KBS1 “My Hometown at 6 O’Clock”

On the 4th, in the “A Trip Worth Seeing: Hometown Tour” segment of KBS1’s “My Hometown at 6 O’Clock,” they headed to Yeongwol in Gangwon Province, the region now drawing the fervent attention of people nationwide.

As the film “The Man Who Lives With the King,” which portrays the exile life in Yeongwol of Joseon’s sixth king, Danjong, surpasses 9 million viewers and continues its box-office run, the number of travelers visiting Yeongwol, the movie’s filming location and Danjong’s actual place of exile, has also surged.

Before the main shoot, reporter Jeong Jae-hyung connects via a surprise video call with the film’s director, Jang Hang-jun. Director Jang shares his thoughts on the movie’s success and recommends Yeongwol attractions that “My Hometown at 6 O’Clock” viewers should not miss.

The first stop is Cheongnyeongpo, which director Jang names a must-visit. Enveloped by a river on three sides and known as the “island within the mainland,” it is where Danjong actually lived in exile. After becoming known as a filming backdrop for the movie, visitors during the Lunar New Year holiday increased more than fivefold compared with the previous year. Once a place of tragic exile, it has now become a signature Yeongwol landmark where visitors trace Danjong’s footsteps.

KBS1 “My Hometown at 6 O’Clock”

Nearby, Jangneung and the Chunguigong Memorial Hall remain as spaces symbolizing loyalty and righteousness. Jangneung is Danjong’s tomb, where Eom Heung-do, the local headman of Yeongwol, retrieved Danjong’s body and secretly buried him.

At the Chunguigong Memorial Hall stands a statue of Eom Heung-do depicting him retrieving Danjong’s body from the water, and it is said that director Jang Hang-jun and actor Yoo Hae-jin, who plays Eom Heung-do in the film, drew inspiration from this statue.

At a Yeongwol local-cuisine restaurant reportedly visited multiple times with the “The Man Who Lives With the King” film staff and cast, they sampled dishes made with eosuri greens, which Danjong is said to have enjoyed during his exile.

Notably, the owner here personally prepared the foods used in the film’s dining scenes featuring Danjong. The culinary touch of the “real-life Mak-dong’s mother” adds depth to the journey.

KBS1 “My Hometown at 6 O’Clock”

During his stay in Yeongwol, director Jang’s favorite spots were the river’s tributaries. In particular, “Seondol,” a towering rock along the riverside where a temporary film set was built, is an approximately 70-meter-tall crag whose shape looks as if a massive rock were split by a blade. Tradition holds that Danjong paused to rest here on his way to exile, and its stunning scenery continues to captivate many visitors.

On “My Hometown at 6 O’Clock,” the Yeongwol trip offered not only a cinematic pilgrimage but also historical exploration and special hands-on experiences.

KBS1 “My Hometown at 6 O’Clock”