How the Movie ‘The King and the Man’ Boosted Tourism in Gangwon: Visitor Numbers Revealed!

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Weekend crowds swarmed Gangwon’s iconic peaks and top attractions to catch the Adonis flowers in bloom. Thousands streamed into the province’s national parks, and hot spots like Yeongwol—buoyed by the hit film The Man Who Lives with the King—were especially busy.

News1 reported that by 2 p.m. on the 21st, Seoraksan National Park had welcomed 4,662 visitors. Around 1:45 p.m., Odaesan (Woljeongsa entrance) tallied 2,660 visitors; Chiaksan and Taebaeksan recorded 1,862 and 460 visitors, respectively.

Visitors spotted the early Adonis blooms across these parks — a clear sign that spring has arrived. 

Tourist spots are enjoying a spring uplift. Yeongwol, in particular, has ridden a wave of interest thanks to the film about Joseon’s sixth king, Danjong. Cheongnyeongpo — Danjong’s exile site — and Jangneung — his royal tomb — together drew about 4,700 visitors by 1 p.m. that day.

Together, the two sites have attracted roughly 160,500 visitors so far this year (provisional), about 61% of last year’s total of 263,327 visitors.

Gariwangsan in Jeongseon — the alpine venue of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics — is also seeing more attention. The Gariwangsan cable car carried 272 passengers by about 1:40 p.m. that day.

Local tourism officials say early wildflower blooms, the film’s buzz and other seasonal draws are bringing more visitors to Gangwon.