Hospital Playlist Filming Locations Worth Visiting: A Self-Guided Korea Travel Guide
Hospital Playlist (슬기로운 의사생활) was filmed primarily in Seoul and the Goyang–Ilsan area of Gyeonggi Province. This guide focuses only on locations with real travel value — places that are publicly accessible and worth visiting on their own terms.
One important note: Yulje Medical Center is a fictional hospital, not a single visitor attraction. Several hospital scenes were filmed at Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital in Seoul, while other spaces may have been filmed on sets or in restricted production areas. Knowing this helps set realistic expectations before visiting.
Drama Info
| Director | Shin Won-ho |
| Writer | Lee Woo-jung |
| Genre | Medical Drama, Slice of Life, Comedy |
| Episodes | 12 (Season 1) + 11 (Season 2) |
| Released | March 12 – May 28, 2020 (Season 1) / June 17 – September 16, 2021 (Season 2, tvN) |
| Cast | Jo Jung-suk, Yoo Yeon-seok, Jung Kyung-ho, Kim Dae-myung, Jeon Mi-do |
Spoiler-Free Synopsis
Five doctors who have been close friends since medical school in 1999 now work together at the same hospital. The drama follows their professional and personal lives across two seasons — balancing surgeries, family, relationships, and their shared bond through music. Known for its warm, unhurried pace and realistic portrayal of hospital life.
Why This Drama Is Popular Among Travelers
Hospital Playlist was consistently among the most-discussed Korean dramas during its run and drew viewers into the rhythms of everyday life in and around a Seoul hospital. The drama's filming locations are concentrated in the Gangseo-gu area of Seoul and the Goyang–Ilsan area of Gyeonggi Province, giving travelers a practical cluster of destinations that can be explored in a single day trip from central Seoul.
Filming Locations Worth Visiting
The locations below are associated with the drama and are widely listed by travel sources as filming sites.
1. Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital (이화여자대학교 서울병원)
Associated drama setting: Yulje Medical Center scenes
About this location: Listed by multiple travel sources as the hospital used for scenes in Hospital Playlist, including the emergency room entrance, the lobby, and the hospital café. According to Korea Biomedical Review, the production team used the hospital's lobby, café, patient care rooms, wards, the Healing Garden on the fourth floor, and other areas. The hospital café shown in the drama is an actual operating café inside the hospital, open to visitors as well as patients.
Region: Gangseo-gu, Seoul
Can you visit? The hospital lobby and café are accessible to the public. Clinical areas are restricted to patients and staff — do not enter patient-care spaces without a medical appointment. Plan your visit only around publicly accessible areas.
Worth visiting without a car? Yes — accessible by subway from central Seoul.
Public transport access: Use Balsan Station on Seoul Subway Line 5 or Yangcheon Hyanggyo Station on Seoul Subway Line 9 as your starting point, then continue on foot, by local bus, or by short taxi ride depending on your route. Routes and travel times may vary, so check Naver Map or Google Maps before traveling.
Best time to visit: Year-round. If visiting public areas, avoid busy hospital hours and keep your visit brief and respectful.
Self-guided tip: As this is an active hospital, please be respectful of patients, visitors, and medical staff during your visit. Keep noise low and limit photography to public areas only.
Local food tip: The Gangseo-gu and Magok area is known for casual Korean meals, cafés, and simple lunch spots. These are practical food options to consider before or after visiting public areas of the hospital.
2. Gyeongui Line Forest Park, Mapo (경의선숲길)
Associated drama setting: outdoor walking and neighborhood scenes
About this location: A linear park built along a former railway line in the Mapo-gu area of Seoul. Listed by travel sources as one of the outdoor locations associated with neighborhood walking scenes in the drama. The Gyeongui Line Forest Park — particularly the Yeomni-dong salt road (염리동 소금길) section — has attracted attention as a drama filming destination and has its own independent appeal as a pleasant urban green corridor in western Seoul.
Region: Mapo-gu, Seoul
Can you visit? Yes — the park is publicly accessible year-round.
Worth visiting without a car? Yes — easily accessible from several subway stations in the Mapo area, including Sinchon Station and Hongik University Station.
Public transport access: Use Sinchon Station or Hongik University Station on Seoul Subway Line 2 as your starting point, then walk toward the Gyeongui Line Forest Park. Routes and travel times may vary, so check Naver Map or Google Maps before traveling.
Best time to visit: Spring for cherry blossoms along the park path. The park is pleasant year-round for a casual walk.
Self-guided tip: The full park stretches several kilometers. The Yeomni-dong section near Sinchon is a good starting point. Combine with a walk through the broader Hongdae or Sinchon neighborhood area.
Local food tip: The Sinchon and Hongdae area nearby is known for casual Korean dining, street food, and a range of cafes and restaurants popular with locals and visitors alike.
3. Jinbat Guksu, Goyang (진밭국수)
Associated drama setting: noodle restaurant scenes
About this location: A traditional Korean noodle restaurant in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, listed by Creatrip and multiple travel sources as a filming location from the drama. The restaurant is described as having retained much of its original character over the years, giving it a sense of authentic older Korean eatery atmosphere. It is one of the more accessible restaurant filming locations from the drama for travelers visiting the Goyang–Ilsan area.
Region: Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi Province
Can you visit? Yes — it is an operating restaurant. Current operating hours and status may change, so check recent information before visiting.
Worth visiting without a car? Possible. Goyang is accessible from Seoul by subway (Line 3 toward Daehwa), and the restaurant is reachable by local bus or taxi from Ilsan area stations.
Public transport access: From Seoul, take subway Line 3 toward Daehwa and exit at a station in the Ilsan area. From there, take a local bus or taxi toward the restaurant. Routes and travel times may vary, so check Naver Map or Google Maps before traveling.
Best time to visit: Year-round. The restaurant is a practical add-on for travelers already visiting the Goyang area.
Self-guided tip: This is a working local restaurant, not a tourist venue. Visit respectfully and check current hours before going. It is included here as a filming location, not as a restaurant recommendation.
Local food tip: Goyang and Ilsan are known for casual Korean meals, noodle dishes, and local restaurants. These are practical food options to consider during a broader Goyang–Ilsan day trip.
Yulje Medical Center is a fictional hospital in the drama, not a single public visitor attraction. Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital was used for several hospital scenes, including public-facing areas such as the lobby and café. However, clinical areas are restricted, and visitors should not enter patient-care spaces without a medical appointment. Plan your visit only around publicly accessible areas.
How to Watch Outside Korea
Hospital Playlist is available on Netflix in many regions. Availability, subtitle languages, and audio options may vary by country. If the title does not appear immediately, try searching by both the English title and the Korean title, 슬기로운 의사생활.
Final Travel Summary
| Location | Region | Visitable? | Without a Car? | Best Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital | Gangseo-gu, Seoul | Yes (public areas) | Yes | Year-round |
| Gyeongui Line Forest Park | Mapo-gu, Seoul | Yes | Yes | Spring / Year-round |
| Jinbat Guksu | Goyang, Gyeonggi Province | Yes (check hours) | Possible | Year-round |
Hospital Playlist keeps most of its filming locations within Seoul and northern Gyeonggi Province, making it a practical drama travel option for visitors based in Seoul. The Gangseo-gu hospital and the Mapo park are both accessible by subway, while the Goyang restaurant can be added to a broader day trip north of the city.
Sources and Notes
This guide was compiled using official tourism pages, Korean travel media, and reliable drama location sources. Filming location details may vary by source, so some locations are described as "associated with" or "widely listed by travel sources" as filming sites.
- Korea Biomedical Review — Ewha hospital enjoys PR effect from medical drama Hospital Playlist — Report on Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital being featured as Yulje Medical Center
- Creatrip — Hospital Playlist: Complete List of Filming Locations — Location details including Ewha Hospital, Jinbat Guksu, and Goyang area
- Korea Travel Post — Filming Locations of Hospital Playlist — Overview of filming locations across Seoul and Gyeonggi Province
- Korea Herald — K-drama filming locations among most popular attractions — Report covering Gyeongui Line Forest Park and Hospital Playlist connection
Travel information such as restaurant hours, hospital access conditions, and public transport schedules may change. Please check Google Maps, Naver Map, and official tourism pages before visiting. The hospital is an active medical facility — please be respectful of patients and staff during your visit.
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