 7017 at night, and a Seongsu cafe with the text VINCENZO SEOUL LOCATIONS.

The most useful Vincenzo filming locations in Seoul are not spread across dozens of difficult-to-reach addresses. Four publicly accessible places explain most of what fans want to see: the real building used as Geumga Plaza, the historic building used for the Wusang law firm exterior, the Seongsu cafe from episode 4, and the elevated walkway shown during Vincenzo’s nighttime walk in episode 3.

The locations are real visitor destinations, but they did not function exactly as they appear in the drama. Exterior shots, interior sets, temporary signs, controlled filming areas, and editing were combined to create the fictional world. Visiting the correct address does not guarantee that every hallway, office, rooftop, or storefront from the series will be open.

Important: Check Before You Visit

Information was reviewed in August 2026, but store hours, museum reservations, rooftop access, cafe operations, and photography rules can change. Confirm each venue through its official website, official social media, reservation page, or current Korean map listing before traveling.


Infographic showing four Vincenzo filming locations in Seoul: Sewoon Shopping Center, Bank of Korea Money Museum, Grandpa Factory Cafe, and Seoullo 7017, with subway and visit details.

1. Which Vincenzo Locations Are Worth Visiting?

The best first stop is Sewoon Shopping Center, also called Sewoon Arcade or Sewoon Cheonggye Shopping Center in different English sources. Seoul’s official tourism guide identifies it as the real location used for Geumga Plaza, the building at the center of the drama’s conflict.

The Bank of Korea Money Museum is the easiest location to combine with Geumga Plaza. Its monumental stone exterior was used to represent the prestigious law firm connected to Hong Cha-young. The building is also a real museum, so visitors can see more than an exterior filming angle when it is open.

Grandpa Factory Cafe is connected to the episode 4 conversation in which Vincenzo criticizes an americano by comparing it with dirty water in Italy. It is an active commercial cafe rather than a permanent drama exhibition, and its current operating status should be confirmed before making a special trip.

Seoullo 7017 is a free public pedestrian park near Seoul Station. It appears in episode 3 when Vincenzo walks through the illuminated city environment while checking messages. This is the most reliable evening stop because there is no museum ticket or cafe purchase required.

A traveler with only two or three hours should choose Sewoon Shopping Center and the Bank of Korea Money Museum. Fans with a full day can add Grandpa Factory Cafe and finish at Seoullo 7017 after sunset.

2. Vincenzo Filming Locations at a Glance

Location Drama Connection Nearest Station Admission Recommended Time
Sewoon Shopping Center
세운상가
Geumga Plaza exterior and surrounding commercial complex Jongno 3-ga Station Free public areas; individual shops separate 60–90 minutes
Bank of Korea Money Museum
한국은행 화폐박물관
Exterior of the major law firm associated with Hong Cha-young Hoehyeon, City Hall, or Euljiro 1-ga Station Free; reservation rules may apply 45–90 minutes
Grandpa Factory Cafe
할아버지공장
Episode 4 cafe conversation between Vincenzo and Hong Cha-young Seongsu Station Purchase expected as a cafe customer 45–75 minutes
Seoullo 7017
서울로7017
Episode 3 nighttime walking and message-checking scene Seoul Station Free 30–60 minutes

Sewoon Shopping Center, the Money Museum, and Seoullo 7017 are relatively close to one another in central Seoul. Grandpa Factory Cafe is in Seongsu and requires a separate subway journey. The cafe should therefore be treated as an optional extension rather than the center of the route.

3. Sewoon Shopping Center: The Real Geumga Plaza

Geumga Plaza is the most recognizable Vincenzo filming location because the fictional building drives the main plot. Vincenzo returns to Korea to recover gold hidden beneath the building, while the tenants fight attempts to remove them. The drama presents Geumga Plaza as an aging but tightly connected commercial and residential community.

The real location is part of the Sewoon commercial complex in central Seoul. Seoul’s official tourism information identifies Sewoon Shopping Center as the real Geumga Plaza location. The complex was originally developed as a major electronics and commercial center and later became part of an urban-regeneration project.

Different English sources use Sewoon Shopping Center, Sewoon Arcade, Sewoon Plaza, Cheonggye Shopping Center, and Sewoon Cheonggye Shopping Center. These names can refer to connected sections of a long commercial structure. Searching the Korean name 세운상가 is generally more reliable than entering “Geumga Plaza” in a map app.

Essential visitor information

Korean name 세운상가
Official reference address 159 Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Nearest station Jongno 3-ga Station, Lines 1, 3, and 5; Exit 12 is approximately 280 meters from the official address
Published hours 09:00–19:00; individual store hours vary
Regular closure Sunday and public holidays are listed as closures for many commercial areas
Admission No general admission fee for public corridors, walkways, and open areas
Important: Working Shops and Restricted Areas

Sewoon is an active commercial complex, not a permanent Vincenzo set. Do not enter workshops, storage rooms, residential-looking corridors, service areas, or rooftops marked as closed. Rooftop and elevated-walkway access can change because of maintenance, weather, redevelopment work, or safety controls.

Where to find the recognizable view

Begin at street level near Cheonggyecheon Stream and look toward the long concrete commercial buildings. The strongest Geumga Plaza impression comes from photographing the older facade, exterior corridors, connecting walkways, and dense electronics-market environment together.

Do not expect the large “Geumga Plaza” sign to remain. Drama signs are normally temporary production elements. Individual businesses may also have changed their signs, shutters, products, and entrances since filming.

What is real and what was created for the drama?

The exterior complex and surrounding urban environment are real. The fictional tenant businesses, hidden underground gold room, legal offices, apartments, and many interior sequences were created or controlled for production. A fan should treat Sewoon as the exterior anchor of Geumga Plaza rather than a complete walk-through set.

The complex is large enough that visitors sometimes photograph the wrong section and assume they missed the location. Walk slowly along the public levels, compare structural details rather than temporary signs, and allow at least one hour.

4. Bank of Korea Money Museum: The Wusang Exterior

The grand stone building associated with the powerful law firm in Vincenzo is the Bank of Korea Money Museum. Its formal architecture helps establish the wealth, authority, and institutional power surrounding the legal organization that employs Hong Cha-young early in the drama.

The building is not a private law office. It is a public museum operated by the Bank of Korea and contains exhibitions about Korean currency, monetary history, banknote production, and the development of the Korean economy.

The exterior is the most important filming connection. Office interiors seen in the drama should not automatically be assumed to be rooms inside the museum. Productions frequently combine an exterior landmark with studio or separately filmed interiors.

Essential visitor information

Korean name 한국은행 화폐박물관
Address 39 Namdaemun-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
Nearest stations Hoehyeon Station, City Hall Station, or Euljiro 1-ga Station
Published hours Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00–17:00
Regular closure Monday and designated holiday or maintenance closures
Admission Free
Reservation Advance booking may be required on weekends, holidays, or for groups; check current official instructions
Important: Free Entry May Still Require a Reservation

Do not assume that free admission means unrestricted entry. Weekend, holiday, group, security, and special-exhibition procedures can change. Check the museum’s official reservation instructions and bring identification if the booking notice requires it.

Best place for a drama-style photograph

Use the public pavement across from the main facade to include the stone exterior and entrance in one frame. A slightly angled view shows the scale of the building better than standing directly beneath it.

Security and pedestrian movement are more important than recreating an exact camera angle. Do not place a tripod in an entrance, photograph security procedures, or block museum visitors.

What to see nearby

The museum is close to Myeongdong, Namdaemun Market, Sungnyemun Gate, City Hall, and the southern entrance areas of Seoullo 7017. This makes it the easiest filming location to combine with ordinary sightseeing.

Visit the museum before late afternoon, then continue toward Seoul Station and wait for the Seoullo lights to become visible. This sequence is more efficient than returning to the area after traveling to Seongsu.

5. Grandpa Factory Cafe: The Episode 4 Coffee Scene

Grandpa Factory Cafe in Seongsu is connected to the episode 4 scene in which Vincenzo and Hong Cha-young order coffee. Vincenzo’s complaint that an americano resembles dirty water in Italy became one of the episode’s memorable lighter moments.

The cafe is known for its converted industrial atmosphere, large interior, courtyard, wooden furniture, plants, and distinctive structure. Those elements made it suitable for the scene, but the furniture arrangement and exact table used during filming may have changed.

Essential visitor information

Korean name 할아버지공장
Address 9 Seongsui-ro 7ga-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul
Nearest station Seongsu Station, Line 2; commonly approached from Exit 3
Commonly published hours Often listed around 11:00–22:00, but current hours must be reconfirmed
Admission No attraction ticket; visit as a paying cafe customer
Important: Confirm Current Business Status

The cafe’s former Visit Seoul venue page is no longer available, and published business hours differ between listings. Confirm that the cafe is operating under the same name at the same address before traveling. Do not rely on an old blog post or drama-location list as proof that it is open today.

How to visit without disrupting the cafe

Order a drink or food before spending time photographing the interior. Do not occupy a large table only for photos, move furniture, or repeatedly recreate dialogue while customers are seated nearby.

Ask staff before using a tripod, professional camera, lighting equipment, or extensive video setup. Personal phone photographs may be accepted while commercial or staged filming requires separate permission.

Is it worth crossing Seoul?

The cafe is worthwhile when Seongsu is already part of the day. The neighborhood has fashion stores, pop-ups, converted factories, cafes, Seoul Forest, and the Ttukseom area. Traveling to Seongsu only for a short photograph is less efficient, especially when current opening information has not been confirmed.

Fans with limited time should prioritize Geumga Plaza. Fans who enjoy cafe culture can use the Vincenzo connection as one part of a longer Seongsu visit.

6. Seoullo 7017: Vincenzo’s Episode 3 Night Walk

Seoullo 7017 appears in episode 3 when Vincenzo walks through an illuminated city environment while checking his phone. Seoul’s official filming-location guide highlights the contrast between the colorful urban night view and Vincenzo’s darker mood.

The location was originally a road overpass built in 1970 and reopened as an elevated pedestrian park in 2017. Its name combines those two years and also refers to the network of connected pedestrian paths.

Essential visitor information

Korean name 서울로7017
Reference address 432 Cheongpa-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
Nearest station Seoul Station; Exit 15 is a practical meeting point for the night-walk side
Admission Free
Access The pedestrian path is generally accessible without a ticket; individual facilities and elevators use separate hours
Best visit From sunset through early evening

How to find a similar view

Walk the elevated section facing the Seoul Station skyline and surrounding office buildings. The scene depends more on city lights, elevation, and the night atmosphere than on one permanent prop.

Arrive shortly before sunset to understand the path while it is still bright. Take photographs after the building lights become visible. This is safer and easier than trying to locate entrances for the first time late at night.

Weather and accessibility

The walkway is outdoors and exposed to heat, rain, snow, wind, and icy conditions. Elevators connect several sections, but an elevator can close temporarily for inspection or maintenance. Travelers who cannot use stairs should check the nearest working elevator before choosing an entrance.

Avoid standing in the center of the path for repeated photographs. Commuters and travelers use Seoullo as a real route between Seoul Station, Namdaemun, Malli-dong, and nearby neighborhoods.

7. What You Cannot Visit or Recreate Exactly

A Vincenzo filming-location guide becomes misleading when it treats every fictional room as a publicly accessible place. The drama combines real exteriors, private properties, temporary signs, studio interiors, and edited backgrounds.

Drama Element What Visitors Should Expect Safe Decision
Geumga Plaza sign A temporary production sign may no longer exist Match the permanent building structure instead
Tenant restaurants and offices Fictional interiors may have been sets or separately filmed spaces Do not enter unrelated businesses looking for a set
Hidden gold room A fictional plot location, not a visitor attraction Do not search basements or restricted levels
Wusang office interiors The museum exterior does not prove that office scenes were filmed inside Visit the museum as a museum, not as a law-office set
Exact cafe table Furniture and seating arrangements can change Photograph the overall atmosphere without moving furniture
Production rooftops Crew access does not mean public access Use only clearly marked public rooftop areas

Fan-created map pins should be treated as leads, not proof. A similar concrete corridor, cafe interior, or stone facade is not enough to confirm a filming location. Official tourism references, venue posts, production material, and identifiable scene details are stronger evidence.

8. How to Plan a Practical Vincenzo Route

A practical full-day route begins in Seongsu, moves to Sewoon Shopping Center, continues to the Money Museum, and ends at Seoullo 7017. This order prevents you from traveling back to central Seoul after the evening scene.

Suggested Time Stop Plan
11:00–12:15 Grandpa Factory Cafe Visit only after confirming current business status; order before taking photos
12:15–13:00 Travel to Jongno Use Line 2 and transfer according to the current route shown in Naver Map or Kakao Map
13:00–14:30 Sewoon Shopping Center Explore public exterior corridors, the Cheonggyecheon side, and approved elevated areas
14:30–15:30 Lunch or Cheonggyecheon walk Use the central location to take a break before the museum
15:30–16:45 Bank of Korea Money Museum See the exterior first, then enter only if the museum schedule and reservation allow
17:00 onward Seoullo 7017 Arrive before sunset and remain until the city lights are visible

This route works best from Tuesday through Saturday. Monday is unsuitable when the Money Museum is closed, and Sunday can be disappointing because many Sewoon businesses close. A public holiday may also create substitute closures or reservation changes.

For a shorter route, begin at Sewoon Shopping Center, walk or use public transportation toward Myeongdong and the Money Museum, then finish at Seoullo 7017. This removes the uncertain cafe stop and keeps the day in central Seoul.

9. Photography Rules and Visitor Etiquette

A drama filming location remains a workplace, museum, cafe, pedestrian route, or commercial building after filming ends. Fans should not expect special access because a scene was recorded there.

  • Stay in public corridors, visitor areas, pavements, and clearly marked observation spaces.
  • Do not enter Sewoon workshops, storage rooms, private offices, or closed rooftop sections.
  • Do not photograph employees, customers, residents, or security staff without permission.
  • Order before taking extended photographs inside an active cafe.
  • Do not move furniture, merchandise, barriers, signs, or museum objects.
  • Keep tripods and dance recordings away from entrances, narrow corridors, escalators, and busy walkways.
  • Follow museum restrictions on flash, video, exhibition photography, and security-sensitive areas.
  • Use your own photographs instead of uploading copyrighted Netflix or tvN screenshots.
  • Leave immediately when staff explain that a space is not open to the public.

The most respectful recreation is often a wide exterior photograph taken from public space. It records the location without interfering with the people who work or travel there.

10. Final Checklist Before Visiting

  • Save 세운상가, 한국은행 화폐박물관, 할아버지공장, and 서울로7017 in a Korean map app.
  • Confirm Grandpa Factory Cafe’s current business status before traveling to Seongsu.
  • Check whether the Money Museum requires an individual reservation for your date.
  • Avoid scheduling the Money Museum on Monday.
  • Expect many Sewoon businesses to close on Sunday or public holidays.
  • Check weather conditions before planning an evening walk on Seoullo 7017.
  • Carry a charged phone, portable battery, and transportation card.
  • Do not search for fictional interiors in restricted parts of real buildings.
  • Take photographs from public space and follow staff instructions.
  • Remove a stop from the itinerary when current access cannot be confirmed.

For most fans, Sewoon Shopping Center is the essential Vincenzo filming location. The Money Museum adds an impressive and easy-to-reach second stop, while Seoullo 7017 gives the route a strong nighttime ending. Grandpa Factory Cafe is best treated as a conditional Seongsu extension because business information can change.

A successful filming-location trip is not measured by how many pins you collect. It is built around verified places, realistic travel time, current access rules, and respect for the people using each location today.

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