K-hits are turbocharging travel. Following the filming locations of movies and dramas—known as "screen tourism"—is on the rise, and the blockbuster success of the February release The King's Warden has driven a surge in trips to Yeongwol County in Gangwon.
According to the Korea Culture & Tourism Institute, after The King's Warden opened, Cheongnyeongpo—one of the film’s shooting locations—saw 84,251 visitors in March, a staggering 1,086% increase year over year. Jangneung (the Royal Tomb of King Danjong) also drew over 50,000 visitors, soaring 1,248%.
Those on-screen places, right here!
1. Cheongnyeongpo, Yeongwol-gun, Gangwon (Film The King's Warden)
Cheongnyeongpo, an unmissable setting in The King's Warden, anchors much of the film’s backdrop. It first appears when the former king (played by Park Ji-hoon), living in exile, crosses the river by raft to enter the village.
As the film went viral, crowds flocked to the area’s heritage sites—Jangneung, Gwanpungheon Pavilion, and more across Yeongwol—tracing the story’s footsteps.
2. Bunam Beach, Samcheok, Gangwon (Film Decision to Leave)
This is the real-life backdrop for the film’s haunting finale at the so-called "Ipo Sea"—Bunam Beach (Bunamhaesuyokjang) in Samcheok, Gangwon. Mist, cliffs, and crashing waves fuse to create a powerfully melancholic mood.
The film’s locations left such a deep impression that visitor numbers to the area have surged.
3. Yangpo Port, Pohang, Gyeongbuk (Drama Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha)
Pohang in North Gyeongsang Province is famous as a primary filming hub for tvN’s Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha. From Cheongha Gongjin Market—the heart of the village setting—to Sabang Memorial Park, Cheongjin Port, Yangpo Port, and even Mount Gonryun, there’s plenty to explore.
Yangpo Port, in particular, drew extra attention as the romantic backdrop for Doo-shik (Kim Seon-ho) and Hye-jin (Shin Min-a).
