Tourist Numbers Rise at Cheongnyeongpo in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, the Film's Setting
The movie "Wanggwa Saneun Namja," which drew attention after President Lee Jaemyung watched it during the Lunar New Year holiday, has surpassed a cumulative audience of 5 million.
According to the Korean Film Council's integrated ticketing network on the 21st, "Wanggwa Saneun Namja" exceeded the milestone of 5 million cumulative viewers on the afternoon of that day. This achievement came just 18 days after its release. It reached the 5 million mark two days faster than "The King and the Clown," the first historical drama to attract 10 million moviegoers, and it is matching the pace of "Masquerade," which drew 12 million viewers.
"Wanggwa Saneun Namja" has maintained the top spot at the overall box office for nine consecutive days, including the Lunar New Year holiday period. Some viewers, unable to shake off the lingering emotions of the film, have visited Cheongnyeongpo in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, where the movie was filmed, and have been watching the film multiple times, drawing even more attention to how far its box office run will go. In fact, according to the Yeongwol Culture & Tourism Foundation on the 19th, the number of tourists who visited Cheongnyeongpo during the Lunar New Year holiday following the movie’s release was tallied at 10,641. This is more than five times the 2,006 visitors recorded during the Lunar New Year holiday last year.
"Wanggwa Saneun Namja" is set in the Joseon era and tells the story that unfolds after King Danjong, who was betrayed and dethroned by his uncle, is exiled to Cheongnyeongpo and meets the village headman Eom Heungdo. Actor Yoo Haejin plays Eom Heungdo, while actor-singer Park Jihoon plays Danjong. The film is directed by Jang Hangjun, who became widely known through appearances on various entertainment programs.
"Wanggwa Saneun Namja" has also been invited to the main competition section of the 28th Udine Far East Film Festival, which will be held in April. The Udine Far East Film Festival is held annually in the northern Italian city of Udine and is the largest film festival in Europe dedicated to introducing Asian films. Previously, films such as "The Night Owl," "Deliver Us from Evil," and "The Man Standing Next" were also invited.
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