[Culture&] 'The King’s Affection' Surges Tourist Numbers by 5 Times...Emergency Safety Inspection at Cheongryeongpo

The movie 'The King’s Affection' (hereafter referred to as 'The King’s Affection') is creating a box office sensation that is shaking up the tourism landscape in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province. As crowds flock to 'Cheongryeongpo', the main setting of the film and the exile site of King Danjong, concerns over safety incidents have arisen, prompting the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province to take emergency measures.

Screen Heat Turns into Historical Site...Visitor Numbers Surge by '5 Times'

The popularity of 'The King’s Affection', which is on the verge of surpassing 10 million viewers, has transformed the actual historical site of Yeongwol 'Cheongryeongpo' into a nationwide hot spot. The effect of 'screen tourism' confirmed by figures is explosive. During the last Lunar New Year holiday, the number of visitors was about 11,000, which is more than 5 times compared to previous years, and over 14,800 people visited during the three days of the Independence Movement Day holiday. Despite two ferries operating non-stop due to the influx of crowds, there were instances where ticket sales were closed early for safety reasons. This is cited as a representative example of how the power of cultural content directly leads to the revitalization of local tourism.

Gangwon Province Begins 'Special Safety Inspections' of Ferries and Rescue Equipment

To prevent safety incidents due to the surge in tourists, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province has organized a joint inspection team with Yeongwol County and has commenced high-intensity special safety inspections. As the number of ferry users in waterfront areas has surged, they will focus on checking the availability of rescue equipment and compliance with boarding limits. The province plans to respond with a zero-tolerance principle, issuing immediate correction orders in accordance with the 'Ferry and Water Transport Business Act' if any violations are detected on-site. Kim Joo-hwan, the head of the Social Disaster Division, emphasized, "We will do our utmost to eliminate disaster risk factors in advance so that visitors can enjoy their experience safely."