21st Century Grand Prince’s Consort filming location
Historic hanok houses in Osung Hanok Village, Wanju near Jeonju
Words and photos by Jigu Byeol Sigoljwi @joonimism
Hi, I’m Jigu Byeol Sigoljwi, a travel blogger and YouTuber who loves reading as much as traveling. Lately, I’ve been completely hooked on one drama in particular: the webtoon-based Byeon Woo-seok and IU series 21st Century Grand Prince’s Consort, which is currently topping the ratings. 🙂
While watching it, I suddenly thought, wait… why does this place look so familiar?
Then it clicked. It was the same quiet historic area I spent time exploring during my summer 2025 trip to Wanju and Jeonju in Jeonbuk, South Korea—the old-house district around Osung Hanok Village.
It stayed with me because it wasn’t just another café stop or foodie detour. This was the kind of place where the space itself becomes the reason to travel.
So seeing the Wanju Osung Hanok Village old-house area I visited—especially the most iconic spots, Soyang Gotaek and Ahwon Gotaek—get rediscovered through a hit drama felt kind of surreal.
Oh wow… even that curtain color
is exactly the same as the one in the drama. Seriously, amazing.
Soyang Gotaek was unbelievably beautiful
1. Wanju Osung Hanok Village old houses
The Soyang Gotaek and Ahwon Gotaek area
Even before the drama blew up, this place had already been selected as one of the Korea Tourism 100 must-visit destinations for Korean travelers. And honestly, it’s only going to get hotter from here. It really is that beautiful.
MBC’s Friday-Saturday drama 21st Century Grand Prince’s Consort premiered on April 10, 2026, right?
The premise alone had people talking before release: a romance set in a 21st-century constitutional monarchy in South Korea, between Seong Hee-joo, a chaebol heiress with commoner status, and Prince Ian, the king’s son. But once I actually started watching… wow, it was way more fun than I expected.
In the series, the visual identity of Prince Ian’s space—played by Byeon Woo-seok—really stands out, and the places that bring that mood to life are Soyang Gotaek and Ahwon Gotaek right here in this neighborhood.
2. The beauty of the old houses
Honestly, the setup is so striking that it almost feels like a webtoon even in live action, so I’m sure a lot of viewers ended up searching, “Where is that filming location?”
Even though it’s a real landscape, the pavilions, stone walls, wooden verandas, ponds, and layered mountain backdrop look almost unreal. On screen, it all feels even more dreamy and cinematic.
That’s why if you’re looking for the 21st Century Grand Prince’s Consort filming location, the Wanju Osung Hanok Village old-house route is hard to skip.
The area around Soyang Gotaek and Ahwon Gotaek isn’t just about seeing one pretty hanok. The whole neighborhood is more like a cultural complex, with relocated traditional hanok turned into stay spaces alongside modern museums and galleries, which is a huge part of its appeal.
Everywhere you walk, there’s another photo spot. And with galleries tucked here and there, it feels even more special.
At first, you see concrete, media art, and mirrored structures, and you almost wonder, “Wait, where are the old houses?” But once you walk farther in, bamboo forest paths and hanok begin unfolding one after another, and that contrast is what makes it so memorable.
That gap between tradition and modern design actually makes the historic homes here feel even more distinctive. If it had just been a pretty hanok, I might have snapped a few photos and left. But this place invites you to experience the space, not just look at it.
3. A village built around old houses
Another thing I loved was how naturally Soyang Gotaek and Ahwon Gotaek connect with the overall atmosphere of Osung Hanok Village.
It’s not just about the old houses. The entire village blends residential homes, hanok stays, cafés, galleries, an independent bookstore, and forest walking experiences, which is probably why it was chosen for the 2025–2026 Korea Tourism 100 list.
So if you’re planning a Jeonju-Wanju trip in Jeonbuk, South Korea, I’d really recommend walking the whole Osung Hanok Village area instead of only stopping by Soyang Gotaek or Ahwon Gotaek for a quick look.
4. A BTS pilgrimage spot
The fact that BTS visited here is still a major draw. Wanju County even created a travel route with “Wanju K-POP Healing Sanctuary” signs marking places BTS stopped by, and these old houses are one of the signature spots now getting fresh attention through the drama.
If you actually stand in front of the pine tree at #Soyang Osungje, what hits you before the celebrity connection is just how complete and beautiful the scenery feels. You instantly understand why they chose to film here.
The view toward Jongnamsan Mountain, the open stillness beneath the eaves, and even the air in the bamboo grove all come together in a way that makes it obvious why this place keeps getting chosen for dramas and editorial shoots.
It’s honestly overwhelming.
For reference, I even saw overseas BTS fans chartering buses all the way here just to take photos—completely enchanted by the beauty of Korea. I was feeling a serious wave of national pride that day too.
5. O’s Gallery
And since the drama filmed in Wanju, there’s a very high chance a café you’ll eventually spot in some later scene is O’s Gallery.
I don’t even need to over-explain this one.
It’s stunning.
As someone who travels a lot in Korea and abroad as a blogger and YouTuber, I’d say the drinks themselves don’t quite live up to the reputation of this gallery-style café, at least by my personal standards, but in terms of atmosphere alone, very few places in Korea can compete. The only ones that come to mind are Café Ulla on Ulleungdo and Ppeoldabang on Seonjaedo in Incheon.
There are seriously so many incredible places to visit in Korea, right?
I’ll keep sharing them, one by one, as diligently as I can 🙂
So if you’re looking for an atmospheric hanok spot on a trip to Jeonju and Wanju in Jeonbuk, South Korea, the Osung Hanok Village old-house area is absolutely worth setting aside time for.
Especially now, it has everything going for it: the buzz of being a 21st Century Grand Prince’s Consort filming location, the unique mood of the Wanju Osung Hanok Village old houses, and that beautiful blend of traditional and contemporary design.
If you love photogenic places, quiet destinations in Wanju, Jeonbuk, or drama filming locations, I think you’ll be really happy here.
More than just a filming site, this is the kind of place I’ll remember as being even more beautiful in person than it ever looked on screen.
Lowest Rates for Wanju Hanok Pensions | Trip.com
Written by
Jigu Byeol Sigoljwi, reading-loving travel blogger / YouTuber
Thank you.
I’ll keep uploading my travel videos on YouTube, so until next time, happy travels everyone.
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