The film "The Man Who Lives with the King" (directed by Jang Hang-jun), depicting the story of King Danjong, the sixth monarch of the Joseon Dynasty, has surpassed 6.5 million viewers and continues its box office success. The film's popularity is driving a sharp increase in tourists to Gangwon Province's Yeongwol County, where King Danjong spent his final days in exile.
During the Lunar New Year holiday (Feb. 14-17), 10,641 tourists visited Cheongnyeongpo in Yeongwol, King Danjong's place of exile—more than five times the 2,006 visitors recorded during last year's Lunar New Year holiday (Jan. 25-30). The number of visitors to Jangneung, King Danjong's royal tomb, reached 7,275 during the same period, seven times higher than the 1,083 visitors last year.
Attention is also growing for the Danjong Cultural Festival, Yeongwol's signature historical and cultural event scheduled for April 24-26. The festival, rooted in King Danjong's historical significance and regional identity, will feature events including the King Danjong State Funeral reenactment, memorial rites, the Queen Jeongsun Selection Contest, traditional tug-of-war with arrowroot rope, and various performances and interactive programs.
King Danjong was born in 1441 as the only son of King Munjong and ascended to the throne as the sixth king of Joseon in 1452 at age 12. Following the Gyeyu Coup staged by Grand Prince Suyang (later King Sejo) and Han Myeong-hoe in 1453, he abdicated in favor of Sejo in 1455 and became a former king. In June 1457, he was demoted from former king to Prince Nosan and exiled to Cheongnyeongpo in Yeongwol. He died in November of that year at age 17.
With tourists flocking to the region, the Yeongwol Culture and Tourism Foundation is working to prepare more diverse events. "Thanks to the film's blockbuster success, visitors to Cheongnyeongpo surged during the Lunar New Year holiday," said Park Sang-heon, CEO of the Yeongwol Culture and Tourism Foundation. "We will prepare the Danjong Cultural Festival and Queen Jeongsun Selection Contest more thoroughly and diversely than ever before."
Neighboring Taebaek City is also seeking to capitalize on the film's success by promoting its Danjong Memorial Pavilion. According to Taebaek City on Feb. 25, the pavilion, located on the ridge behind Manggyeongdae on Taebaeksan Mountain, was built to honor King Danjong's spirit. Situated on a high-altitude mountainside, it has long been regarded by local residents as a symbolic site connected to the king. "We hope the interest generated by the film will not be a passing curiosity but an opportunity to reflect on the history and local traditions surrounding King Danjong," a city official said.
"The Man Who Lives with the King" is a historical drama that imaginatively portrays King Danjong (played by Park Ji-hoon) spending his final days with village chief Eom Heung-do (played by Yoo Hae-jin) and other residents in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, after his dethronement. According to data from the Korean Film Council's integrated ticketing system on Feb. 26, the film drew 309,574 viewers the previous day, maintaining its top position at the box office. The film, released on Feb. 4, has accumulated 6,528,519 viewers.