Where was The Potato Lab shot? Revisiting key filming locations of the latest K-drama

The Potato Lab immediately caught the drama lovers' attention, not only due to its otherworldly plot but also because of its use of actual places to build its setting. From serene forests in the middle of the mountains to massive fields of potatoes, every scene looks as if it were directly taken from the farm and not a studio set.

Knowing where it was filmed assists in linking the story to real locations in South Korea. It is astounding how actual scenery, scholarly woods, serene villages, and farmland were translated into the backdrop of this drama!

Let's delve further into where The Potato Lab was filmed and why each location matters.

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Taehwasan Academic Forest – Seoul National University

Taehwasan Academic Forest, Seoul National University, in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, is one of the main locations of The Potato Lab. It is an academic forest that has nearly 795 hectares and an altitude of 150 meters to 644 meters. It is mostly utilized for educational activities, conservation, and research purposes.

Inthe series, such a background is the imaginary "Seonnyeo Foods Potato Research Institute." Its heavily wooded area, serene trails, and university affiliations created a good setting for agri-science research and discovery-based scenes.

The forest's actual purpose for agri-study affiliations precisely serves the drama's theme, and hence, such a background is functional as well as metaphorical.

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Yangpyeong County – Mi-gyeong's home

Another significant location portrayed in The Potato Lab is Yangpyeong County in Gyeonggi Province. Scenes of the drama were shot at Cheongun-myeon and within a house in Gahyeon-ri. It is the residence of Mi-gyeong, who is among the key actors of the drama.

Yangpyeong is already renowned for its picturesque countryside, rivers, and peaceful living areas, and those natural scenes are featured in series. The scene is in harmony with the character's household and personal life, differentiated from the more academic and professional settings portrayed elsewhere in the drama.

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Gangwon Province – Potato Fields

The extensive potato fields throughout the series are strongly associated with Gangwon Province, which is renowned for highland potato production. With its temperate weather and good soil, Gangwon has been South Korea's best area for potato production for a long time.

In the series, these potato fields are not merely farm land; they are the vitality of the story, symbolizing livelihood and hardship. Trenching actual potato fields in Gangwon lends realism to The Potato Lab and provides the show's agricultural theme with a natural and credible semblance.

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Janggyeongsa Temple – Fiction or adaptation?

There is a place named Janggyeongsa Temple in The Potato Lab where Mi-gyeong's father is the chief monk. There is no adequately documented temple of the same name, however, in South Korea. This implies that either the name was fictionalized for TV or taken from an under-documented temple.

The temple scenes are still relevant, giving insight into how religion and tradition intersect with the narrative. While Janggyeongsa doesn't really exist, the ambiance of temples in Korea, tranquil and near nature, was obviously well done on screen.

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Why these locations matter

The selection of shooting locations in The Potato Lab is not random. Using real academic forests, farmlands, and lived-in homes provides depth to the story. The locations provide authenticity to the struggles and journey of the characters, placing the story within familiar Korean landscapes.

From the scholarly woods of Gwangju to Yangpyeong's farmhouses and Gangwon's plains, The Potato Lab employs actual settings to validate its science, tradition, and survival foundations. Even the temple setting, whether actual or fictional, bears witness to the richness of culture woven into the narrative.

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Returning to the filming location of The Potato Lab is a testament to the appropriateness of each location for the tone of the drama. Taehwasan Academic Forest strikes a chord with study and exploration, Yangpyeong speaks of life as a solo being, and Gangwon fields address farming adversity.

Combined, the locations provide authenticity and an extremely strong sense of place for the series. Therefore, if you were curious where The Potato Lab was shot, it was in a mix of study woods, actual potato fields, peaceful villages, and temple-like landscapes, all blended to tell the story. They are there as much as the characters are!

Also read: The Potato Lab cast and character guide: Who plays whom in the latest K-drama?