Bong Joon-ho's <Parasite> won the Palme d'Or at Cannes in 2019 and Best Picture at the Oscars in 2020. Yet what remains longer than the prizes is the architecture. A semi-basement, a hillside mansion, a hidden bunker. The entire film was engineered as a single vertical cross-section.

Its real shooting sites are scattered across three cities. The Kim family's semi-basement neighborhood lies around Mapo's Ahyeon and Seongsan, the Park family's mansion was built as a set at Aqua Studio in Goyang, and the long take of the rainstorm walks down the Jahamun Stairs in Jongno.

Bong even calculated the number of steps in each space. How many lead down to the semi-basement, how many up to the Parks' second floor. Audiences don't count, but the camera does.

Jessica, only child, Illinois, Chicago. — Ki-jeong

EDITORIAL · KEY STILL
Jahamun Stairs, the long take in the downpour

Still · 2019 · Bong Joon-ho

Behind · 02

What happened behind the scenes?

Jahamun Stairs · the storm sequence

It wasn't a real downpour. The SFX team installed water tanks at the top of the stairs for two weeks of artificial rain. Bong storyboarded the camera's descent speed in advance.

Park family mansion · stairs and windows

The mansion is 100% a set. The garden seen through the living-room glass wasn't green-screened — it was a real scaled-down miniature garden, even the reflections fell naturally.

Seongsan-dong pizza-box opening

The convenience-store scene was shot inside a still-operating shop, beginning at 2 a.m. The owner's family appears as a brief cameo.

Guide · 03

Where should you go?

Best Season

Early autumn rainy weeks (late Sep — early Oct) match the film palette best

Transport

Subway lines 3 and 6, mostly walkable

DAY 1 · Jongno–Mapo

10:00

Jahamun Stairs

Exit 2 of Gyeongbokgung Stn → walk toward Cheongun-Hyoja Dong Office. Slippery in rain.

13:00

Tongin Market lunch

10-minute walk from Jahamun Stairs. The brass-coin lunchbox is the signature.

16:00

Woori Supermarket, Seongsan-dong

An operating shop. Signage shots are fine; ask before shooting interior.

Pilgrimage · 04

How are fans visiting?

How to Pose

Jahamun Stairs

From the mid-landing, look down — high-angle composition. Umbrella prop recommended.

Woori Supermarket

Front-facing with the signage. A pizza box in hand completes the detail.

Check-ins

3,150

People who have walked this journey

Visitor Notes

“On a rainy day, Jahamun Stairs really do feel like stepping into the film. Bring an umbrella.”

@park_cinema · 2023.09

“The Woori Supermarket owner even signed a poster for me. Just be respectful — no shooting inside without asking.”

@kr_filmtrip · 2024.05

“You can't visit the Park mansion (it was a set), but the vibe near Acro Seoul Forest comes close.”

@seo_walk · 2024.03

Nearby · 05

What's near the filming spots?

Jahamun Stairs

3 SPOTS

Tongin Market

Brass-coin lunchbox and oily tteokbokki — local landmarks.

Food

Cheongun Literature Library

Hanok library — a good rest stop after the stairs tour.

View

Yun Dong-ju Literature House

Trailhead of Bukaksan ridge, 15 min on foot.

Culture

Woori Supermarket area

2 SPOTS

World Cup Park

10-minute walk. Evening stroll loop.

Nature

Seongsan-dong local bakery

A neighborhood spot the crew frequented.

Cafe

View on Map

DIAGRAMMATIC · SWAP FOR LIVE MAP

s01 · 자하문 계단 (기택네 동네 계단)

s02 · 우리 슈퍼마켓 (피자박스 접는 가게)

s03 · 고양 아쿠아 스튜디오 (박사장 저택)

서울 · 경기도

Travel · Plan Your Trip

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What else can you explore?

1 WORK

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2016 · 강원도 강릉시

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Parasite · 기생충