When the Camellia Blooms Filming Locations Worth Visiting: A Self-Guided Korea Travel Guide
When the Camellia Blooms (동백꽃 필 무렵) was filmed primarily in Guryongpo, a small fishing town on Korea's east coast in North Gyeongsang Province. This guide focuses only on locations with real travel value — places that are publicly accessible and worth visiting independent of the drama.
One important note: the drama's fictional town of "Ongsan" does not exist. The production used Guryongpo and its surrounding area to create it. The "Camellia" bar exterior and the "Crab Street" scenes were filmed on a real historic street in Guryongpo — but the bar interior was shot on a separate set, and some shop signage was added specifically for the drama.
Drama Info
| Director | Cha Yeong-hoon |
| Writer | Lim Sang-chun |
| Genre | Romantic Comedy, Thriller, Drama |
| Episodes | 40 |
| Released | September 18 – November 21, 2019 (KBS2) |
| Cast | Gong Hyo-jin, Kang Ha-neul, Kim Ji-seok, Oh Jung-se, Yeom Hye-ran |
Spoiler-Free Synopsis
Oh Dong-baek is a single mother who moves to the small seaside town of Ongsan to start over, running a bar called Camellia. Hwang Yong-sik is a local police officer who falls for her. Their story unfolds against the backdrop of close-knit small-town life — and a serial killer lurking in the background.
Why This Drama Is Popular Among Travelers
The drama turned Guryongpo into one of the most visited small towns in Korea. Unlike Seoul-based dramas, almost the entire story takes place in a compact, walkable area — meaning travelers can visit most of the key locations in a single afternoon. The Guryongpo Modern Culture and History Street, which was already a heritage destination before the drama, gained a second wave of visitors as a result of the show's success.
The area also has independent travel value beyond the drama: the street preserves Japanese colonial-era architecture from the 1920s and 30s, and Guryongpo Port remains an active fishing harbor with its own character.
Filming Locations Worth Visiting
The locations below are confirmed or well-documented filming sites. Most are within walking distance of each other in the Guryongpo area.
1. Guryongpo Modern Culture and History Street
Korean: 구룡포 근대문화역사거리
About this location: This is the central filming area for the drama's fictional town of Ongsan. The street preserves many Japanese colonial-era buildings from the 1920s and 30s, built when Guryongpo was a major fishing port during the Japanese occupation. The drama added signage and props to existing buildings for filming — including the "Camellia" bar exterior and the crab street decorations — but the street itself has genuine historical character independent of the drama. Listed by Visit Korea and other tourism sources as one of the main filming areas for the drama.
Region: Guryongpo-eup, Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province
Can you visit? Yes — the street is freely accessible. Some indoor exhibition spaces have separate hours and fees.
Worth visiting without a car? Possible, but Guryongpo is easier to reach with a rental car or taxi from Pohang city center.
Public transport access: From Seoul, take KTX to Pohang Station (approximately 2 hours). From Pohang Station, take a local bus or taxi to Guryongpo — approximately 40–50 minutes. Specific bus numbers and schedules may change, so check Naver Map or Google Maps before traveling. Routes and travel times may vary.
Best time to visit: Spring or autumn. Weekday mornings are quieter. The street looks good year-round but peak summer can be crowded.
Self-guided tip: The street is compact and walkable. Allow 1–2 hours to walk the full area, including the Guryongpo Modern History Museum at the far end. The museum is housed in a former Japanese colonial residence and is worth a short visit for its historical context.
Local food tip: Guryongpo is known for gwamegi (반건조 청어 / semi-dried herring), a local winter specialty unique to this area. The town is also known for crab dishes, fresh seafood, and morisso (모리국수), a local noodle dish. Many small restaurants and cafes line the historic street.
2. Camellia Bar Exterior (Munhwa Masil)
Korean: 까멜리아 / 문화마실
About this location: The building used as the exterior of Dong-baek's bar "Camellia" is actually Munhwa Masil (문화마실), a community cultural space operated by the city of Pohang. The production added the "Camellia" signage for filming. Inside, the space functions as an exhibition and arts venue — not a bar. Interior bar scenes in the drama were filmed on a separate set elsewhere. The building is well-documented by Visit Korea and Korean travel media as the drama's central prop location.
Region: Guryongpo Modern Culture and History Street, Pohang
Can you visit? Yes — the exterior is freely accessible as part of the street. The interior operates as a cultural space; hours and access may vary.
Worth visiting without a car? Yes — it is located on the main historic street in Guryongpo, walkable once you are in the area.
Public transport access: Same as Guryongpo Modern Culture and History Street above.
Best time to visit: Year-round. The exterior is still widely recognized by drama fans, but signage and props may change over time.
Self-guided tip: The interior of the building is a community arts space, not a replica of the drama set. Visiting the exterior for photos is the primary draw here. Check current operating hours before attempting to enter the indoor spaces, as these may change.
Local food tip: Same area as the historic street above. Gwamegi, morisso noodles, and seafood dishes are the local specialties.
3. Guryongpo Port
Korean: 구룡포항
About this location: Guryongpo's working fishing harbor, associated with the drama's harbor and waterfront scenes. The port is still an active fishing hub with a recognizable red lighthouse at the entrance. Listed by Korean travel media and Visit Korea as part of the drama's filming area. The harbor has independent travel appeal as a small, authentic east-coast fishing port.
Region: Guryongpo-eup, Pohang
Can you visit? Yes — the port and waterfront area are publicly accessible.
Worth visiting without a car? Yes — walkable from the historic street area.
Public transport access: Same as above. The port is a short walk from the main street area once in Guryongpo.
Best time to visit: Early morning, when fishing boats return. Autumn and winter for gwamegi season.
Self-guided tip: Combine with the historic street for a half-day Guryongpo itinerary. The red lighthouse at the port entrance is a known photo spot from the drama.
Local food tip: Freshly caught seafood, grilled fish, and gwamegi (best in late autumn and winter) are available near the port area.
Several elements in the drama were production additions to existing buildings — including the "Camellia" bar signage and some crab-themed street decorations. These were not permanent installations. Some remain as tourist props; others may have changed since filming. The historic street itself predates the drama and has genuine cultural value regardless of which specific props remain. Check recent visitor photos before making specific drama-prop expectations part of your plan.
Guryongpo Modern Culture and History Street (1–2 hours, including the History Museum) → Camellia exterior / Munhwa Masil → Guryongpo Port and red lighthouse → lunch with local seafood or gwamegi nearby
How to Watch Outside Korea
When the Camellia Blooms is available on streaming platforms such as Netflix in many regions. Availability, subtitle languages, and audio options may vary depending on your region. If the title does not appear immediately, try searching by both the English title and the Korean title, 동백꽃 필 무렵.
Final Travel Summary
| Location | Region | Visitable? | Without a Car? | Best Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guryongpo Modern Culture and History Street | Pohang, North Gyeongsang | Yes | Yes (once in Guryongpo) | Spring / Autumn |
| Camellia Exterior (Munhwa Masil) | Pohang, North Gyeongsang | Yes (exterior) | Yes | Year-round |
| Guryongpo Port | Pohang, North Gyeongsang | Yes | Yes | Early morning / Autumn |
All three locations are within walking distance of each other in the Guryongpo area, making this one of the more practical drama travel destinations in Korea. The main consideration for international visitors is getting to Guryongpo itself — KTX to Pohang, then local transport onward.
Sources and Notes
This guide was compiled using official tourism pages, Korean travel media, and verified drama location sources. Filming location details may vary by source, so some locations are described as "associated with" or "reported as" filming sites.
- Visit Korea — Guryongpo and When the Camellia Blooms filming locations — Official tourism coverage of the drama's Pohang locations
- Creatrip — When the Camellia Blooms filming locations — Detailed location guide including notes on set additions vs. real locations
- Travel Sketch — Guryongpo drama travel guide — Korean travel media coverage of the filming locations
Travel information such as operating hours, access conditions, and seasonal availability may change. Please check Google Maps, Naver Map, and official tourism pages before visiting.
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