Wicked World, a Romance That Slips Between Two Palaces
Airing on SBS every Friday and Saturday from May 8 to June 20, 2026, Wicked World (멋진 신세계) is a fantasy romantic comedy based on a webtoon of the same name. Its premise is deliciously strange: the soul of Kang Dan-sim, a legendary and much-feared villainess of the Joseon court, wakes up inside the body of Shin Seo-ri, a struggling, little-known modern actress. Lim Ji-yeon carries the dual role of Seo-ri and Dan-sim, sparring against Heo Nam-jun as Cha Se-gye, a ruthless chaebol heir nicknamed "the monster of capitalism," with Jang Seung-jo and Lee Se-hee rounding out the cast. Directors Han Tae-sub and Kim Hyun-woo helmed the production from a script by writer Kang Hyun-joo.
The show opened quietly, with a 4.1% rating for its premiere, but climbed steadily, crossing into double digits by episode 6 and finishing its run with a series-best 14.1% peak and an 11.8% nationwide average (Nielsen Korea) — a rare "strong start, stronger finish" trajectory that Korean entertainment press pointed to as proof of the writing's staying power. Overseas viewers picked up on it too, praising Wicked World as a fresh spin on familiar K-drama tropes, mixing Joseon court intrigue with a glossy modern chaebol romance inside a single, time-hopping frame.
Behind the Scenes
Finding real spaces that could believably hold both eras was central to the Wicked World filming locations strategy. Dan-sim's palace quarters, called "Hyangseondang" in the drama, were modeled directly on Chwiseondang at Changdeokgung Palace — the actual historical residence built for the real Lady Jang Hui-bin, a royal consort whose story closely echoes Dan-sim's own rank and fate as the highest-ranking royal concubine. Many of the drama's grandest court scenes were filmed around Injeongjeon Hall and the Buyongji Pond in Changdeokgung's rear garden, Huwon, giving the production team's location scouting real historical texture rather than an artificial backlot feel.
There's a fun footnote to the production, too. The scene where Dan-sim strides out through Geunjeongmun Gate to confront Gwanghwamun beyond it was, in fact, shot at Gyeongbokgung Palace — a different palace entirely from the Changdeokgung footage it was cut together with. Sharp-eyed fans quickly noticed that the two palaces don't actually connect that way in real life, and the "continuity error" became a minor talking point during the broadcast. Rather than souring the experience, it only deepened fan curiosity about exactly where each scene had been filmed, since both palaces were real, working locations rather than studio sets.
The other pillar of the production is the Seoul Museum of History, which serves as the emotional anchor of the entire story. It's the very first place Seo-ri (possessed by Dan-sim) visits after the swap, the spot where Se-gye waits endlessly in front of an old painting hoping she'll return, and — most importantly — the setting for the finale's time-crossing reunion between the two leads. The museum's own official social media account confirmed the connection directly, introducing itself to followers as the drama's "ending filming location," a rare instance of a public institution directly claiming its role in a hit drama's most pivotal scene.
Travel Guide to Filming Locations
The three core Wicked World locations — the Seoul Museum of History, Gyeongbokgung, and Changdeokgung — sit close enough together in central Seoul that the whole route can comfortably be walked in half a day.
- Seoul Museum of History: 10 minutes on foot from Seodaemun Station Exit 4 (Line 5), or 7 minutes from Gwanghwamun Station Exits 7/8 (Line 5). The permanent exhibition is free, open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed Mondays.
- Gwanghwamun Gate, Gyeongbokgung: 5 minutes on foot from Gyeongbokgung Station Exit 5 (Line 3). Ticket sales close at 5 p.m.; admission is 3,000 won.
- Changdeokgung Palace: 5 minutes on foot from Anguk Station Exit 3 (Line 3). The main palace grounds, including Injeongjeon, can be visited freely, but the Huwon rear garden runs on a reservation-only system, so book ahead.
A recommended half-day route: Seoul Museum of History → Gwanghwamun Gate at Gyeongbokgung → a short subway hop to Anguk Station → Injeongjeon Hall and the rear garden at Changdeokgung. Spring (April–May) brings fresh green foliage to Changdeokgung's garden, while autumn (September–October) turns it into a blaze of color — either season amplifies the drama's palace-romance atmosphere far better than a plain afternoon visit would.
Fan Pilgrimage
Since the finale aired, fans of Lim Ji-yeon and Heo Nam-jun have turned the Seoul Museum of History and Changdeokgung into an informal Wicked World pilgrimage route, with location tips spreading quickly across Korean and international fan communities on social media. The steps outside the museum and the gallery where the reunion scene played out have become a favorite spot for fans recreating the exact camera angle from the finale.
At Changdeokgung, the early-episode scene of Dan-sim sitting on the wooden floor of Hyangseondang in a blue hanbok has become especially iconic, and fans have nicknamed the walking route past Injeongjeon and around Buyongji Pond the "Hyangseondang course." Because renting a hanbok in advance waives the palace admission fee, many visitors take the opportunity to rent a blue-toned hanbok — echoing Dan-sim's signature look — before heading out to recreate the scene themselves.
Nearby Food and Attractions
- Gwanghwamun and Seochon: Sitting conveniently between the Seoul Museum of History and Gyeongbokgung, this area is dense with traditional Korean restaurants and modern cafés tucked into its side streets — an easy stop between the two filming locations.
- Yulgok-ro café street: Just 5 minutes on foot from Changdeokgung's main gate, this stretch is lined with cafés that make a natural resting point after a palace walk.
- Bukchon Hanok Village: Located between Changdeokgung and Anguk Station, its hanok-lined alleys, traditional tea houses, and small galleries pair well with a palace-focused itinerary.
- Accommodation: Hotels around Gyeongbokgung and Gwanghwamun in Jongno-gu put all three filming locations within comfortable walking distance, making it easy to cover the entire route in a single day.
