Seoul, South Korea’s capital city, is the administrative and economic capital of the country. It is also the main production hub of the highly valued local film industry. With the abundance of locations and immense government support, filming in South Korea has seen a major boost in recent years.
Filming Permits
For simple b-roll filming in Seoul, you do not require location permits. However, since the capital is a very busy city, it would impossible to completely shut traffic for large projects. The best approach is to film on less busy roads and on weekends when traffic is generally less.
On the other hand, certain locations such as the Skygarden and Namdaemun Gate work best on weekdays rather than on weekends.
Authorities allow filming on the subway. Also, there are local regulations for drone filming. Therefore you need to get a permit for both. You can speak to us for more information about specific locations and general queries about filming in South Korea.
Access for Foreign Journalists
Foreign journalists and their crews do not need a work permit in the country. South Korea has one of the fastest internet connections in the world, which means access to information is relatively easy.
South Korea ranks 43rd in terms of press freedom according to the World Press Freedom Index. While there is still room for improvement, the country is generally open and journalists can do their job in absolute safety.
Tax Incentive
The South Korean Government offers a cash rebate of about 25% on productions with a budget of at least $2 million shot within the country for a minimum of 10 days. You can also get up to 20% rebate if spending is less than $500,000 over the course of three days. Regional film commissions also offer cash incentives and additional support for film projects.