The University of Seoul (UOS) has been a popular shooting site among filmmakers who produce dramas, movies, and music videos, thanks to its tranquil and well-designed campus. UOS campus  is even more charming during fall, with its scenery along with mountain Baebongsan in the backdrop. UOS was chosen as one of the 100 regular filming locations for movies and dramas by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Film Council in 2012. It was featured in a brochure titled, “The Places In Seoul Cinema Fell in Love With.”

A drama that presents famous Korean dishes with some comedy, and love: “Let’s Eat”
 

“Let’s Eat” tells the story of four single people who are brought together by their love for food. In Episode 11, the main character Goo Dae-young (Yoon Doo-joon) prepares ramen on the stairs of the Law School. building and Lee Soo-kyung joins him. The episode was set on the roof of the building where Goo Dae-young and Lee Soo-kyung lived. Established in 2009, UOS Law School offers legal education. Other than the Juris Doctor (JD) courses, many other elective courses are taught at the Law School.

A drama that presents the struggles of Park Sae-ro-yi: “Itaewon Class”
 

“Itaewon Class” revolves around Park Sae-Ro-Yi's (Park Seo-joon) life. UOS appeared as “Gwangjin University,” where Oh Soo-a (Kwon Na-ra) took her entrance exam in the Law School Building, while Park Sae-ro-yi waited for her outside in Episode 1. They had a conversation over the bridge of the Law School.

A drama that tells the story of wealthy families in Korea: “Penthouse III”
 

“Penthouse III” tells the story of the luxury Penthouse Apartment with 100 floors and its residents’ desire to be number one. Episode 2 in Season 3 presents a scene where auditions for admission to the Seoul National University College of Music were conducted. This was shot in the Music Hall.

A film that presents the love and friendship among three energetic friends: “Twenty” 
 

“Twenty” revolves around three friends who are 20 years of age. UOS appeared as “Inseo University,” which one of the main characters attended. The Student Hallis seen in the background while the main character watches the female student he admires entering the Media Center, which is home to UOS’ media-related offices, namely The UOS Press, The UOS Times, and Jeonnong Broadcasting Station (JBS).

A drama that functions like a time machine and transports viewers to life in olden-day Korea: “Reply 1988”
 

“Reply 1988” revolves around five friends and their families living in the same neighborhood in Seoul in the late 1980s. Three mothers from the neighborhood participated in a singing competition and came to the Main Auditorium in UOS, which appeared as the Dobong-gu Office Auditorium in Episode 16. They had conversations with each other while waiting in the hallway to sing on stage. The scene also shows their memories from the past, when they auditioned for the same competition. The Main Auditorium building hosts many events throughout the year, including the commencement and graduation ceremony.

A drama that tells the story of scandals and corruption in private high schools: “Melancholia”
 

“Melancholia” is set at Asung High School, a specialized high school teaching science, which is troubled by corruption. In Episode 2, the main character Baek Seung-yoo (Lee Do-Hyun) comes to Birch Hall building to take the placement test at the school. The story begins at this point. Birch Hall was built in May 1937 and is a small auditorium building that has been used for many years now. The building was completely renovated in 2001 and transformed into a cultural space for students of UOS. It was named Birch Hall because thick birch trees surrounded the building when it opened. Birch Hall is used for exhibitions and performances all year around.

Another drama that looks closely at the lives of the Korean Elite: “SKY Castle”
 

“SKY Castle” looks closely at the lives of upper-class parents in South Korea. It centers on the lives of housewives who are determined to make their husbands more successful and raise their children to be top students. In Episode 11, the hallway on the second floor of Mirae Hall was used as a laboratory hall where Han Seo-jin (Yum Jung-ah) stumbled in shock after learning the results of the genetic tests on Kim Hye-na (Kim Bo-ra) and her husband Kang Joon-sang (Jung Joon-ho). SKY Castle was the highest rated drama in Korean cable television history at the time of its airing. 

A romantic comedy drama that tells the story of a woman who is possessed by a ghost: “Oh My Ghost”
 

“Oh My Ghost” tells the story of a girl with low self-esteem who is possessed by a seductress ghost. Na Bong-Sun (Park Bo-Young) works as an assistant chef with Kang Sun-Woo (Cho Jung-Seok), who is a star chef. UOS appeared briefly as the university that Kang Sun-woo and Lee So-hyung (Park Jung-ah) attended in Episode 10. The main characters walked around the campus together near the Architecture and Civil Engineering Building while talking to each other.

From 1980s themed dramas like “Reply 1988” to popular Netflix dramas like “Itaewon Class,” UOS has been a go-to destination for many producers. A lot of people have seen the beauty of the campus through dramas and movies. 

To give readers an incentive to explore the campus, The UOS Times organized an Instagram event. Every reader who takes a picture of themselves in front of the buildings that were written in this article will be given a chance to get some gifts from The UOS Times. To participate, pictures must be posted on Instagram stories and have @theuostimes7 tagged. On November 21st 2022, the winners will be announced on The UOS Times Instagram. Access the account via the QR code below.  

Yasin Ozdemir 
yasinozdemir@uos.ac.kr