The new Netflix Korean action drama MERCY FOR NONE is set in a vivid city and is full of violent fights, dirty revenge, and high-stakes mob politics. The show is based on the popular webcomic Plaza Wars: Mercy for None by O Se-hyung and Kim Gyun-tae. So Ji-sub plays Gi-jun, a former gangster who gets involved with crime again after his brother dies. With Huh Joon-ho as mob leader Lee Ju-woon and Gong Myoung as the arrogant Gu Jun-mo, the drama is loaded with conflict between two rival syndicates: Bongsan Group and Juwoon Group.
Choi Sung-eun (Little Sister) directed Mercy for None, which was written by Yoo Ki-seong and takes place in the middle of Seoul, where two underground empires fight and betrayals end in death. The drama is based on a story, but the places where it was filmed are real, and they are a big part of what makes the show feel dark and intense.
Let’s take a better look at the place—where MERCY FOR NONE was shot.
MAIN FILMING LOCATION: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
The whole movie Mercy for None was filmed in Seoul, which is the capital of South Korea and a big entertainment hub in the country. The production began in October 2023 and went on until March 2024.
Seoul is a great place for a revenge-driven crime drama because it has a lot going on, great scenery and state-of-the-art infrastructure. The rough, noir-like tone of the show was influenced by the city’s many different neighborhoods and stark architectural differences.
AMBASSADOR SEOUL PULLMAN HOTEL – PRESS CONFERENCE VENUE
Though not a filming location for the drama itself, the Ambassador Seoul Pullman Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, served as the venue for the official production press conference. Director Choi Sung-eun expressed his excitement about working with a cast that brought dynamic storytelling opportunities to life, thanks to the “talented ingredients” at his disposal.
️ REAL PARKING LOTS AND TIGHT URBAN SPACES
Some of the most important scenes— like when Lee Jun-hyuk’s character, Gi-seok, is killed in a parking garage, were filmed in real cities around Seoul. These places, especially small—enclosed ones, were very important for filming the drama’s intense close-quarters fight scenes.
Underground garages, industrial zones, and back alleys were cleverly used to make the action feel more real and build the dramatic tension without using only studio sets.
URBAN DISTRICTS FOR OUTDOOR SCENES
The production team filmed many of the outdoor and establishing shots in various Seoul neighborhoods, each chosen to reflect the harsh and cold nature of the criminal world depicted in the series. Though the exact district names were not disclosed publicly, the show’s visual palette makes strong use of Seoul’s glass-and-concrete cityscape, elevated roads, and shadowy side streets.
The natural urban lighting, combined with the city’s architectural contrast—from modern towers to old alleyways—helped ground the drama in a recognizable yet stylized setting.
INDOOR SCENES LIKELY SHOT IN SEOUL-BASED STUDIOS
Most of the action scenes were filmed on location but some scenes that took place inside were probably filmed at production studios in Seoul. These settings gave us more control over lighting and choreography during high-stakes fights—which made the action scenes look better.
Many big movie studios are in Seoul, and Mercy for None probably used these to make mob headquarters, interrogation rooms and high-rise offices look like they were really there.
To sum up, MERCY FOR NONE does a great job of using Seoul as both a setting and a character. The architecture, atmosphere, and real-life locations of the city add to the raw tension of this revenge thriller by setting the story in a stylized but believable city.
MERCY FOR NONE OFFICIAL TRAILER:
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