"K-Drama to Feature Baekje's Ancient Capitals, Gongju and Buyeo"

[Financial News, Hongseong = Reporter Kim Won-jun] South Chungcheong Province has launched a tourism marketing campaign leveraging the global popularity of K-dramas. By inviting leading domestic drama writers to Gongju and Buyeo County to showcase local tourism resources, such as Baekje history and culture and natural landscapes, the province promoted these areas as ideal locations for new drama filming. South Chungcheong Province announced that it conducted a familiarization tour for 21 writers belonging to the Drama Research Group of the Korea Television and Radio Writers Association over two days, from the 9th to the 10th, in the areas of Gongju and Buyeo County.
This event was organized to keep pace with the trend in which the global expansion of K-dramas and over-the-top (OTT) content leads to an increase in the influx of actual tourists to drama filming locations. It is part of a promotional strategy to publicize the province's historical and cultural tourism resources and natural landscapes as filming sites.
The event was attended by renowned Korean drama writers, including Jay Park, chairman of the Drama Research Group of the Korea Television and Radio Writers Association, who wrote 'Vincenzo' and 'The Fiery Priest', as well as Lee Shin-hwa, writer of 'Hot Stove League', and Go Seon-hee, writer of 'Cheese in the Trap'.
On the first day, the 9th, starting with Gongsanseong, we toured Jemincheon-gil, Na Tae-Joo Pulkkot Literary House, Gongju Homestay Village, a hanok café, Gongju Traditional Korean Village, and Gongju National Museum in order, examining Gongju's history, culture, and tranquil urban landscape.
On the second day, the 10th, we visited Baekje Cultural Land, Gudrae Ferry Terminal (including a Hwangpo sailboat experience), Busosanseong Fortress, Goransa Temple, Nakhwaam Rock, Gungnamji Pond, and Seodongyo Theme Park to experience Buyeo County's natural scenery and Baekje tourism resources firsthand.
Through this familiarization tour, South Chungcheong Province actively promoted its potential as a filming location by highlighting the province's tourism resources, which offer excellent accessibility due to their proximity to the Seoul metropolitan area and can be utilized across various genres, from period dramas to modern dramas and emotionally driven works.
Recently, local governments have adopted "screen tourism," utilizing drama and movie filming locations, as a core strategy for revitalizing regional tourism. In fact, as it has been repeatedly observed that locations featured in dramas or movies see a significant increase in visitors after airing, local governments are competitively pursuing initiatives such as filming cooperation, support for set construction, and events inviting writers and production staff. South Chungcheong Province's familiarization tour is also an attempt to secure competitiveness amid this nationwide trend by leveraging its differentiated content, the Baekje cultural sphere.
"Continuous exchange with broadcast writers is an opportunity to naturally promote South Chungcheong Province's tourism resources through dramas," said an official from South Chungcheong Province. "Taking this event as a stepping stone, we will strive to support follow-up exchanges and filming so that tourist attractions within the province, including Gongju and Buyeo County, can be utilized as drama filming locations."

[email protected] Kim Won-jun Reporter