It’s no secret that Filipinos love Korean dramas. But as much as people love them, there have also been moments where K-dramas have given that love back, or at least featured the Philippines in their plotlines. Beyond characters mentioning the country by name, the Philippines has also served as the setting and backdrop of a handful of K-drama stories. From quick cameos to entire scenes, the country has played host as a shooting destination for some major Korean drama productions over the years. Here are some of those titles whose characters found themselves in the Philippines.
Related: ICYMI, The Philippines Makes a Cameo in Jisoo’s Newest K-Drama
A Killer Paradox – Choi Woo Shik Goes Hiding in Manila
Remember a few years ago when Parasite and Our Beloved Summer star Choi Woo Shik was spotted filming something in the Philippines? It turns out that he was shooting scenes for the K-drama A Killer Paradox. The show follows Lee Tang, who goes on the run after he accidentally kills a man (who turns out to be a serial killer) and is pursued by a detective. In the eighth episode, Lee Tang goes incognito in Manila, working at a fish port in Navotas.
Big Bet – A Korean Crime Drama in the Philippines
Unlike most K-dramas, Big Bet stands out for how most of the series is set in the Philippines, specifically in Manila and the surrounding provinces. The show revolves around the comeback of an ill-fated Korean casino mogul who returns to the gambling scene in the country, aiming to be the legendary figure in Philippine gambling that he once was. Soon, though, he finds himself in the middle of a murder case that has Philippine and Korean authorities on his trail.
This series stars big names, including Choi Min-sik (Oldboy) as the protagonist with Seon Seok-koo (My Liberation Notes), Lee Dong-hwi (Reply 1988), and Heo Sung-tae (Squid Game). Also included in the cast are Filipino actors such as Bembol Roco, Ronnie Lazaro, and Epy Quizon, with the standout being theater actor Nico Antonio, who plays a Criminal Investigation and Detection Group officer helping the Korean police.
Forest – Manila Side Quest
For Filipino viewers of this K-drama from 2020, a few of the locations featured on the show proved to be a familiar sight. The series centers on Kang San-hyuk and Jung Young-jae as they are drawn to a mystical forest in the Gangwon Province of Korea that has a connection to their past. As for how the Philippines comes into the picture, episodes 19 and 20 see the lead stars travel to the country for work commitments. It is during this time that they also squeeze in a bit of sightseeing to notable spots such as Okada Manila, SM Mall of Asia, Intramuros, and the Manila Cathedral.
Boyfriend on Demand – Cebu in the Spotlight
In Jisoo’s newest K-drama, she plays Seo Mi-rae, an overworked webtoon producer who just seemingly can’t find the right match for her love life. So, when she’s offered the chance to sign up for a subscription-based dating service called Boyfriend on Demand, she takes the opportunity as she’s transported to different virtual worlds to meet different virtual boyfriends and tries to find her ideal match.
Some of those worlds just so happen to be set in the Philippines. Specifically, the show filmed multiple scenes in Cebu, from Seo Mi-rae’s Philippine vacation at Shangri-La, Mactan to the Bluewater Maribago Beach Resort, Fiddler’s Bar and Grill Cebu, and NUSTAR Resort Cebu serving as the backdrop to Mi-rae’s virtual dates.
Confidence Queen – Park Min-young in the Philippines
In this action-comedy remake of the 2018 Japanese drama Confidence Man JP, What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim star Park Min-young plays Yun Yi-rang, a woman who reinvents herself as a con artist and teams up with two other con artists to use their skills to expose criminals and corrupt individuals. But it isn’t just the trio’s schemes to bring down bad guys that Filipino viewers should watch out for in the series, as the show also shot a handful of scenes in the Philippines.
From the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Metro Manila to Clark, Pampanga, including Clark International Airport, the series spotlights multiple locations around the country and even features some Tagalog lines. Filipino actor Nico Antonio also shares a couple of scenes with Park Min-young and her co-star Joo Jong Hyuk.
The Fugitive: Plan B – Batangas Makes a Cameo
26 years ago, Korean actor and musician Rain flew to the Philippines to film for the 2010 K-drama The Fugitive: Plan B. The series centers on the adventures of private investigator Ji-woo. The production shot at the Fortune Island Acropolis in Nasugbu, Batangas, which served as the setting for a mission Ji-woo had in the Philippines.
Secret Ingredient – A Cross-Cultural Drama From Korea, Indonesia, and the Philippines
This multi-cultural culinary drama features multiple locations, characters, and ingredients across Korea, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Julia Barretto stars as Maya, a determined OFW working as a chef in Jakarta who wants to have a better life for herself. In the way is Nicholas Saputra’s Arif, the executive chef and her demanding boss. Shaking things up is the arrival of Sang Heon Lee’s Ha-Joon, a well-meaning rich kid trying to escape his past. This collision course of cultures explores how fresh perspectives can lead to forgiveness, understanding, and acceptance.
Frequently Asked Questions
K-dramas filmed partly or entirely in the Philippines include Big Bet, which is set primarily in Manila; A Killer Paradox, which shot scenes in Navotas; Forest, which filmed in Intramuros, Okada Manila, and SM Mall of Asia; Boyfriend on Demand, which shot in Cebu; Confidence Queen, which filmed in Metro Manila and Pampanga; The Fugitive: Plan B, which shot in Batangas; and Secret Ingredient, a multi-cultural drama featuring Filipino actress Julia Barretto.
Boyfriend on Demand filmed multiple scenes in Cebu, Philippines. Locations include Shangri-La Mactan, Bluewater Maribago Beach Resort, Fiddler’s Bar and Grill Cebu, and NUSTAR Resort Cebu, which serve as backdrops for lead character Seo Mi-rae’s virtual dates in the subscription-based romance series starring Jisoo.
Big Bet is a Korean crime drama set primarily in Manila and surrounding Philippine provinces. The series follows a Korean casino mogul who returns to the Philippine gambling scene and becomes entangled in a murder case involving both Korean and Philippine authorities. It stars Choi Min-sik alongside Filipino actors including Bembol Roco, Ronnie Lazaro, and Nico Antonio.
The 2020 K-drama Forest features several recognizable Philippine landmarks in its final episodes, when the lead characters travel to Manila. Locations include Okada Manila, SM Mall of Asia, Intramuros, and the Manila Cathedral, all of which appear during a work trip that doubles as a sightseeing sequence.
Confidence Queen filmed scenes at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Metro Manila and in Clark, Pampanga, including Clark International Airport. The series also features Tagalog dialogue and includes Filipino actor Nico Antonio in scenes alongside lead actress Park Min-young and co-star Joo Jong Hyuk.
