The fictional seaside town of Gongjin is stitched together from real villages around Pohang — and the city has kept the drama signboards up for visitors.
1Cheongha Market (the drama's Gongjin Market)
The village market at the center of Gongjin life — Hwa-jeong's restaurant, Nam-suk's coffee stall and the gossip benches. A squid statue and 'Gongjin Market' marker now greet visitors.
💡 Wear real shoes for the climb, and pick a clear day — the sea-and-hills panorama is the payoff.
3Wolpo Beach (Yongdu-ri)
In Yongdu-ri — the fishing hamlet many fans search for as 'Yongduri village' — this is where Hye-jin and Du-sik first meet in the lost-shoe scene, and where Du-sik surfs.
💡 These are private homes in a lived-in neighborhood — photograph from the street only. Pair with Guryongpo's Japanese-era street and its famous gwamegi (half-dried fish).
5Red Lighthouse, Seokbyeong-ri Breakwater
The red lighthouse behind many of the leads' walks and Hye-jin's early scenes with Seong-hyun.
💡 The breakwater is windy year-round — mind hats and phones.
What’s real and what was struck
Some Gongjin storefronts were temporary builds: the Bora Supermarket facade came down after filming (Pohang later added replicas nearby), and the dental clinic interior was a set — only its building exterior is real. The market, beach, boat and villages above are all genuine.
Doing Gongjin in a day
Pohang is 2.5 hours from Seoul by KTX. The spots split into a northern loop (Cheongha Market → Wolpo Beach → the hilltop boat) and a southern loop (Guryongpo village + lighthouse) — with a car or taxis you can chain both in one full day; by bus, pick one loop and do it well. Finish with gwamegi and coffee on Guryongpo’s heritage street.
Frequently asked questions
Where was Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha filmed?
Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha was filmed mainly around Pohang on Korea's southeast coast. The fictional seaside town of 'Gongjin' is stitched together from real spots there: Cheongha Market, Wolpo Beach in Yongdu-ri, Guryongpo Village and the hilltop boat at Sabang Memorial Park.
Was Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha filmed in Jeju?
No. Even though it looks like a Jeju seaside village, the drama was not filmed on Jeju Island. Almost every location is around Pohang in Gyeongsangbuk-do — the market scenes were shot at Cheongha Market, about 40 minutes from Pohang Station.
Is Gongjin a real town?
Gongjin is fictional, but it is built from real places near Pohang. The clearest 'Gongjin' spot is Cheongha Market, where many shops kept their drama signboards and a 'Gongjin Market' marker and squid statue now greet visitors.
Where is the beach where Hye-jin and Du-sik first meet?
The lost-shoe meeting scene and Du-sik's surfing were filmed at Wolpo Beach in Yongdu-ri, Cheongha-myeon — about 15 minutes from Cheongha Market and 40 minutes from Pohang Station.
Can you visit the leads' houses in Guryongpo?
Yes, but from the street only. Hye-jin's red-brick rooftop house and Du-sik's sea-facing home are private residences a minute apart in Guryongpo Village — photograph from outside and keep noise down out of respect for the people who live there.
How do you get to the filming locations from Seoul?
Take the KTX from Seoul to Pohang (about 2.5 hours), then local buses or taxis. The spots split into a northern loop (Cheongha Market, Wolpo Beach, the hilltop boat) and a southern loop (Guryongpo village and the red lighthouse) — with a car or taxis you can do both in one full day.
