Korea-content isn’t just a story—it’s a place.

3월 7, 2026

Korea-content isn’t just a story—it’s a place.

3월 7, 2026

Parasite: The Ultimate Filming Location Guide (2026)

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Original Title: Parasite(기생충)
Cast: Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Yeo-jeong, Choi Woo-shik, Park So-dam, Jang Hye-jin, Lee Jung-eun
Director: Bong Joon-ho
Studio: Barunson E&A / CJ Entertainment
Runtime: 132 minutes Release
Year: 2019
Awards: Palme d’Or (Cannes 2019), Academy Awards — Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best International Feature Film (2020)

If you haven’t seen Bong Joon-ho’s masterpiece Parasite (기생충), stop reading, go watch it, and then come back. For the rest of us, the image of the Kim family frantically descending the stairs of Seoul in a torrential downpour is etched into our cinematic memory. It wasn’t just a movie; it was a cultural phenomenon that swept the Oscars and introduced the world to the “semi-basement” (banjiha) lifestyle.

But here’s the thing about Parasite: the city of Seoul isn’t just a backdrop; it’s the main antagonist. The film masterfully uses the city’s vertical geography to tell a story of class warfare. The wealthy live high up on the hills with the sun and clean air, while the poor live below ground, susceptible to floods and the “smell” of the subway.

Planning a trip to Seoul? You can actually walk this vertical path yourself. From the cramped pizza shop to the pristine streets of the wealthy elite, here is your ultimate guide to the filming locations of Parasite.

The Journey: Scene-by-Scene Locations

1. Sky Pizza (Pija Sidae / 피자시대)

Before the scams and the scholars’ stones, there was pizza. This is where we first meet the Kims, struggling to make ends meet by folding boxes (badly) for a local delivery joint. In the movie, the manager scolds them for their poor workmanship, establishing their desperate economic situation.

In real life, this is a functioning pizza shop called “Sky Pizza” (incidentally, the movie name “Pizza Generation” was just a prop sign). Located in a quiet residential alley near Noryangjin Station (Line 1 & 9, Exit 6), the owner is famously friendly and actually taught the cast how to fold the boxes. The interior is plastered with photos of Director Bong and the cast. Order a cheese pizza, but maybe don’t offer to fold the boxes yourself.

2. Doijissal Supermarket (Woori Super / 우리슈퍼)

This is where the plot kicks into gear. Under a beach umbrella outside this neighborhood mart, Ki-woo receives the “scholar’s stone” and the offer to tutor the daughter of a wealthy family. It represents the hope of social mobility—a literal gift from a friend who belongs to a higher class.

The real shop is named Doijissal Supermarket (Pig Rice Supermarket). It’s a classic local “mart” typical of older Seoul neighborhoods. It’s located near Chungjeongno Station (Line 2 & 5, Exit 6). The owners have embraced the fame, keeping a photo zone with the umbrella. It’s the perfect spot to grab a snack and appreciate the retro vibe of the Ahyeon-dong area before it gets redeveloped.

3. The Village Stairs (Stairs to Ki-taek’s Neighborhood / 기택네 동네 계단)

Just around the corner from the supermarket, you’ll find these steep concrete stairs. In the film, Ki-woo is seen ascending them, dressed in a suit, literally climbing out of his poverty to enter the world of the Parks.

It’s a quick stop right next to the supermarket, but it’s visually significant. When you stand at the bottom looking up, you get a real sense of the “high vs. low” visual language Bong Joon-ho used. Please remember this is a quiet residential zone (people live right next to these stairs), so keep your voice down while you channel your inner Ki-woo.

4. Seongbuk-dong Residential Area (Path to the Park House / 성북동 주택가)

The Park mansion itself was a custom-built set (sorry, you can’t rent it on Airbnb), but the neighborhood leading up to it is very real. This is Seongbuk-dong, historically one of the wealthiest districts in Seoul, home to diplomats and chaebol families.

The scene where the Kims walk past high walls and security cameras was filmed here. The silence of these streets contrasts sharply with the noise of the Kims’ semi-basement neighborhood. To get here, head to Hansung University Station (Line 4) and take a bus (1111 or 2112), or prepare for a steep hike. The air really does feel “richer” up here.

5. The Peach Stairs (Bukahyeon-dong Stairs / 북아현동 계단)

This is the site of one of the film’s most ruthless montages. Ki-jeong walks up these stairs carrying a peach, weaponizing a fruit allergy to get the original housekeeper fired. It marks the moment the family goes from simple scammers to dangerous infiltrators.

Located near Ahyeon Station (Line 2), these stairs are part of an older neighborhood that is rapidly disappearing due to redevelopment. The slope is steep, and the tangle of power lines overhead gives it that chaotic, authentic Seoul texture. It’s a bit of a hike, so wear comfortable shoes.

6. Jahamun Tunnel (자하문터널)

This is arguably the most atmospheric location in the movie. After escaping the Park house barefoot in the rain, the three Kims run through this massive tunnel. The scene emphasizes their smallness against the concrete infrastructure and marks the beginning of their long descent back to the “lower world.”

Located near Gyeongbokgung Station (Line 3), the tunnel is safe for pedestrians to walk through on the side path. It’s moody, echoey, and perfect for a photo—though hopefully, you aren’t running away from a murder scene when you visit.

Right at the entrance of the tunnel, there is a long stone staircase. In the film, rain water cascades down these steps like a waterfall while the Kims run down them. It is a brilliant visual metaphor: water flows downhill, and poverty flows with it.

This is a favorite spot for photographers. The juxtaposition of the dark tunnel mouth and the steep stairs captures the essence of the film’s cinematography.

7. Seosomun-ro 6-gil (The Descent Path / 서소문로6길)

As the Kims get closer to home, the surroundings become grittier. This specific alleyway, located near Chungjeongno Station, features railway overpasses and industrial fencing. It serves as the transition zone between the polished world of the Parks and the submerged world of the Kims.

8. Changsin-dong Slopes (Village Flood Route / 창신동 일대)

While the interior of the flooded semi-basement was a set built in a water tank, the exterior shots of the water rushing through the alleys were filmed here in Changsin-dong. This area is famous for its incredibly steep hills and dense housing.

Access via Changsin Station (Line 6). Standing at the top of these slopes, you can easily imagine how terrifying a flash flood would be here. It’s a sobering location that highlights the precariousness of life for Seoul’s working class.

9. Orga Whole Foods Bangi-dong (올가홀푸드 방이점)

The morning after the flood, while the Kims are sleeping in a gymnasium with hundreds of displaced people, Mrs. Park is shopping for organic food for a garden party. ” The rain washed everything clean,” she says, oblivious to the destruction below.

This scene was filmed at the Orga Whole Foods in Bangi-dong, near Bangi Station (Line 5). The bright, clean, well-stocked aisles stand in stark contrast to the previous night’s chaos. It’s a real premium grocery store, so you can pop in to buy some snacks—just try not to think about the metaphorical implications of your purchase.

Travel Tips for Fans

  • Transportation: Pick up a T-Money card at any convenience store (CU, GS25) immediately upon arrival. It works for subways, buses, and even taxis.
  • Navigation: Google Maps is notoriously limited in South Korea due to security laws. You must download Naver Map or Kakao Map. They have English interfaces and give accurate walking directions, which is crucial for finding these hidden alleys.
  • Etiquette: Many of these locations (especially #1, #3, #4, #5, #9) are in residential areas. People live here. Please keep your voice down, don’t photograph into people’s windows, and be respectful.
  • Best Time to Visit: To capture the mood of the film, a cloudy day or light rain adds atmosphere (especially at Jahamun Tunnel). However, for climbing the steep stairs of Changsin-dong and Seongbuk-dong, you’ll want mild weather—Spring (April-May) or Autumn (September-October) are best.

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