My Liberation Notes Filming Locations Worth Visiting: A Self-Guided Korea Travel Guide
Drama Info
| Director | Kim Seok-yoon |
| Writer | Park Hae-young |
| Genre | Slice-of-life, Romance, Drama |
| Episodes | 16 |
| Released | April 9, 2022 (JTBC / Netflix) |
| Cast | Lee Min-ki, Kim Ji-won, Son Suk-ku, Lee El |
Spoiler-Free Synopsis
Three adult siblings — Chang-hee, Mi-jeong, and Gi-jeong — live with their parents in the fictional suburb of Sanpo, somewhere in Gyeonggi Province. Every day they make a long commute to Seoul, return to a life that feels too small, and quietly search for something they cannot quite name. When a mysterious stranger named Mr. Gu arrives to work for their father, each sibling's search takes a different direction. My Liberation Notes is a slow, quiet drama — one that is more interested in the texture of ordinary life than in dramatic plot turns.
Why This Drama Works for Travelers
My Liberation Notes is set in a fictional suburb, but several of its filming locations are real places with genuine travel value — a Buddhist temple in Paju, a luxury entertainment complex near Incheon Airport, and the quiet commuter station in Cheonan that became one of the drama's most iconic settings. The locations suit travelers who are interested in seeing a quieter, less-photographed side of Korea.
Filming Locations Worth Visiting
The locations below are associated with the drama and are real places that travelers can visit or consider adding to a Korea itinerary.
1. Yakcheonsa Temple (약천사)
About this location: A Buddhist temple on Simhaksan Mountain in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, associated with healing and reflective scenes in the drama. The temple sits within a forested hillside and is one of the quieter temple destinations within reach of Seoul. The surrounding mountain trail offers views toward the north.
Region: Paju, Gyeonggi Province
Can you visit? Yes — it is a public temple. Check current opening hours before visiting.
Worth visiting without a car? Possible by bus from Daehwa Station.
Public transport access: Take Line 3 to Daehwa Station, Exit 4. Take Bus 20-1 and get off at Simhak Elementary School stop. Walk toward Yakcheonsa. Routes and travel times may vary, so check Naver Map or Google Maps before traveling.
Best time to visit: Spring or autumn for mountain foliage.
Self-guided tip: Combine with other Paju destinations — Heyri Art Village and Imjingak are both in the same area and can be visited on the same day.
Local food tip: Paju has a number of cafes and restaurants around the Heyri and Unification Road area. Temple food (사찰음식) may be available near the temple on certain days.
2. Paradise City, Incheon (파라다이스시티)
About this location: A large art and entertainment resort complex located near Incheon International Airport, associated with the club scenes in the drama where Mr. Gu previously worked. Paradise City is a luxury complex that combines a hotel, casino, spa, art installations, and entertainment venues including the Chroma club. The resort's public areas — including its open-air art sculpture garden and lobby — are accessible to non-hotel guests and are worth exploring for their design and scale alone.
Region: Jung-gu, Incheon
Can you visit? Yes — the public areas and art installations are accessible. Individual venues within the complex have their own entry requirements.
Worth visiting without a car? Yes — accessible from Incheon International Airport. A shuttle service may be available, but operating details may change, so check the official Paradise City website before visiting.
Public transport access: From Incheon International Airport Terminal 1, check the official Paradise City website for current shuttle and transport options. Routes and travel times may vary, so check Naver Map or Google Maps before traveling.
Best time to visit: Year-round. The resort is particularly well designed for an airport layover stop.
Self-guided tip: The public art installations and exterior grounds are free to explore. The resort is a practical stop for travelers with a long layover at Incheon Airport.
Local food tip: Multiple dining options are available within the Paradise City complex, ranging from casual to fine dining. The Incheon Airport area also has a range of Korean and international restaurants.
3. Seonghwan Station Area (성환역)
About this location: A Line 1 commuter station in Cheonan, Chungcheongnam-do, associated with the recurring commute scenes where Mr. Gu waits for Mi-jeong after work. Seonghwan Station is not a major tourist attraction. It is best treated as a short drama-related stop for viewers who want to experience the quiet commuter-town atmosphere shown in the series. The station and its surrounding streets capture the ordinary, unhurried Korea that defines the drama's tone.
Region: Seonghwan-eup, Cheonan, Chungcheongnam-do
Can you visit? Yes — it is a public train station.
Worth visiting without a car? Yes — directly accessible by Line 1 from Seoul.
Public transport access: Take Line 1 (Gyeongbu Line) from Seoul toward Cheonan. Get off at Seonghwan Station. Routes and travel times may vary, so check Naver Map or Google Maps before traveling.
Best time to visit: Year-round. Late afternoon for the quiet commuter atmosphere the drama captures.
Self-guided tip: Seonghwan is best experienced as a brief stop on the way to or from Cheonan city center, rather than a standalone destination. Cheonan is known for its independence movement history and the Independence Hall of Korea nearby.
Local food tip: Cheonan is widely known for hodu-gwaja — a walnut-shaped pastry filled with sweet red bean paste, sold throughout the city. The area around the station also has many casual Korean restaurants.
How to Watch Outside Korea
My Liberation Notes is available on Netflix in selected regions. Search by both the English title and the Korean title, 나의 해방일지, if it does not appear in your local library. Availability and subtitle options may vary by country.
Final Travel Summary
| Location | Region | Visitable? | Without a Car? | Best Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yakcheonsa Temple | Paju, Gyeonggi Province | Yes | Possible | Spring / Autumn |
| Paradise City | Incheon | Yes (public areas) | Yes | Year-round |
| Seonghwan Station | Cheonan, Chungcheongnam-do | Yes | Yes | Year-round |
My Liberation Notes does not offer the kind of dramatic scenery found in more visually ambitious K-dramas. What it offers instead is something quieter — the ordinary landscapes of commuter Korea, a mountain temple on the outskirts of Seoul, and a luxury resort that feels like a world apart. For travelers who want to look beyond the obvious itinerary, this drama points toward places worth the detour.
Sources and Notes
This guide was compiled using Korean travel media, international travel platforms, and location-based travel resources. Filming location details may vary by source, so some locations are described as "associated with" or "reported as" filming locations.
- Wander with Jin — My Liberation Notes filming locations
- Paradise City — Official website
- Visit Korea — Paju travel information
- Visit Korea — Cheonan travel information
Travel information such as opening hours, admission fees, and public transport access may change. Please check Google Maps, Naver Map, and official tourism pages before visiting.
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