[26.03.03] Jang Hang-jun to Attend Yeongwol Festival as Film Surpasses 9 Million, Cheongnyeongpo Visitors Up Fivefold

Jang Hang-jun to Attend Yeongwol Danjong Festival in Gratitude for “The King Who Lives With Me” Box Office Success…Cheongnyeongpo Visitors Up Fivefold

📍Surpasses 9 Million Viewers, Approaching 10 Million…Director and Cast Participation Boosts Regional Economy

Director Jang Hang-jun will visit the Danjong Cultural Festival in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, in appreciation of the box office success of the film “The King Who Lives With Me.” As the film surpasses 9 million cumulative viewers and approaches the 10 million milestone, tourists are flocking to Cheongnyeongpo, the filming location, generating significant economic impact for the region.

🔹 Overseas Film Festival Schedule Canceled…To Attend Yeongwol Academy and Opening Ceremony
According to the Yeongwol Culture and Tourism Foundation, Jang canceled a previously scheduled overseas film festival appearance to attend the “Yeongwol Academy” lecture program on the 24th of next month. The Yeongwol Academy is a distinguished lecture series operated by Yeongwol County.

Jang plans to speak about the history of King Danjong and the film’s production process. An official stated that he also expressed a desire to attend the festival’s opening ceremony. His decision is interpreted as a gesture of giving back to the local community following the film’s success.

🔹 Cast Members Join…Congratulatory Videos and Attendance Under Discussion
Actors from the film are also participating. Park Ji-hoon, who portrayed Danjong (Lee Hong-wi), filmed a special congratulatory video for the festival.

Yoo Hae-jin, who played Eom Heung-do, and Yoo Ji-tae are reportedly discussing either video participation or attending the event in person. Their involvement is expected to further elevate the festival’s profile.

🔹 Danjong Cultural Festival to Be Held 24–26…Traditional Reenactment Events Planned
The Danjong Cultural Festival will be held for three days from the 24th to the 26th of next month throughout Yeongwol. Programs include a reenactment of the royal funeral, ancestral rites for Danjong, and a Queen Jeongsun selection contest.

Yeongwol is historically significant as the place of exile and death of King Danjong, the sixth king of the Joseon Dynasty. With the film’s popularity, both the scale of the festival and visitor numbers are expected to grow substantially.

🔹 Cheongnyeongpo Visitors Increase Fivefold…Two-Hour Ferry Waits
Cheongnyeongpo in Yeongwol, the film’s primary setting, has seen a surge in tourists. Online communities have shared images of long lines forming for entry.

Due to its geography—surrounded by cliffs and a river—access to Cheongnyeongpo is only possible via a county-operated ferry. Recently, visitors have reported waiting more than two hours to board.

Weekend train tickets to Yeongwol are selling out early, and traffic congestion has been reported near Cheongnyeongpo and Jangneung. Visitor numbers have increased fivefold compared to the same period last year.

🔹 Food Safety Inspections Launched…Authorities Respond to Tourism Surge
Authorities have initiated hygiene and safety inspections in response to the tourism boom. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety will inspect approximately 100 restaurants near Cheongnyeongpo in cooperation with Yeongwol County through the 13th, focusing on food poisoning prevention measures and price display compliance.

The Yeongwol County governor stated that the participation of the director and cast during the film’s peak popularity provides significant support to the region and pledged to concentrate administrative efforts to ensure visitors can enjoy the festival safely.

🔹 Surpasses 9 Million Viewers…Approaching 10 Million Milestone
“The King Who Lives With Me” depicts the story of the dethroned King Danjong spending his final days in exile at Cheongnyeongpo alongside village chief Eom Heung-do and local residents.

The film surpassed 9 million cumulative viewers 27 days after release and drew 817,000 viewers on Independence Movement Day, setting a new single-day record.

Industry attention is focused on whether it will become the first 10-million-viewer film in two years, following “Exhuma” and “The Roundup 4” in 2024.

One-line summary : The success of “The King Who Lives With Me” has driven a surge in visitors to Yeongwol’s Danjong Festival and Cheongnyeongpo, boosting expectations for regional economic growth.