Tourism Surge in Yeongwol County Fueled by Hit Film ‘The Man Who Lives with the King’

The South Korean film “The Man Who Lives with the King,” released on February 4, 2026, is driving a significant increase in tourism to Yeongwol County in Gangwon Province, the location where King Danjong spent his final days in exile. The historical drama, directed by Jang Hang-joon, has resonated with audiences, surpassing 6.5 million viewers and prompting a five-fold increase in visitors to key historical sites in the region.

The Story Behind the Film and the Historical Sites

“The Man Who Lives with the King” depicts the story of King Danjong, the sixth monarch of the Joseon Dynasty. Danjong was exiled to Cheongnyeongpo in Yeongwol in 1457 after being demoted from king to Prince Nosan following a coup. The film’s popularity has led to renewed interest in the historical events surrounding his life and reign.

During the Lunar New Year holiday (February 14-17, 2026), Cheongnyeongpo, King Danjong’s place of exile, saw 10,641 visitors – a more than five-fold increase compared to the 2,006 visitors during the same period in 2025. Jangneung, King Danjong’s royal tomb, also experienced a surge in visitors, with 7,275 recorded during the holiday, a seven-fold increase from the 1,083 visitors in 2025.

Yeongwol’s Tourism Initiatives

Yeongju City has launched a “Banting Tourist Taxi” service to cater to tourists interested in exploring the historical locations featured in the film. The taxi offers subsidized fares for tours of sites related to Prince Geumseong, King Sejong’s sixth son and Danjong’s uncle, who attempted to restore King Danjong to the throne.

The tour includes visits to:

• Pidet Village, known for its connection to the restoration movement.
• The Shrine of Grand Prince Geumseong (Historic Site No. 491).
• Sosu Seowon, Korea’s first seowon and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Buseoksa Temple, a temple with over a thousand years of history.

The “Yeongju Ban Thing Tourist Taxi” fares are as follows: 45,000 won for a 4-hour course, 60,000 won for a 6-hour course, and 70,000 won for a 7-hour course. Reservations can be made through the Yeongju City Culture and Tourism website, Korail Talk, Loiku app, T-Money Go (GO), or by contacting the Yeongju Banthing Tourist Taxi Call Center (☎ 070-4277-1588).

The Danjong Cultural Festival

The upcoming Danjong Cultural Festival, scheduled for April 24-26 in Yeongwol, is expected to draw even more visitors. The festival will feature events such as a reenactment of King Danjong’s state funeral, memorial rites, a Queen Jeongsun Selection Contest, and traditional performances.

“The Man Who Lives with the King” stars Yoo Hae-jin as Eom Heung-do and Park Ji-hoon as Yi Hong-wi / Nosan / King Danjong. The film has a runtime of 1 hour and 57 minutes and a budget of $6,900,000, grossing $39,000,000 worldwide as of February 20, 2026.