Local filming locations draw tons of tourists

A scenic view of Gwanghallu Garden in Namwon, North Jeolla [NAMWON CITY]

Filming locations of local films and television drama series are gaining recognition as tourist attractions.

There has been a 20 percent increase in visitors to paid tourist attractions in Namwon, North Jeolla, Namwon City revealed on Wednesday. Approximately 297,200 people visited Namwon’s paid tourist sites Gwanghallu Garden, the Namwon Aircraft & Space Observatory and Chunhyang Theme Park in 2020. That number increased to some 356,700 last year.

Gwanghallu Garden is the city’s most famous tourist spot. About 304,000 people visited in 2021, a 19 percent increase from the previous year. It was built during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) and is well-known as the filming site for historical drama shows like MBC’s “The Red Sleeve” (2021-22), KBS’s “The King’s Affection” (2021), SBS’s “Lovers of the Red Sky” (2021), MBN’s “Bossam: Steal the Fate” (2021) and tvN’s “Mr. Queen” (2020-21).

Andong, North Gyeongsang is another example of a city that has earned a reputation as a famous shooting spot. A port near Andong Lake has been used as a filming location for six historical drama series: KBS’s “Moonshine” (2021-22), “The King of Tears, Lee Bang-won” (2021-22), “The King’s Affection;” “Bossam: Steal the Fate;” and tvN’s “Secret Royal Inspector & Joy” (2021) and upcoming series “Return” (translated).

While filming for these shows, more than 1,000 crew members visited the city and Andong earned some 72 million won ($60,100) in royalties, the city said on Jan. 6.

About 100 films or television shows have been filmed in the city since 2000, including KBS’s 200-episode historical drama series “Taejo Wang Geon” (2000-02), KBS’s “Immortal Admiral Yi-Sun-sin” (2004-05), “Love in the Moonlight” (2016) and 2014 film “Kundo: Age of the Rampant,” starring actor Ha Jung-woo.

Scenes from “The King’s Affection” and “The Red Sleeve” were also filmed in Jeonju Hanok Village in North Jeolla.

Jeonju City announced last month that “The King’s Affection,” which previously ranked within the top 10 on Netflix’s global chart several times, was shot at Gyeonggijeon Shrine and Jeonju Hyanggyo, a traditional Confucian school, which are both located in Jeonju Hanok Village.

“Spots like Gyeonggijeon Shrine and Jeonju Hyanggyo are frequently-visited filming sites,” a Jeonju City official said in a statement. “The bamboo forest in Gyeonggijeon Shrine is especially popular these days among visitors as a place to take pictures.”

Historical drama series like MBC’s “Princess Hours” (2006), tvN’s “Mr. Sunshine” (2018) and the 2012 film “Masquerade,” the latter two starring actor Lee Byung-hun, were also filmed at Gyeonggijeon Shrine. The KBS drama series “Sungkyunkwan Scandal” (2010) and “Love in the Moonlight” were shot at Jeonju Hyanggyo.

BY SHIN MIN-HEE [shin.minhee@joongang.co.kr]