K-Pop truly travels the world for their music videos, giving us fans the opportunity to visit some of these memorable places associated with our favorite songs. I’ve had the pleasure to visit many music video locations, such as these.
The Neon Museum
MVs: Tonight by Big Bang
The Neon Museum is located in Las Vegas, Nevada and houses many historical and vintage neon signs from hotels and resorts. While Big Bang traverses a lot of Vegas in their music video for Tonight, The Neon Museum can be seen throughout. A good shot of the museum in the video can be found at 0:19. I visited the museum back in 2022 with my brother and it is a cool place full of Vegas history that I would recommend seeing at night if possible.
Universal Studios Hollywood
MVs: Seven by Jungkook, Flower by Jisoo
Universal Studios Hollywood is not solely a theme park, but also a working studio that you can tour as a theme park guest. Not only are many films and TV shows filmed on premises, but also music videos including Seven by Jungkook. Specifically the scenes on the street were filmed at the studio, such as the Thursday scenes at the very end of the video. Thankfully visiting the shooting locations is somewhat easy since you can take the Tram Tour as a theme park guest, although depending on what is happening on the sets you may simply drive past and that is it.
Grand Central Market
MVs: Icy by Itzy
Icy by Itzy filmed all around Los Angeles, including The United Theatre in Downtown LA and Rae’s Restaurant in Santa Monica. The specific location that I have visited is Grand Central Market, which is seen in the thumbnail above and the dance break. It is mostly filled with a variety of different eateries, acting like a big food court. I’ve wandered around and grabbed lunch from here before, and it’s definitely not as cool looking as the video makes it seem, but seeing matching neon signs was kind of cool.
Los Angeles Theatre
MVs: Black Swan by BTS, Do It Like This by P1Harmony, 2U by Kang Daniel
The Los Angeles Theatre has been the home of numerous K-Pop music videos, with the most iconic being Black Swan by BTS. The entire video is shot around this gorgeous former movie house, including in the bathroom. Visiting the Los Angeles Theatre is actually rather difficult, at least if you want to go inside and see the actual places they filmed. You have to participate in an official tour, which I was able to do through the Los Angeles Conservancy during a special event bein held in this theatre specifically. There was also a group of ARMY that was able to host a self-guided event in the theatre at one point. While difficult to visit, the theatre is gorgeous and was a really wonderful experience to see in person and stand where BTS stood and P1Harmony danced.
Four Aces Movie Ranch
MVs: Ice Cream Cake by Red Velvet, Dumdi Dumdi by (G)I-DLE, Work by Ateez, Telephone by Lady Gaga
Four Acres Movie Ranch is another spot that many music videos have filmed at, both in K-Pop and beyond (Telephone by Lady Gaga for example). Most recently, Work by Ateez filmed a few scenes at the Ranch, which is specifically existing to be a filming location. 0:53 is a clear shot of them there and 1:52 shows the iconic sign. As for visiting, it is free to go to the Ranch but if there is any filming occurring, you won’t be able to see it obviously. It is also in the middle of nowhere in the desert outside of Palmdale, CA so you will need a car to drive there, and if a shoot is happening you are out of luck that day.
Red Rock Canyon State Park
MVs: Highway to Heaven by NCT 127
This is hands down the most visited location I have been to on this list because I drive through Red Rock Canyon super frequently. Any time I head towards Los Angeles, I am driving through Red Rock, so I can’t even specify a single significant instance that I visited where NCT 127 filmed Highway to Heaven. Anytime you see the towering, red-colored cliffs in the music video, that is Red Rock Canyon.
Times Square
GMVs: Good Girl by Candy Shop
Times Square is a well documented location throughout entertainment. When it comes to K-Pop, Candy Shop’s debut was filmed there, both in the center of the iconic billboards and in shops located there as well, specifically the candy store IT’SUGAR Times Square. I’ve visited New York City twice and both trips had a visit to Times Square.
Fremont Street
MVs: Hurricane by B.A.P
Fremont Street is a historical street in downtown Las Vegas that has it’s own set of iconic hotels and experiences. A section of the street is for pedestrians only, and that is where B.A.P filmed some scenes of their music video for Hurricane. The hotel they are located at in the thumbnail is on Fremont Street for example. They shot all around Las Vegas, including the iconic Strip and specifically on the over-road walkways that connect hotels and casinos. I’ve been a frequent visitor of Vegas as I’ve had family there, but I specifically visited Fremont Street in 2015 with my brother.
The Ribbon of Light Bridge
MVs: I’ll Be There by Jin
Having been a frequent visitor of Los Angeles almost always by my own driving means I have driven over many an interesting bridge, including the Ribbon of Light Bridge that is the background of Jin’s I’ll Be There music video. Similar to Red Rock Canyon, I don’t have a specific instance of visiting this location, having largely just driven over it on my way around LA.
Have you visited any interesting music video locations before? Tell me about it with a comment below!
Of these places… I’ve been to Fremont Street 😀