Where Was The Handmaiden Filmed? Spectacular Medieval Locations!

There are a plethora of psychological thrillers in recent years since the genre is liked by a wide range of audiences. The Handmaiden is a South Korean thriller that touches on various aspects of medieval times while breaching topics of misogyny and homosexuality. If you enjoyed the movie, you might be curious about where was The Handmaiden filmed.

The Handmaiden is a compelling movie that presents the times of the Japanese colonization of Korea. The movie touches on various aspects of medieval society in those times. The celebrated film takes inspiration from a 2002 novel titled Fingersmith written by Sarah Waters and presents an outstanding tale of wisdom and romance.

The Handmaiden was filmed in South Korea and Japan in places that could easily portray medieval times. The creators of the movie intended to keep the authenticity of the movie, and hence chose not to create sets but to film in real locations. Even though a lot of scenes were manufactured to attain a certain cinematic effect, the movie is quite impeccable in its storytelling.

We will further explore where was The Handmaiden filmed and other aspects of the movie. We have also covered the filming locations of titles like Mystery 101 and The Horse Soldiers for people who love to travel and find new destinations to travel to.

The Handmaiden | The Servant’s Secret Mission!

Here’s the plot of the suspenseful thriller movie before we further delve into where was The Handmaiden filmed.

The Handmaiden is an interesting plot that follows the journey of a con man, a petty thief, and an heiress. The con man forces a petty thief named Sook-Hee to be the handmaiden of an heiress so that he can marry her and steal her inheritance. Soon, Sook Hee develops feelings for the heiress Hideko, and these feelings are reciprocated. However, Sook-Hee insists that Hideko must marry the con man who is pretending to be a count.

Sook-Hee then chooses to flee with Hideko’s supposed lover with all her money and then proceeds to flee from the man. The heiress is sent to the asylum by the count and her uncle. Later it is revealed that the two women had exchanged places, and plotted together to rid themselves of the men. 

What will happen to the count and Hideko’s lover? How will the heiress escape from the asylum? You will surely love the compelling movie if you are a fan of mysterious thriller storylines.

Where Was The Handmaiden Filmed? 

The Handmaiden presents a journey of wit and suppressed agony, as two women seek solace in each other and wish for freedom. We will be exploring where was The Handmaiden filmed.

However, if you already know the shooting locations of the thriller movie, you can also find filming locations of titles like Mr. And Mrs. Smith and Big Sky as well. For now, let’s take a look at all the places where The Handmaiden was filmed.

South Korea

The Handmaiden was filmed in multiple regions of South Korea. The interaction between the con man and Sook Hee was filmed in the Byeokchoji Culture Arboretum situated in the city of Paju. Similarly, the road leading to Hideko’s mansion was filmed at the Metsequioa Road in the Kyunggi province.

Other locations from South Korea that were used for filming the movie are the Pyeongchang National Forest, Sujeongdang, and other such places that added to the overall mystical and vintage aura of the movie. 

South Korea is home to a lot of historical architecture and monuments that are visually pleasing and historically significant. Some of the best monuments to visit in South Korea are Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, Cheonggyecheon Stream, Gwanghwamun Gate, and Changgyeonggung Palace. Other than monuments the country has a lot of temples, markets, and beaches that you will love to explore.

It is also undeniable that the country is home to a lot of impeccable movies. Some of the best movies filmed in South Korea are Train To Busan, Forgotten, Burning, and The Outlaws. There are also multiple famous Korean shows like Hometown Cha Cha Cha, Our Beloved Summer, and All Of Us Are Dead that were filmed in South Korea only.

Japan

Since the movie The Handmaiden is set in the Japanese colonial period, it is a given that the movie has a lot of scenes filmed in Japan as well. One of the most magnificent locations in the movie is Hideko’s mansion in which the first part of the movie is heavily filmed. The said mansion is called the Rokkaen, and the interior filming of the movie also happened in the same place.

Besides that, the scene where Hideko’s aunt hung herself was filmed in the Jungang Park of the national Sorodoko Hospital. Other scenes were filmed in Kuwana city, where Hideko’s mansion is also located. Most of the locations in the movie were picked due to their historical accuracy, as they are historical structures.

Japan has also been known for its booming filming industry and produces some impeccable movies and series. Some of the popular movies that were filmed in Japan are Bullet Train, Inception, and The Day After Tomorrow. It is also a given that Japan is famous for its exceptional anime shows like Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, Demon Slayer, and Naruto among many others.

Japan is also known for its visually pleasing sites and beautiful landscapes. If you plan to travel to Japan, you will have to plan a long getaway because the country has too much to offer. There are multiple famous cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Kawaguchi, and Nagoya that you can travel to. However, the country has much more to offer than just scenic landscapes as it’s culturally rich and the food is divine as well.

Final Words

We have compiled all the details you might need to know about where was The Handmaiden filmed. If you are interested in exploring new movies and shows, you can also find free streaming options to stream titles like Deconstructing Karen and Terror On The Prairie and many more.

We hope you enjoyed this read on where was The Handmaiden filmed. You can stay tuned with us if you want to find out more details related to your favorite movies and TV shows.