Forget steel mills and industrial ports—Pohang now offers a K-Drama battleground, and I'm here to tell you exactly which iconic filming location is worth your precious travel time.
Most people, if they think of Pohang at all, think of steel. The massive POSCO plant on the skyline, the industrial port… it’s not exactly a tourism brochure. But that's the old story. The real reason you make the trip down the east coast these days is for a K-Drama civil war. Two of the biggest shows in recent memory, Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha and When the Camellia Blooms, were filmed right here, turning sleepy seaside neighborhoods into pilgrimage sites. The question I get all the time is which one to visit.
They’re both in Pohang, sure, but they are not the same trip. Not even close. One is a quiet, heartwarming hug; the other is a dramatic, sweeping romance with a shot of thriller. So, which one is actually worth the bus ride from the KTX station? Let's settle it.
Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha
- 📍Cheongha Market Area, Buk-gu
- 🚇Pohang KTX Station, then local bus
- 💰Free to explore
- 💡Best for: Cozy, small-town escapism
When the Camellia Blooms
- 📍Guryongpo Japanese House Street, Nam-gu
- 🚇Pohang KTX Station, then local bus
- 💰Free to explore
- 💡Best for: Dramatic photo ops & history
Round 1: The Vibe – Which Feels More "Real"?
This is where the two diverge immediately. The fictional town of Gongjin from Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha was filmed primarily around Cheongha Market. It feels… quiet. It’s a real, functioning, slightly sleepy market town. You can see the storefronts from the show—Bora Super, Gongjin Chinese Restaurant, Cheongho Ironware—and they’re all there, preserved but still part of a living neighborhood. It’s the kind of place where you can imagine Chief Hong actually riding his surfboard down the coast. The air smells like salt and drying fish.
The fictional Ongsan from When the Camellia Blooms, filmed in the Guryongpo Japanese House Street, feels more like a movie set, because it kind of is. This area was built by Japanese fishermen during the colonial period, and the wooden architecture is incredibly well-preserved. It’s beautiful, historic, and undeniably dramatic. But it also feels more curated. You’re walking through history, which is amazing, but it doesn’t feel like a place you could just move into tomorrow. It feels like a museum, albeit a stunningly beautiful one with a killer sea view.
Winner: Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha. It’s not as grand, but it feels authentic. You walk around Cheongha Market and for a second, you forget you’re on a film set and just feel like you’re in a quiet seaside village. That’s a special kind of magic.
Round 2: The Photo Ops – Where's the "One" Shot?
Every K-Drama pilgrimage needs that one iconic photo. In the Gongjin/Cheongha area, you’ve got a few solid contenders. There's the squid statue in the market, the exterior of Yoon Dental Clinic, and of course, the boat on the hill at Sabang Memorial Park. They’re all great for fans, but they’re scattered and require a bit of walking (or driving) to piece together.
Guryongpo, on the other hand, has the shot. It’s the steep stone staircase that Dongbaek ran up and down a hundred times, with the whole colorful port town spread out behind her. It’s one of the best K-Drama photo spots in the entire country, period. Standing at the top, looking down at the fishing boats with the sea breeze hitting you, it’s a genuinely breathtaking moment. The entire Japanese House Street is ridiculously photogenic, with its dark wood and narrow alleys. You can also visit Camellia, Dongbaek’s bar, which has been turned into a cafe called Dongbaek Bookstore. You have to buy something to go in, but it’s worth it to sit where it all happened.
Winner: When the Camellia Blooms. It’s not even a fair fight. That staircase view is worth the trip to Pohang by itself.
Round 3: Beyond the Drama – What Else is There to Do?
Once you’ve taken your photos at Cheongha Market, the options are a bit limited. It's a small area, and the main activity is soaking in the atmosphere. You can grab a coffee at Hannaje Coffee & Dalbame Beer, another filming spot, but the main draw is the drama itself. It’s a perfect half-day trip dedicated purely to fandom.
Guryongpo, however, has layers. The Japanese House Street is an attraction in its own right, with a small history museum explaining the area’s past. The port is bustling and real. And the food scene is better. I walked about 10 minutes from the main street to a place called Haeilhyang (해일향). It’s got a huge ocean view from the second floor, and they serve an incredible abalone stone pot rice (전복솥밥) that comes out sizzling. It’s packed with seafood and feels like a proper reward for your journey.
It seems like Pohang is really leaning into its food culture lately. They’ve even started a program with "gastronomy commentators" (미식해설사), the first of its kind in Korea, to give tourists a deeper story behind the local food. It’s a sign that the city knows it has more to offer than just steel and drama sets.
Winner: When the Camellia blooms. Guryongpo gives you a full day out: drama, history, and a fantastic meal with a view.
The K-Pop Wildcard No One Talks About
Okay, so this isn’t about the dramas, but it’s a Pohang secret I have to share. If you head north of the city center to the Seolmeori Mulhoe District, there’s a massive, whimsical cafe called O'Bremen (오브레멘). It’s inspired by the "Town Musicians of Bremen" fairy tale and is completely over the top—there's a literal carousel on the first floor. It’s huge, has great sea views, and feels like a theme park.
Why am I telling you this? Because a little group called TWICE filmed a music video here. The staff are a bit coy about the details, but the fans know. It has zero to do with Gongjin or Ongsan, but it makes Pohang a sneaky K-Pop destination too. And honestly, after a day of walking around old markets, a ridiculously fancy cake in a cafe with a carousel is a pretty great change of pace. (Pohang also hosted a big B-Boy festival last year, so the city's got more of a creative streak than you'd think.)
The Verdict: Which Pohang Should You Visit?
This isn't a hard call for me. If you only have time for one, you go to Guryongpo for When the Camellia Blooms. The scenery is more dramatic, the photo opportunities are world-class, and it offers a richer experience with its unique history and better food options. It just feels more like a destination.
The Korea Tourism Organization even included Pohang in its "51 Hallyu Representative Courses" under the "Romantic Comedy" theme, and Guryongpo is the crown jewel of that experience. It delivers on the romance and the comedy, and then some.
Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha’s Cheongha Market is lovely, pure, and a must-see for die-hard fans of the show. If you value quiet authenticity over grand visuals, you will adore it. But for a general visitor looking for the best overall day trip in Pohang, Ongsan beats Gongjin.
My Two Cents
I picked Camellia as the winner, but don't sleep on the Cha-Cha-Cha trip if you're a certain type of person. If you're feeling burnt out by Seoul and just want a day of genuine peace, Cheongha is your therapy. There are no huge crowds, no pressure. You can just wander, eat a simple meal, and feel the quiet rhythm of a real seaside town. It's less of a tourist attraction and more of a deep breath.