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| ▲ This photo, provided by Seoul Metropolitan City, shows Sindap Station. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ This photo, provided by Seoul Transportation Corporation, shows the abandoned platform of Sinseol-dong Station. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- There has been a notable surge in the number of films or drama series being filmed on the subway, according to data released by Seoul Transportation Corporation, branded as Seoul Metro, Friday.
The municipal-owned corporation said that a total of 216 works have been filmed at the underground transportation, which is double or triple the number that had their scenes filmed in the subway. There were only 66 works in 2020 and 86 works in 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the mega-hit drama series “Extraordinary Attorney Woo,” the subway often appeared as one of the means of commuting for the lead character Woo Young-woo, played by actress Park Eun-bin. JTBC’s “Reborn Rich,” a South Korean saga that became the country’s most-watched drama series last year starring Song Joong-ki, also had several scenes shot in the background of Sports Complex Station on Seoul Subway Line 2.
In addition, the abandoned platform of Sinseol-dong Station on Line 2 and the idle space at Yeongdeungpo Market Station on Line 5 have also been gathering the attention of directors as the background to shoot dystopian movies and televisions series owing to its uncivilized and uncolored spatial characteristics.
The two venues were built as parts of the urban railway plan in the past but are now currently left untouched with the plan either being put on hold or called off.
Sindap Station, also a station on Line 2, has a garden planted with trees and flowers next to the platform, which is perfect as the background for romance films or television series.
In order to shoot commercial films or drama series in downtown Seoul, one must submit an application to the Seoul Film Commission in advance and pay for the use of facilities. On the other hand, those who are filming for public interest can turn in applications directly on the construction website. Unauthorized filming is prohibited to avoid any inconvenience incurring to subway users.
Kim Jung-hwan, the head of public relations at the Seoul Transportation Corporation, said, “We hope that the Seoul Subway, which boasts the world’s highest-level facilities, will play a role in enhancing the city brand of Seoul with the recent boom on K-content.”
(This article is translated from Korean to English by Ha eun Lee)
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