The movie that made all of Korea cry, laugh, and immediately Google "who was King Danjong?"
That's 왕과 사는 남자 (The King's Warden).
It's now the second most-watched film in Korean box office history, and the man at the center of it all, a real Joseon Dynasty king who lived over 550 years ago, has somehow become the most talked-about figure of 2026. People are calling him "Danjong 오빠(oppa)" and catching the "Danjong Fever," treating this historical figure like a modern-day superstar.
And the filming location, 청령포(Cheongnyeongpo) in 강원도(Gangwon-do), has become a must-visit destination, with visitor numbers skyrocketing since the film's release.
And yes, we went!
First of all: Who was King Danjong?
Imagine becoming king at 11 years old. No choice, no preparation — your father just died, and suddenly the entire kingdom is yours. That was Danjong's reality.
He was the sixth king of the Joseon Dynasty(1441-1457) and one of its most tragic figures. The throne didn't stay his for long. His uncle, 수양대군(Suyang Daegun), wanted it for himself and pushed the young king out of power.
At only 16, Danjong was sent away to Cheongnyeongpo. He was 17 when he died. The official records are vague about exactly how. History has a way of being quiet about things like that.
The Movie Ended. The Danjong Fever Didn't.
Since the movie's release, Cheongnyeongpo has become one of the most talked-about travel destinations in Korea. And fans don't just call it a "trip." They call it a "Holy Pilgrimage" (성지순례, Seong-ji-sun-rye), which means fans visit the places where the movie was filmed to feel the same emotions as the characters.
The numbers show just how big this got.
Visitor numbers jumped to over 5 times compared to the previous year, and the annual Danjong Cultural Festival drew 3 times more people than before.
On busy days, the queue for the five-minute ferry ride to reach the island stretches all the way back to the main road — a nearly 2-hour wait just to get on the boat.
People wait anyway. Because that's what a pilgrimage is.
청령포 (Cheongnyeongpo): The place that still holds his memory
Here's something that makes Cheongnyeongpo different from most filming locations — Danjong actually lived here. This isn't a movie set. This is the real place.
Inside, there are three things you won't want to miss:
✅ 관풍헌 — Gwanpungheon Magistrate's Office
This is where King Danjong spent his final days. King Danjong who had been exiled to Cheongnyeongpo, moved to this place to stay due to flooding. He stayed until his death on October 24th, 1457.
✅ 장릉 — Jangneung Royal Tomb (Tomb of King Danjong)
Just four months after his exile began, Danjong was given poison and died at the age of 17. It took another 60 years for him to finally receive a proper royal burial.
✅ 엄흥도 정려각 — Commemorative Pavilion of Eom Heung-do
It was built to commemorate the loyalty of Eom Heung-do, a senior clerk of the Yeongwol Local Government. When King Danjong died, his body was disposed of in the river with the order that anyone who retrieved the body be punished. However, Eom Heung-do dared to take the body, put it in a coffin, and perform a makeshift burial.
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