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Pohang Film Scout Dispatch: Cold, Wet, and Full of Rusty Dreams

@Zara Walsh2/10/2026blog
Pohang Film Scout Dispatch: Cold, Wet, and Full of Rusty Dreams

okay, so i'm in Pohang, south korea, and i just checked and it's...ridiculously cold and wet, 4.8°c but feels like you're walking through a cloud, humidity 92% - hope you like that kind of thing. i'm here scouting locations for an indie film about a welder who sees ghosts, and Pohang is giving me all the industrial grime i could ask for. the air smells like salt and burnt metal, and you hear the constant hum of machinery from the *posco plant. it's a soundscape for dystopia.


first, the posco steel plant. it's massive, with smoke stacks that look like giant fingers pointing at the sky. i heard from a local bartender that they occasionally allow film crews if you bring the right soju as a gift. someone on Yelp complained about the smell, but for a dystopian hellscape? perfect. i spent hours there, trying to frame shots with the blast furnaces glowing orange at dusk. the heat from the furnaces clashes with the cold air - visual gold.


then there's the coast. gukgangpo beach has this raw, windswept beauty. waves crashing like they're mad at the world. if you get bored, Busan's just an hour drive east, and Gyeongju's ancient temples are a short trip inland. i met a surfer who told me the best sunset is at juyeang beach, but warned: "the fog rolls in fast and eats your light, man." i checked TripAdvisor and someone mentioned that the fog creates an eerie atmosphere, which is exactly what i need for the ghost scenes. barometric pressure's high, so the humidity just sits on you like a wet blanket.


the city center is a blur of convenience stores and street food stalls. i found this alley behind pohang station with flickering neon signs - it's pure noir. a drunk guy at a bar said to be careful at night because of stray cats that gather like a gang. i think that's a bonus for my film's urban ghost elements. pro tip: shoot at blue hour, the neon bleeds into the wet pavement beautifully.


weather update: currently 4.8°c, feels like 2.77°c, pressure 1019 mb, humidity 92%. i just checked and it's...stuck like this, with no sign of clearing. my camera's fogging up constantly, so i carry silica gels - pro tip from a ghost hunter buddy who said cold spirits mess with electronics. also, lens heaters are a must.

for food, i had this bowl of haejuk at a tiny shop near the market. the ajumma grumbled at me for not using chopsticks right, but the broth was like a hug from the inside. someone told me she's been there for 30 years, and her spicy fish stew is what keeps the steel workers going. but a local food blogger warned it's cash only and the owner might kick you out if she's grumpy. Visit Korea's page lists it, but takes it with a pinch of salt. i went anyway, and the sashimi was icy fresh, despite the attitude.

i've been wandering with my anamorphic lens, capturing rain-slicked streets at night. Pohang has this gritty realism that's intoxicating. it's not glamorous, but it's honest. if you're into authentic textures, this place is a canvas. for more location ideas, check out the Korean Film Location Database, they have a whole section on industrial sites.

oh, and there's this abandoned warehouse district by the hyeongsan river. it looks post-apocalyptic, perfect for the film's climax. someone on a local forum said it's slated for demolition next year, so i need to shoot quick. i heard rumors that it's haunted by former steelworkers, but that's probably just gossip. key advice: get permission before shooting, or be ready to run.

i love how Pohang feels like a sleeping giant* - industrial, humid, with a heart that beats under the smog. it's not for everyone, but for a film scout? it's gold. so if you're coming, pack warm, bring your patience, and keep an ear out for the ghosts in the machinery.

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About the author: Zara Walsh

Loves data, hates clutter.

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