A palace wall, a sunken stream, an aging electronics complex: this Seoul walk changes character almost every few blocks. For K-drama fans, Deoksugung to Euljiro connects the atmosphere of Goblin with the real building used as Geumga Plaza in Vincenzo. For architecture lovers, it shows how royal boundaries, civic buildings and commercial infrastructure share the same city center.
Allow an afternoon, including food. Jeongdong and Sewoon are not a ten-minute walk apart. This itinerary divides the journey into shorter stages along Cheonggyecheon, making the transition part of the experience rather than an inconvenient transfer.
Walking Spec: plan your afternoon
| Detail | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Route | City Hall → Jeongdong → Cheonggyecheon → Sewoon Cheonggye → Euljiro 3-ga |
| Walking distance | Approximately 3.5–4.5 km, depending on detours |
| Moving time | About 75–95 minutes; allow 4–4.5 hours overall |
| Suggested schedule | 1:00–5:30 p.m., with an early dinner |
| Terrain | Mostly level streets; stream access and shopping-center levels may involve stairs |
| Start / finish | City Hall Station, Lines 1/2 / Euljiro 3-ga Station, Lines 2/3 |
| Easier alternative | Stay at street level beside the stream and skip elevated platforms |
These are planning estimates, not a recorded GPS track. Use Naver Map or KakaoMap for current pedestrian directions; the Google Maps pins below help identify each destination.
1:00 p.m. — Deoksugung Stonewall Walk and Jeongdong
Open Deoksugung Stonewall Walk in Google Maps
Start near Deoksugung’s main entrance and follow the wall into Jeongdong. Seoul’s official Goblin location guide identifies this neighborhood’s stonewall alley with the Grim Reaper’s café scenes. That establishes the area’s filming connection; it does not mean every café now operating here appeared onscreen. [1]
The wall gives the walk its rhythm. A long horizontal surface holds your attention at pedestrian height, while tiled coping and tree branches soften the skyline. Nearby brick façades introduce a different architectural language without requiring a long journey between neighborhoods.
For a photograph, stand on the public pavement where the wall bends and let its curve recede behind your companion. Side light can emphasize the masonry, while overcast weather gives faces gentler contrast. Keep moving between shots: this is a working city sidewalk, not a closed set.
1:40 p.m. — Jeongdong Observatory, if open
Open Jeongdong Observatory in Google Maps
The observatory occupies the thirteenth floor of Seoul City Hall’s Seosomun building. From above, palace roofs become a readable arrangement of courtyards, paths and trees, framed by much larger office buildings. [2]
This is a useful architectural pause after experiencing the wall at eye level. Look for the difference between the palace’s repeated low rooflines and the vertical city around it. Neither view tells the whole story; together they explain why Jeongdong feels unusually sheltered despite its central location.
Check the city’s current visitor notice before coming, because access hours differ by day. If unavailable, spend the time outside around Jeongdong and continue the route. The walk does not depend on access to an indoor viewpoint.
2:20 p.m. — Cheonggye Plaza to Samilgyo
Open Cheonggye Plaza in Google Maps
Open Samilgyo Bridge in Google Maps
Allow roughly 15–20 minutes from the observatory area to Cheonggye Plaza, depending on crossings. Follow the stream east toward Samilgyo for another approximately 15–20 minutes.
The lower walkway creates a different relationship with traffic. Buildings remain visible above you, but the street edge is partly screened by retaining walls. Pause under a bridge and notice how shade, reflected water and the narrow opening ahead change your sense of distance.
Choose the parallel street-level pavement if stairs are unsuitable. During heavy rain or posted closures, remain above the stream. This section is a scenic connection, not an additional filming claim.
3:15 p.m. — Sewoon Cheonggye Shopping Center: Geumga Plaza
Open Sewoon Cheonggye Shopping Center in Google Maps
Continue east from Samilgyo, allowing approximately 10–15 minutes to reach the complex. Use the full destination name: Vincenzo’s Geumga Plaza is associated with Sewoon Cheonggye Shopping Center, rather than every building carrying the Sewoon name. [3]
The complex belongs to the 1960s generation of buildings combining shops and homes. Its scale is part of its screen presence: repetitive bays, deep passageways and stacked levels offer a ready-made sense of a small community within one enormous structure.
From publicly accessible areas, look at how corridors connect independent businesses. A screen drama can turn these spaces into a tightly controlled fictional world; a visit reveals deliveries, repairs and ordinary work continuing around you.
Do not make a rooftop the condition for a successful visit. Construction, management decisions and access restrictions can change which levels are available. Follow posted routes and photograph the exterior from public space if upper circulation is closed.
Scene vs. Reality: what to look for
| Screen connection | Your real-world approach |
|---|---|
| Goblin: Jeongdong stonewall area | Use the wall’s curve for a layered street portrait; do not assume a current café is the original set. |
| Vincenzo: Geumga Plaza exterior | Locate the named shopping center, then observe the building’s repeated structural rhythm. |
| The journey between them | Cheonggyecheon is the route’s architectural transition, not a claimed shared filming location. |
These are suggested photographic viewpoints, not verified camera positions from production.
4:30 p.m. — Euljiro dinner and Local Food Pairing
Open Euljiro 3-ga in Google Maps
Walk about 10–15 minutes toward Euljiro 3-ga. Industrial shops and small restaurants coexist here, so avoid blocking loading areas while looking for a café entrance.
For an adventurous shared dish, try golbaengi-muchim: sea snails dressed with vegetables and a spicy, tangy sauce, often accompanied by thin noodles. Ask whether noodles are included before ordering. “Deol maepge haejuseyo” means “Please make it less spicy,” although a prepared sauce may limit adjustments.
Bossam, sliced boiled pork with wrapping ingredients, is another option. Garlic sauces can be strong, and kimchi may still be spicy even when the pork is mild. Ask about portion size; a platter may be intended for several people.
Explore more flavors through our Korean food guides. If you are staying nearby, our Myeongdong travel guide helps connect this afternoon with another central-Seoul day. For palaces and traditional neighborhoods, continue with the Jongno guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can I walk from Deoksugung to Geumga Plaza?
Yes. Allow substantially more than ten minutes, or follow the staged stream route above with breaks.
Is this suitable in rain?
Light rain may be manageable with suitable shoes. Avoid the lower stream path during heavy rain or restrictions, and shorten the walk if conditions worsen.
Does this include Hospital Playlist filming locations?
No. This itinerary uses the documented Goblin and Vincenzo connections rather than adding an unverified association.
Sources and planning notes
Reviewed October 22, 2026. Walking estimates exclude queues and extended exhibitions. Confirm building access before departure.
1. Visit Seoul: Walking in the Footsteps of Goblin, Part II
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