Another school has been attended to our long list of dream institutions, thanks to XO, Kitty. In the Netflix To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before spin-off, Kitty Song Covey (played by Anna Cathcart) flies halfway across the world to enroll at the Korean Independent School of Seoul (K.I.S.S.), where she gets entangled in K-drama-worthy love triangles, all while set in the picturesque Korean capital—a.k.a. the dream of many.
Given that, it isn’t quite a surprise that we all got a curious thought upon viewing: Does K.I.S.S. actually exist?
Is the Korean Independent School of Seoul from "XO, Kitty" a Real School?
The quick answer? Nope.
Kitty’s Korean high school is a fictional institution crafted by the show and franchise’s creator Jenny Han. While it may just be a figment of creativity, a school with a similar name called Korean International School (K.I.S.) exists in Seoul. However, it isn’t at all related to the school depicted in the show.
Instead, the K.I.S.S. shots in XO, Kitty are actually a combination of several locations below.
The Real Filming Locations Where K.I.S.S. from "XO, Kitty" Was Filmed
Kaywon University of Art and Design
For the show’s exterior shots, the production team filmed at the Kaywon University of Art and Design in Uiwang City of the Gyeonggi Province, which is approximately 25 kilometers from Seoul. The glass buildings featured in the series were shot at the campus’ Paradise Hall, where the school houses its production studios and facilities.
Address: 66 Kaywondaehangno (Naeson-dong), Uiwang-si, Gyeonggi-do
Independence Hall of Korea
At the end of season one, the characters perform at the end-of-term talent show, where certain plot points were brought out into the open. While it was supposedly held at the K.I.S.S. auditorium, the story-unraveling scene was actually filmed at the Independence Hall of Korea in Cheonan, which is an hour away from Seoul.
Address: 1, Dongnipginyeomgwan-ro, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan-si, Chungcheongnam-do
Opening Hours: March-October 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. / November-February 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
National Library of Korea, Sejong
Even the series managed to make detention seem appealing! As a consequence of their post-curfew and alcohol-involved clubbing, the students of K.I.S.S. had to hit the books at the campus library, where their previous study sessions have also been held. In reality, the library in question is really at the National Library of Korea, Sejong, reachable with a 48-minute train ride from Seoul, and two hours away from where the cast stayed.
When asked his thoughts regarding the location, Anthony Keyvan (who played Q) was quick to get excited. “The library was so sick,” he told Netflix. “I didn’t know a book place could look like this. It was so cool.” Fun fact: The library is open for visitors, too!
Address: 48, Dasom 3-ro, Sejong-si
Opening hours: 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Monday to Friday) 9:00 to 6:00 p.m. (Saturday to Sunday)
Hey, Preview readers! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Tiktok, and Twitter to stay up to speed on all things trendy and creative. We’ll curate the most stylish feed for you!
