Kim Go Eun and Gong Yoo star in the tvN fantasy drama 'Goblin.' (Photo : YouTube/tvN Drama)
The phenomenon of South Korea's "Hallyu" cultural wave, which saw the rise of many Kpop stars and celebrities around the world, has captured the global fans' interest in the said Asian country. Recently, the various filming sites of the tvN fantasy drama "Goblin" saw an influx of tourist activity over the previous weeks.
"Goblin," also known as "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God," became one of the hit TV dramas in South Korea given its unique storyline and star-studded cast that includes Gong Yoo, Lee Dong Wook, Kim Go Eun, Yoo In Na and more. The tvN production even topped a local TV popularity chart and posted strong viewership ratings since its premiere.
Gong's fantasy drama also featured several scenic locations in South Korea that captivated many fans. A breakwater area in Gangneung's Jumunjin Beach saw an increased number of tourists who wanted to witness the beauty of the said location and recreate an iconic scene from "Goblin," according to news outlet Antara, as cited by The Jakarta Post.
Moreover, the old bookstore that Shin (Gong) frequented while waiting for Eun Tak (Kim) also became a popular tourist attraction, as indicated in the same report. Named Hanmi, the Incheon-based bookstore saw an increased number of local and foreign visitors.
Visitor count tripled during weekdays and grew more than 10 times on weekends, according to Hanmi owner Jang Won Hyek. He added that given the tvN drama's popularity, the area surrounding the bookstore also saw a boost in tourist activity.
Other "Goblin" scenes that were filmed in Incheon included the park where Shin and Eun Tak would often meet, as well as the long stretch of road where Shin and the Grim Reaper (Lee) came to rescue Eun Tak from her loan shark abductors. The snow blanketed area where Eun Tak's mother lay dying before Shin saved her life was also filmed in Incheon, including some of the drama's street scenes.
With the tvN drama's popularity and the numerous productions that used Incheon as a filming location, city officials revealed its plans to build a filming complex in the port city. In a recent announcement, as obtained by Korea Herald, government officials stated that they are targeting to complete construction of several filming sets and studios by 2020.
"Goblin" will air episode 14 on Jan. 20, Friday, and its final two episodes on Jan. 21, Saturday, on tvN. Watch the cliffhanger ending of episode 13 below:
