Korea boosts winter tourism through filming locations

A man fishes with a lure at the Hwacheon Sancheoneo (mountain trout) Ice Festival in Gangwon Province, Jan. 13. Seven dramas and shows produced by television stations from Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Singapore will feature various winter attractions in Korea including the winter festival through February. / Yonhap

By Chung Ah-young

Some think that winter is not the best season to travel or take a vacation. Korea, however, is becoming a popular winter destination among Southeast Asian tourists owing to its seasonal festivals, as well as picturesque snow-capped mountains, which they don't have in their countries.

To further promote winter tourism in the country, the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) plans to promote Korea as an ideal filming location for Southeast Asian TV dramas and shows.

The KTO said seven dramas and shows produced by television stations from Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Singapore will be shot here through February.

Among them is Malaysian TV series "Bimbo," which will be filmed against the backdrop of the nation's winter attractions renowned for seasonal festivals, snow and ski resorts. The star-studded series, which is set to air in mid-February, is a romantic drama revolving around a couple who takes a business trip to Korea. Eight of the series' 20 episodes will be shot in Gangwon Province, Gyeonggi Province, Seoul and Incheon International Airport on Jan. 20-28.

A Malaysian crewmember films an episode of the television series "Bimbo" at Vivaldi Park, the ski resort in Hongcheon, Gangwon Province, Wednesday. / Courtesy of KTO

"Recently, the traveling patterns in Southeast Asian countries have been shifting from groups to individuals," Chung Gi-jung, director of the Asia-Middle East division of the KTO, said.

"To appeal to individual tourists, we are using various channels, such as the Internet and social networking services, but broadcasting is still the most effective means," he said.

In particular, "Bimbo" will portray the landscapes of Vivaldi Park, the ski resort; Nami Island, which is known as the location for the "hallyu" drama "Winter Sonata"; Chuncheon in Gangwon Province; Hwacheon, Gangwon Province, the venue for Hwacheon Sancheoneo (mountain trout) Ice Festival; Pocheon Herb Island in Gyeonggi Province, which is known as the location for the Korean drama "Oh! My Venus" and the variety show "Running Man"; and N Seoul Tower and Cheonggye Stream in Seoul.

Some 140 foreign journalists and travel agents take photos of actress Lee Young-ae at Ojukheon, the filming location of "Saimdang, the Herstory" in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, last November. / Courtesy of KTO

Likewise, GMA Network from the Philippines will shoot an episode of "Biyahe ni Drew," (Drew's Travels) in Korea from Feb. 15. The popular travel show hosted by Drew Arellano will introduce renowned winter destinations in Korea, such as Gangwon Province, Gyeonggi Province and Seoul, and popular winter activities there.

"Wow Wan Wan," a Thai show hosted by Wan Wan, will also shoot an episode in February. An Indonesian entertainment show shot an episode in December near the venues for the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics; the episode will air at the end of February.

Other television dramas from Hong Kong, Singapore and Vietnam will film their winter scenes in Korea in November and December this year.

"We hope that the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics will boost the nation's winter tourism, just as hallyu has done," Chung said.

The Gyeonggi Tourism Organization has been running tourism programs for Southeast Asian tourists as part of a joint campaign with its branch in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The Gapyeong City Tour Bus connects various tourist spots, such as Petite France, a French-themed cultural village that is also known as the location for Korean TV series "My Love from the Star" starring Jun Ji-hyun and Kim Soo-hyun; the Garden of Morning Calm; and Nami Island.

The KTO also invited some 140 foreign journalists and travel agents last November as part of its efforts to attract Southeast Asian visitors, particularly to promote Gangwon Province, where the much-anticipated drama "Saimdang, the Herstory" starring Lee Young-ae and Song Seung-hun, was filmed.

The drama, set both in the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) and present times, portrays the life of the famed Joseon-era writer and artist Shin Saimdang, played by Lee.

The drama was shot in Ojukheon and Seongyojang in Gangwon Province. The foreign journalists toured the filming location and other tourist attractions, such as Gangneung, Jeongseon and Chuncheon, which are expected to get an influx of visitors after the PyeongChang Games in 2018.

"Gangwon Province is both a summer and winter gateway. I hope that this drama will help the region become one of the world's most popular tourist destinations ahead of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics," Jung Chang-soo, CEO of the KTO, said.

"Hallyu" or the Korean Wave has given the Korean tourism industry a boost in the past two decades, attracting a huge number of K-pop and K-drama fans from other countries to visit Korea to take part in various events related to their favorite stars.