Our Unwritten Seoul: Review & Where It Was Filmed
Short version: Our Unwritten Seoul (미지의 서울) has no fantasy premise and no big spectacle — just twin sisters trading lives, and a set of worries so ordinary that you will recognise your own. Park Bo-young plays both. If you are tired, start here. Spoiler-free.
📌 What it is
Identical twins in their thirties have ended up living opposite lives: one grinding through Seoul in a job that is eating her, the other stuck in their small hometown doing manual work. They swap places — and both discover the other's life is not the escape they imagined. Twelve episodes, tvN and Netflix, 2025, starring Park Bo-young in a dual role alongside Park Jin-young.
💬 My honest take
About three episodes in, I understood why everyone kept recommending this one. There is no flashy hook here. What it has instead is a set of very real anxieties — jobs, relationships, family duty, the quiet fear that the future is not going to work out — handled so precisely that I kept thinking "hang on, this is my story".
Park Bo-young's dual performance is the technical highlight. She switches between the two sisters so completely that you stop noticing it is one actor: the posture changes, the voice changes, the way each of them occupies a room changes. Genuinely impressive.
And the strange thing is the pacing. It moves gently — nothing explodes — and yet I always wanted the next episode straight away. You end up rooting for the sisters the way you root for a friend who is having a hard year.
If your own energy is a bit low right now, this is a drama that quietly puts an arm around you. I finished it feeling better than when I started, which is not something I can say about most shows.
✅ Watch it if…
- You want a drama about real life: work, family, money, burnout.
- You appreciate great acting more than a great premise.
- You want healing without saccharine — this one earns its warmth.
- You only have twelve episodes' worth of time.
⚠️ Maybe skip it if…
- You want thrills, twists or a high-concept hook.
- Family-obligation storylines wear you out.
- You prefer plot to character; here, character is the plot.
🌿 Planning your own Seoul reset?
🏨 Compare Seoul Hotels by Neighbourhood →📶 Korea eSIM — Online the Moment You Land →📍 Where it was filmed
🌾 "Duson-ri" · Mungyeong and Damyang
The sisters' hometown is fictional. The countryside scenes were filmed mainly around Mungyeong in North Gyeongsang province and Damyang in South Jeolla — the latter also home to the famous Juknokwon bamboo forest, which makes it a reasonable detour if you are travelling south.
🌉 Dongjak Bridge · Seoul
One of the Han River bridges with a walkway and an observation deck over the water. Free, open at all hours, and the sunset view is exactly why the crew chose it.
🏭 Seongsu-dong & Mullae · Seoul
Two old industrial districts turned into Seoul's most interesting café and studio neighbourhoods — Seongsu for concept stores and roasteries, Mullae for ironworks-turned-galleries. Both appear in the Seoul half of the story, and both are worth an afternoon regardless. See our Seoul attractions guide.
🛸 Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP)
The silver Zaha Hadid building shows up too. Free to walk around, spectacular at night, and next door to the Dongdaemun night market.
📌 Because the village is a composite of two provinces, there is no single "Duson-ri" to visit. The Seoul locations are the practical ones for most travellers — you can do the bridge, Seongsu and DDP in one long day.
🔁 If you liked it, watch next
- Hospital Playlist — the other great comfort drama. Our review.
- When Life Gives You Tangerines — a whole life, told on Jeju.
- Our Beloved Summer — gentle, funny, beautifully shot. Our review.
- The full list: 15 best Korean dramas on Netflix.
❓ FAQ
How many episodes is Our Unwritten Seoul?
Twelve, released in 2025 on tvN with international streaming on Netflix.
Does Park Bo-young really play both twins?
Yes — a dual role, with the sisters sharing scenes. It is the main reason critics singled out her performance.
Is it a body-swap fantasy?
No supernatural element. The sisters simply agree to trade places, which is what keeps the story grounded.
Is it sad?
It has hard moments, but the overall direction is hopeful. This is a healing drama, not a melodrama.
Do I need to know Korean work culture to follow it?
No, though the office scenes will land harder if you have ever worked in one. The emotions are universal.
🎒 Ready to plan the trip it makes you want?
🚄 Korea Tours, Trains & Tickets →🛡️ Travel Insurance for Korea →The 💬 My take section is a personal opinion, not a sponsored review. Filming locations were confirmed from Korean coverage as of July 2026 and may include private property — please visit respectfully.