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"Alchemy Of Souls" and its part 2 "Alchemy Of Souls: Light And Shadow" were a huge hit. Not only because of its stellar acting and hooking plotline, but it was also because of its outstanding and multiple details. It is a fantasy romance drama set in a country that does not exist in history or on maps in which the protagonist's fates have been twisted due to magic. Lee JaeWook (as Jang Uk), Jung SoMin (as MuDeok), Go YounJung (as Jin BuYeon), Hwang MinHyun (as Seo Yul), Shin SeungHo (as the Crown Prince), OH MY GIRL’s Arin (as Jin ChoYeon), Yoo JunSang (as Park Jin), Yoo InSoo (as Park DangGu), Oh NaRa (as Kim DoJu), Jo JaeYoon (as Jin Mu), Park EunHye (as Jin HoKyung), Lee DoKyung (as Heo Yeom), and more are the lead actors.
The fantasy world of Daeho is complex and full of blessings for the eyes. Viewers fell in love with its multiple characters and the never-seen-before universe.
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If you are one of the viewers of the show, you would have noticed the beautiful sets and costumes, but did you see everything? With two articles we aim to show you all the details you might have missed and how detailed the drama is. The staff and production team really worked hard for this spectacle and it would be a shame to have missed it.
In this first part, we will focus on the filming sets and some props with highlights of what made this drama so unique, an introduction to all its places, and a little overlook at the filming locations.
This article contains spoilers.
"Alchemy of Souls", an outstanding drama with its sets
Do not underestimate the power of a pretty set. They are key points in making you feel immersed and relate to the show. Unfortunately, not every drama has the budget, the theme, and the talent to have splendid sets like in "Alchemy of Souls".
Since the drama was pure fantasy, the production team had to create everything from the start trying to give us a feeling of magic and romance with the sets. Filming sets took life with adequate props and in terms of customizing, "Alchemy of Souls" did outstanding work.
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The sets built for the show mainly were in wood colors giving this past and traditional feeling. These wood and stone buildings included elements of water (river, pond, bridge, etc), flowers, emblems (carved, flags), and lanterns.
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The use of water was romantic with the boat scenes and ponds however the use of water was also mysterious and dark with the alchemy of souls, bodies appearing from the water, and the water in the royal palace.
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As for the building, all the doors had an essential role in the dramas. They were huge with their emblems, which was one of the reasons why Jang Uk's entrances were also so majestic
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Flowers were one of the props that changed the vibe of the sets we need to highlight. Flowers bouquets, falling flower petals, ponds with lotus, or simply trees with flowers. There were all over the drama, literally e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e. The colors used in the bouquets were pink, blue, and white. We can tell you that the florist(s) did a lot of work and a good one. With more than one or two bouquets in one scene, the bouquets were also different and not re-used.
tvN (design by Kpopmap)
tvN (design by Kpopmap)
Aside from the flowers, the lanterns played a role. Not to mention all the precious jar props, swords, precious antique furniture, and much more! And we are not talking about all the other fantastical props made for the show like the relics or the entrance pass to Songrim.
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King Kong by Starship
Indoor sets of "Alchemy of Souls", an introduction
Jang Family House
Jang Family house is where Jang Uk lived with Maidservant Kim (Kim DoJu). We've mainly gotten to see his room, MuDeok/BuYeon's room, the bathroom (more scenes than one could think), and the entrance/front garden. Kim DoJu loved flowers and so the house was covered in flowers and had a welcoming feeling. It is the house of the lead character coming from a noble family, it is so big that there are several servants.
tvN (design by Kpopmap)
tvN (design by Kpopmap)
Songrim
Songrim is where mages train run by Park Jin (part 1). The set was huge with the front of the building used to have Jang Uk beaten or hold urgent gatherings, classes, a library, a huge hall where meetings or duels took place, and also restricted places such as the secret room where Naksu's dead body was laid, MuDeok's tortured and Jang Uk detained.
In part 1, this was one of the main places. It was gathering the center of all the actions so it was full of people. In part 2, the buildings were less bright, especially at Jeongjingak where they used to train. Other mages deserted because of Jang Uk.
While it used to be a place of bromance and friendly time, it became the place where Jang Uk and Seo Yul's conditions were both shown on the verge of irreversible decisions. As for the restricted places, it was used for Jang Uk's fortune.
tvN (design by Kpopmap)
tvN (design by Kpopmap)
tvN (design by Kpopmap)
tvN (design by Kpopmap)
Sejukwon
Sejukwon is the infirmary with Yeom at his head. Many characters have been visiting it for treatment; this is also where MuDeok and Jang Uk became master and pupil.
The set is full of details with medicines everywhere in pouches (like traditional medicine) but also in pretty pots of all sizes, white clothes as curtains and the beds, full of plants of different sizes, candles, etc. The inside is enough for two patients but from the outside, it looks quite small and a place perfect to find rest.
tvN (design by Kpopmap)
tvN (design by Kpopmap)
Jinyowon
Jinyowon is the Jin family house. The place appeared regularly in part 1 but much more in part 2 as it was the center of interest with the arrival of the 'new' character. We often saw Lady Jin feeding her birds or talking with her daughters or guests on a gazebo, the secret door to the relics and its inside, and BuYeon's hidden room.
tvN (design by Kpopmap)
The set was overall colorful with birds and flowers. However, Jinyowon held opposite forces.
The place where the secret relics are hidden was overly dark without nature and full of stones and fire to lighten it. We can also mention Jin BuYeon's jail-like room which was overly simple and gave this feeling of loneliness.
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Royal Palace
The royal family rest and reigns at the palace. The most commonly seen places were the main entrance square where funerals were held, the hall where the king received and gave orders but also the crown prince's room. As the crown prince was a much more important character than the king in the storyline.
The hall was very dark with candles and lanterns. The royal family seated high and the visitors couldn't access them as it is separated by the water surrounding the room. It is interesting to have chosen to include water in such a dark room. The royal emblem stood out in the decor. The rest of the palace was full of gold, the color of royalty, including the crown prince's room which is quite crowded and full of furniture. The royalty and its quarters looked nice.
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King Kong by Starship
tvN (design by Kpopmap)
tvN (design by Kpopmap)
Cheonbugwan
Cheonbugwan is an agency under the direct control of the royal family that inspects and records celestial powers. Jin Mu was at its head and used this place for bad deeds. The most attractive set of Cheonbugwan was where they project stars to observe them.
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Chwiseonlu
Chwiseonlu is the gisaeng house and drinking place the characters often meet or encounter adventures. It was probably one of the brightest interiors in the choices of colors and furniture.
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Gaema Village
Gaema Village is a dark place where crimes and dark magic live. In Korean folk traditions, there are sacred tissues displayed nearby holy places, and Gaema village streets seemed to cover in them. The village was simply built and show the status of the people living there.
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Outdoor sets of "Alchemy of Souls", an overview
The indoor sets of the drama were beautiful, but the outdoor sets were truly worth too, especially with Danhyanggok, Naksu's hometown.
Here is an overview of it. It included:
- Mountains
- Riverside
- Seaside
- Bamboo forest
- Forest
- Waterfall
- Cliff
- Hill
- Garden
- Lake
- Valley
- and more
tvN (design by Kpopmap)
tvN (design by Kpopmap)
tvN (design by Kpopmap)
tvN (design by Kpopmap)
tvN (design by Kpopmap)
About the filming sets of "Alchemy of Souls"
Looking at all these, you must be curious about where all these were filmed. Little information was disclosed but a set was built for the drama (look below) and they filmed for the drama (its 2 parts) all over the country.
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Studio Dragon and High Quality signed with the city of Mungyeong City and built a huge filming set of 31 set buildings (land area: 13,829㎡, building area: 2,581.11㎡) for 5 billion KRW (50억원) in Maseong-myeon (administrative district of Mungyeong City). The filming set can be used for 5 years by Studio Dragon and High Quality, later on, the city can use it for other dramas. There are plans to have it open to tourists too.
tvN (design by Kpopmap)
tvN (design by Kpopmap)
Mungyeong City
Along with this, the team had to work on other places, such as the door to Songrim, which was created for the drama as well as other sets.
As you may wonder about filming locations across Korea, it includes: Hantangang River in Pocheon, Dongnakdang in Gyeongju, Keimyung University in Daegu, Andong Gunja Village, Seonyudong Valley in Mungyeong, former Ssangyong Yangshui concrete factory in Mungyeong, Gasan Supia in Chilgok, Naju Image Theme Park, Mt. Seongheungsan Love Tree in Buyeo, Nong Woljeong in Hamyang, Jeju Yongmeori Haean, Baekundong Garden in Gangjin, Gweongeumseong Fortress in Seoraksan, Seyeonjeong Pavilion in Wando, and more! The cast traveled all over Korea for this drama to give us the many beautiful places on the show.
5 Filming Locations From K-Drama "Alchemy Of Souls" Starring Lee JaeWook, Jung SoMin, Hwang MinHyun, And MoreKDRAMA STORIES Jul 6, 2022
In conclusion, "Alchemy Of Souls" successfully brought his whole new universe alive with the help of its well-thoughts and detailed filming set.
Stay with us and check out all the details of the cast' costumes in the second part.
The Costuming Of "Alchemy Of Souls" - Everything You Need To Know About The Fashion On SetKDRAMA STORIES Jan 13, 2023
Let us know in the comments which filming sets you liked the most or if you noticed a detail you want to share.
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