Where Was Yi San Filmed?

The Short Answer

Yi San was primarily filmed at MBC Dramia, now known as Yongin Daejanggeum Park, in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. The park's large open-air Joseon-era sets stood in for the palace interiors and courtyards seen throughout the series. Additional exterior scenes, including royal processions, were shot at Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon, a genuine Joseon site and UNESCO World Heritage location.

Yi San, the historical drama also known as Lee San, Wind of the Palace, ran for 77 episodes on MBC from September 2007 to June 2008 and peaked above 38% ratings. Directed by Lee Byung-hoon, who also directed Dae Jang Geum, it reunited much of the same cast and crew behind that earlier hit.

Rather than filming inside Seoul's actual palaces, the production relied on a vast purpose-built studio set, with a real fortress added for exterior pageantry. Both places can be visited today.

Every Location At A Glance

Location	Where	What was filmed	Access
Yongin Daejanggeum Park (MBC Dramia)	Yongin	Main palace, court, and Joseon-era sets for most interior and many exterior scenes	Ticketed
Hwaseong Fortress	Suwon	Exterior scenes including royal processions and fortress settings	Free to see

Filming Locations Map

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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Location By Location

Most of the series was shot here, on MBC's large open-air historical set in Yongin. The main palace, court buildings, and Joseon-era streets served as stand-ins for nearly all interior scenes and many exteriors. Today the site operates as a theme park open to the public, with the historical sets preserved and popular among K-drama fans. Tickets are required for entry, and the same sets appear in numerous other sageuk dramas.

This real Joseon-era fortress in Suwon provided exterior settings for Yi San, including royal processions and fortress scenes. Unlike the studio sets, it is an authentic period site, designated a UNESCO World Heritage location. It is public space, open to visitors year-round with no studio ticketing involved, so travellers can walk the walls and gates that appear on screen at their own pace.

Where It Is Set Versus Where It Was Filmed

The story is set in the Joseon Dynasty palaces and the Seoul area, then called Hanyang, but almost none of it was filmed there. Instead, the production built its palace world at MBC's Yongin studio complex, supplemented by location work at Suwon's Hwaseong Fortress. Viewers watching for palace authenticity should note the distinction between the fictional Hanyang settings and the real Gyeonggi filming sites.

The Studio Side

The series was produced by Kim Jong-hak Production, with Jo Joo as executive producer. That company is Seoul-based and not a visitable studio facility. The practical filming home of the show was MBC Dramia, the broadcaster's open-air set in Yongin, which has since been rebranded as Yongin Daejanggeum Park and opened to the public.

Tours That Visit These Locations

For travellers who want to see the main filming site without arranging transport, a guided day trip from Seoul covers the studio park where Yi San was shot.

From Seoul: Studio Set Tour

From Seoul: Dae Jang Geum Park Historic K-Drama Set Tour

This guided excursion from Seoul includes Dae Jang Geum Park, the rebranded studio complex where Yi San's palace sets still stand. At $55, it handles the journey to Yongin and pairs well with fans of Lee Byung-hoon's dramas more broadly, since the sets served multiple productions. It has 222 reviews.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can you visit the palace where Yi San was filmed?

Yes. The main filming location, MBC Dramia in Yongin, is now Yongin Daejanggeum Park and open to the public as a theme park with historical sets. Tickets are required.

What is Yongin Daejanggeum Park?

It is the former MBC Dramia, a large open-air studio set built for historical dramas. After serving productions such as Yi San and Dae Jang Geum, it became a public theme park showcasing the Joseon-era sets.

Was any of Yi San filmed at a real historical site?

Yes. Exterior scenes, including royal processions and fortress settings, were shot at Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon, an authentic Joseon-era site and UNESCO World Heritage location.

How far are the filming locations from Seoul?

Both sites sit in Gyeonggi Province: Yongin Daejanggeum Park in Yongin and Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon. A guided tour from Seoul is one option for reaching the Yongin park.

Is Hwaseong Fortress free to visit?

The fortress is public space, open to visitors year-round. Walking its walls and gates requires no studio ticket, unlike the theme park in Yongin.

Why do the Yi San sets look like other sageuk dramas?

MBC's Yongin set was reused across numerous historical productions, so its palaces and streets appear in multiple dramas, including Dae Jang Geum, which shared Yi San's director, Lee Byung-hoon.

Yi San fans have two rewarding stops: the walkable studio sets at Yongin Daejanggeum Park, where most of the series was made, and the genuine walls of Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon. A guided day trip from Seoul makes the Yongin park straightforward, while Suwon can be explored independently any day of the year.