Before an outdoor snap or scenery shoot: parks, heritage sites, private property and drones
- Seoul's Hangang Parks take wedding and photo shoots as ‘Recording’ (녹화) bookings: ₩26,000 for the first hour and ₩13,000 for each extra hour.
- Palaces, national parks, tourist sites and private property each set their own rules. Tell the managing body what you're shooting and with what equipment, and ask about permission first.
- Drone shoots often need separate flight approval and aerial photography permission.
Snapping a photo on your phone in the street and a photographer arriving with gear to shoot for a fee look different to whoever manages the place. Parks, heritage sites and private property in particular often have their own filming rules. Check these before you think about the photos.
Example: Seoul's Hangang Parks
Seoul's Hangang Park office (미래한강본부) runs shoots in its 11 Hangang Parks on a booking system. Wedding shoots and photo shoots such as TV home shopping, fashion shoots and magazines all need a booking.
| Category | Basis | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Recording (wedding shoots, TV recording, photo shoots, etc.) | First hour | ₩26,000 |
| Recording | Each additional hour | ₩13,000 |
| Film shoots (including commercials and music videos) | Daytime (08:00–18:00), per session | ₩130,000 |
| Film shoots | Night (18:00–08:00 next day), per session | ₩260,000 |
- Booking — On Seoul's public service reservation site (공공서비스예약), go to Facilities (공간시설) › Filming locations (녹화장소) and search for the park name. Bookings open at noon 30 days before the date and close at 14:00 on the day.
- On the day — Print the approval (booking confirmation) and hand it in at the park's information centre. Hangang Parks do not accept cash.
- Changes and cancellations — Bookings can't be changed; cancel and book again. You can cancel until the day before. If snow or rain stopped you from using your slot, you can apply within 15 days of the booked date to move it to another day within three months. There are no refunds.
- Vehicles and spots — Shoot vehicles and filming spots must be agreed with the information centre in advance. Without that, vehicles may be refused entry and the approval may be cancelled.
If you're unsure which category a paid snap shoot falls under, the filming contact at that park's information centre is the most reliable person to ask.
Palaces, national parks and tourist sites
Palaces and royal tombs, national parks and local tourist sites each have different managing bodies and different filming rules. Personal souvenir photos may be fine, while some places require advance permission and a fee for wedding or commercial shoots. Before booking, have these three things ready and ask the managing body.
- Purpose — Personal keepsake, paid snap shoot, advertising or sales
- Equipment and people — Tripods, lights, reflectors, space for outfit changes, number of crew
- Date and time — Whether events or construction are scheduled, and whether it's within opening hours
Private property and shopfronts
Pretty alleys and shopfronts are mostly someone's land and someone's business. Blocking a home's doorway or a shop entrance for long leads to complaints and can get a place closed to photography. In Kyoto's Gion district in Japan, a local council has banned photography on some private streets since 2019, and in 2024 the same council was reported to be putting up signs banning entry and warning of a ‘¥10,000 fine’. It isn't clear whether that fine has a legal basis, but follow the signs where they're posted. When travelling, look for signs first.
Shooting with scenery
- Sunset and sunrise spots — These draw crowds, so tripod space runs short. Consider weekdays or earlier times.
- Beaches and riversides — Check the tides and wind. Sand and spray are hard on both gear and clothes.
- Passers-by — If other people in the scene are large enough to be recognised, blurring them before posting is the safer choice.
Drones
Drone shoots often need separate flight approval and aerial photography permission, and much of central Seoul is a no-fly or restricted zone. You can check whether your location needs approval through the Drone One-Stop service (드론 원스톱 민원서비스) run by Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
Ask your photographer, ‘Who gets the permit for this place?’ Sometimes the photographer handles it and sometimes you book it yourself, and the fee may or may not be included in the price.
Hangang Park fees and rules are taken from the ‘Recording/filming booking’ information from Seoul's Hangang Park office (미래한강본부, hangang.seoul.go.kr), checked November 10, 2026. The Gion information is based on Japanese media reports from 2019 and 2024; check the current situation locally. For other places, confirm filming rules with each managing body.
