From ‘The King’s Warden’ to ‘Salmokji,’ film locations turn into tourism hot spots in Korea

Posters for "The King's Warden," left, and "Salmokji / Courtesy of Showbox

Korea’s struggling film industry is making a strong comeback — and this time, the impact is spilling far beyond theaters. From historic exile sites to eerie reservoirs, filming locations featured in hit movies are drawing crowds and boosting local economies.

The historical drama “The King’s Warden” has emerged as one of the biggest hits in recent years. Released on Feb. 4, the film surpassed 10 million viewers in just 32 days, becoming the first Korean film in two years to reach the milestone. As of Tuesday, it had drawn more than 16.4 million viewers, securing its place as the second most-watched film of all time in Korea.

Directed by Jang Hang-jun, the film tells the story of a village leader seeking to revive his community and a young dethroned king during the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty era. Its main filming location, Cheongnyeongpo in Yeongwol County, Gangwon Province — historically associated with King Danjong’s exile — has seen a dramatic surge in visitors.

Local reports said the number of tourists increased up to eightfold during peak periods, particularly as the film’s popularity coincided with winter vacation and the March 1 holiday. Nearby historical sites such as Gwanpungheon Hall and Jangneung Royal Tomb have also benefited, turning the region into a linked tourism route.

Other local governments are also trying to capitalize on the trend. Cheonan City drew attention online by releasing a promotional video highlighting the tomb of Han Myeong-hoe, a controversial historical figure featured in the film, in a move seen as an unconventional marketing strategy.

A poster for "Salmokji" / Courtesy of Showbox

The trend is not limited to historical dramas. The horror film “Salmokji” is also fueling tourism — though in a very different way.

Produced on a relatively modest budget of 3 billion won ($2.04 million), the film surpassed its break-even point of 800,000 viewers within just seven days of release, driven by strong word-of-mouth.

The story follows a film crew that encounters a mysterious presence at a reservoir after a strange figure appears in a road-view image. The filming location, a reservoir in North Chungcheong Province, had long been known among niche communities as a “haunted spot.”

The site previously gained attention through TV shows and horror-focused online creators, but the film’s success has reignited interest. Social media posts show a surge in late-night visits, with one user sharing a map screenshot indicating around 100 vehicles heading toward the reservoir. Others posted photos of long lines of cars along nearby roads.

After a sluggish year in which the top-grossing Korean film failed to surpass 6 million viewers, the industry is off to a strong start this year. At the same time, the growing trend of film locations turning into tourist attractions is creating a mutually beneficial effect for both the film industry and regional economies.

Attention is now turning to whether more filming locations will see similar tourism booms as new releases continue throughout the year.

This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.