This was the first setting for Hwangjiny as soon as filming started. The Paju Art Service Studio was the set for a number of Korean films including ‘Old Boy’, and has reproduced houses of the early Joseon period for Hwangjiny’s filming early on. Although visitors are unable to tour inside the studio, the art village, Haeiri, nearby is a great place to visit here.

Address: 1652-155, Beopheung-ri, Tanhyeon-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do
Contact: +82-31-1330 (Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese)
Directions: Take Subway lines 2, 6 to Habjeong Station and go out of Exit #1 -> Take bus #200 from the bus station -> Get off at the Paju Chulbandan District

Korean Folk Village

The Korean Folk Village in Yongin is the film location for both the drama and film, and is easily accessible from Seoul. This is a film location for many historical dramas and films, and visitors can tour this place along with Everland in one day. Some main assembly places and some government offices are modeled after the royal court during the Joseon period, where many events and food can be enjoyed in this traditional theme park.

Address: 107, Bori-dong, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do
Contact: +92-31-288-0000
Homepage: www.koreanfolk.co.kr (Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese)
Fees: Admission 11,000 won, Folk Village Tour + Admission: 14,000 won, All-Exclusive ticket: 16,000 won
Directions: Take Subway line 2 to Gangnam Station and go out of exit #6 → Take the 1560 bus from the bus terminal in front of the LG Mart 250 meters ahead (06:05 ~ 23:20, 40 min. intervals) → Get off at the Folk Village’s 3-Way Intersection

North Korea’s Geumgangsan Mountains

Filming took place in the middle of winter at Geumgangsan Mountains in order to shoot a scene from Hwangjiny where she is climbing the mountain on her own. Star actress Song Hye-Gyo, and more than 60 crew members made this scene come alive as it took careful planning and 3 preliminary tours to shoot. With Geumgangsan Mountains' adverse weather as the setting, the sorrowful image of Hwangjiny that was captured on film was a component inserted into the movie that was shot in an undisclosed location to the north.

(*Source: Tour to Korea)

• Hwang Jin-yi/opened on January 31, 1957/with: Do Geum-bong/written and directed by Jo Keung-ha/in black and white
• Hwang Jin-yiui ilsaeng/opened on April 29, 1961/with: Bang Su-il/directed by Yun Bong-chun/in black and white
• Hwang Jin-yiui cheotsalang/opened on April 12, 1969/with: Kim Ji-mi (also starring: Kim Jin Hyu)/directed by Jeong Jin-woo/in black and white
• Hwang Jin-yi/opened on September 18, 1986/with: Jang Mi-hie/directed by Bae Chang-ho/in colour

*Note: Excluded from the above list this past fall’s KBS-TV series with Ha Ji-won and concentrated on movies only. In the above list, the second one (Hwang Jin-yiui ilsaeng) was known as "The Life of Hwang Jin-yi" and the third movie from 1969 (Hwang Jin-yiui cheotsalang) was shown as "Hwang Jin-yi’s First Love" when they were distributed in the English-speaking world at the time.

• A large-scale production taking 4 years from production to its final release, requiring 194 days of filming, and costing ￦10,000,000,000 to produce such a film.

• It has been said that Hye Gyo has been preparing intensely to take on the role of HwangJini. She's been taking lessons on traditional etiquette, how to wear a hanbok, and also working on her figure. Her preparations are being applied to her daily routine in her daily practices to cultivate her every movement and carriage to fit harmoniously with wearing a hanbok. In addition, she is practicing walking with short steps and studying the original work of HwangJini to become fully acquainted with her character.

• Yoo Ji Tae's character (the farmer) is that of Nom Yi who lives and works in HwangJini's house taking care of various tasks and becomes the first of her two lovers.

• Ryu Seung Ryong's stars as the nobleman, Kim Hee Yul who is also becomes HwangJini's other lover. The role was tough to cast because "the character is not only a free-spirited and masculine nobleman but one who also becomes gripped by jealousy and later becomes guilt-ridden over HwangJini and Nom ee's (the lowerclassman) love affair." (*Source: hyesa.com)

• The movie is based on North Korean writer Hong Suk Joong's 2006 work.

• The producer says that Hye Gyo was chosen because of her modern Asian image and for having the strongest acting skills.