“Pachinko” is an American drama television series developed by Soo Hugh. It is based on Min Jin Lee’s 2017 novel. The show is directed by Kogonada and Justin Chon. The first season premiered on Apple TV+ on March 25, 2022. It was favorably received, particularly for its photography, narrative, and performances. The second season is slated to premiere on August 23, 2024. The show tells the story of a Korean immigrant family and their journey across four generations. It shows their struggles and dreams as they leave their homeland to survive and succeed.
Where was “Pachinko” Filmed?
Pachinko was mostly filmed in South Korea and Canada. In South Korea, the filming took place in cities like Busan, Andong, and Mokpo. In Canada, filming happened in British Columbia. The South Korean filming likely started in late 2020 and finished in early 2021 in British Columbia. Let’s explore these filming locations in detail.
Busan, South Korea
Haeundae Beach and Other Locations: Most of ‘Pachinko’ was filmed in Busan, a large port city in South Korea. Many scenes from the first season were shot at Haeundae Beach. Busan is famous for its beautiful beaches, mountains, hot springs, and nature reserves.
The city contains numerous sites, including the Beomeosa Buddhist shrine, Nampo-dong, Taejongdae, Gamcheon Cultural Village, and Cheonseongjinseong Fortress. Busan is well recognized for hosting the Busan International Film Festival each autumn. The city also appeared in the popular film ‘Black Panther.’
Andong, South Korea
Hahoe Folk Village: Some parts of ‘Pachinko’ were filmed in Andong, which is the capital of North Gyeongsang Province. The production took place at Hahoe Folk Village, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This village has traditional Joseon Dynasty architecture and is an important part of Korean heritage.
Andong is known for the Nakdong River, the Municipal Folk Museum, Seonseonghyun Cultural Heritage Complex, Gyemyeongsan Recreation Forest, and Bongjeongsa Buddhist temple.
Mokpo, South Korea
National Maritime Museum and Fishing Festival: Important scenes were filmed in Mokpo, a city at the southwestern tip of the Korean Peninsula. Mokpo was an important business and transport hub during the Japanese Occupation. The city has the National Maritime Museum, which displays Korean naval and shipping history. Mokpo also hosts the Largehead Hairtail fishing festival every October around Yeongsan Lake, attracting many tourists.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Vancouver, a seaport city in British Columbia, is another filming location for ‘Pachinko.’ Known as “Hollywood North,” Vancouver is popular for filming because of its beautiful landscape surrounded by mountains, trained actors and crew, and tax rebates on filming.
Vancouver has been the location for movies like ‘Honey Girls,’ ‘The Adam Project,’ ‘Rescued by Ruby,’ and ‘Deadpool 2.’ The city is also a hub for art, culture, music, and theater. Important landmarks include the Orpheum Theater, Vancouver Art Gallery, and the Museum of Anthropology.
Coquitlam, British Columbia
Riverview Hospital: Coquitlam, a city in British Columbia, was also used to film ‘Pachinko.’ The Riverview Hospital, a former mental health facility, served as the setting for several sequences. Coquitlam is well-known for its green places, such as Pinecone Burke Provincial Park and Como Lake Park, as well as theaters and art galleries. ‘The Flash,’ ‘The Good Doctor,’ and ‘Arrow’ were all filmed here.
Surrey, British Columbia
Surrey Film City: Surrey is another filming site for ‘Pachinko.’ The majority of the first season was filmed in Surrey Film City, a massive film studio complex. The studios’ backlot area was used for outside sequences. Surrey has hosted numerous productions, including the film ‘The Unforgivable’ and television shows ‘Riverdale,’ ‘The Stand,’ and ‘Altered Carbon.’ The Museum of Surrey, Surrey Municipal Hall, and Heritage Square are all must-see sights.
Richmond, British Columbia
Golden Village District and Britannia Shipyards: Richmond is a coastal city known for its Asian cultural influences. Important filming locations in Richmond include the Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site and the village of Steveston. Steveston’s early 1900s style architecture has been featured in movies like ‘The Twilight Saga: Eclipse’ and TV shows like ‘Chesapeake Shores,’ ‘Bates Motel,’ and ‘Once Upon a Time.’
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Pachinko
Q: Where was “Pachinko” filmed?
A: “Pachinko” was filmed in several places in South Korea and Canada. Busan, noted for its Haeundae Beach and other metropolitan attractions, Andong, with its UNESCO World Heritage Site Hahoe Folk Village, and Mokpo, home to the National Maritime Museum and the Largehead Hairtail fishing festival, are also popular filming locations in South Korea. Significant filming in Canada occurred in Vancouver, a city known for its magnificent scenery and film studios, as well as Coquitlam, where sequences were shot at the Riverview Hospital. Surrey, with its Surrey Film City, and Richmond, with the Britannia Shipyards and the village of Steveston, were also popular filming locations.
Q: When was “Pachinko” filmed?
A: The filming of “Pachinko” for its first season began in late 2020 and continued into early 2021. The production wrapped up in April 2021. The filming process involved capturing scenes across various locations to bring the series’ story to life.
Q: When was the first season of “Pachinko” released?
A: The first season of “Pachinko” premiered on Apple TV+ on March 25, 2022.
Q: When is the second season of “Pachinko” coming out?
The second season of “Pachinko” is scheduled to be released on August 23, 2024. Fans of the series can look forward to the continuation of the saga and new developments in the story of the Korean immigrant family.
Q: Where can I watch “Pachinko”?
A: “Pachinko” is available for streaming on Apple TV+. The first season can be watched starting from March 25, 2022, and the upcoming second season will also be available on the same platform upon its release on August 23, 2024.
