The civic organization Voluntary Agency Network of Korea on Nov. 12 announced its launch of Seoul Scenes, a travel platform for foreign visitors featuring shooting locations highlighted in Korean cultural content. (Screenshot of Seoul Scenes' official website)

By Hong Angie

A new travel platform customized for foreign visitors allows them to explore shooting locations shown in domestic cultural content.

Seoul Scenes features 100 major locations across the capital featured in or related to content in K-dramas, film and K-pop, as well as 95 curated walking routes.

The Voluntary Agency Network of Korea (VANK), a civic organization and cyber diplomacy network, on Nov. 12 launched the service for the convenience of international travelers in five languages: Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese and Indonesian.

Seoul Scenes uses a storytelling format to enhance the sense of immersion in the travel experience through Brian, a fictional American tourist who explores Seoul's corners like Nodeul Island, where part of the K-drama "Start-Up" was filmed.

Users can view locations marked with pins featured in K-dramas, films and K-pop on Google Maps and OpenStreetMap. Clicking on a pin provides a description of a site along with the nearest subway station exit, walking directions and estimated travel time.

The section "Why Seoul Scenes: 30 Charms" distinguishes filming locations, places associated with artists and sites used as backdrops.

The platform also offers smart navigation. Its AI Travel Guide section creates optimized routes based on a user's available time and interests, while the Walking Assistant uses real-time GPS data to track a user's location and walking speed to provide directions.

These features make it easier for first-time visitors to explore landmarks associated with their favorite entertainment content.

VANK also linked this service with Seoul Peaks, its nature exploration platform, expanding its digital tourism infrastructure to help visitors experience both natural attractions and pop culture in the capital.

"We designed the platform to allow tourists to become the protagonists on screen," VANK founder and director Park Ki-tae said. "I hope Seoul Scenes is a bridge connecting 20 million international visitors to Korea with 250 million Hallyu (Korean Wave) fans worldwide, acting as a platform for nongovernmental public diplomacy that spurs them to discover the country's true essence and inspire them to visit again."

shong9412@korea.kr