Park Chan-wook’s twisting erotic thriller – a con, an heiress and a handmaiden in 1930s Korea – was filmed in South Korea and Japan, whose grand mansion and lush countryside set the film’s sumptuous world.
Where was The Handmaiden filmed?
The Handmaiden was filmed in South Korea and Japan.
Every The Handmaiden location, explained
1
The mansion – Japan
The grand estate used a mansion in Kuwana, near Nagoya, Japan.
2
The countryside – South Korea
Rural scenes used Goheung and Pyeongchang in South Korea.
3
Nagoya – the castle
Some scenes used Nagoya, Japan.
4
Colonial Korea
The story is set in Korea under Japanese rule in the 1930s.
Planning a visit
The countryside of South Korea and the towns of Japan – the film’s real settings – are beautiful, accessible destinations.
The Handmaiden Fun Facts
1
Filmed in Korea and Japan The thriller used South Korean countryside and Japanese mansions.
2
Based on a British novel It adapts Sarah Waters’s novel Fingersmith.
3
A Park Chan-wook film It came from the director of Oldboy.
4
A twisting plot The story unfolds in surprising, interlocking parts.
5
A lavish look The film is celebrated for its sumptuous design.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was The Handmaiden filmed?
In South Korea and Japan.
Is it set in Korea?
Yes – in 1930s Korea under Japanese rule.
Can you visit the locations?
Yes – the Korean and Japanese locations are accessible.
Who directed it?
Park Chan-wook.
When was it released?
2016.
