A remote South Korean village is experiencing a tourism explosion unlike any other, all thanks to a wildly popular K-Pop music video. The coastal settlement of Jeongdongjin in Gangwon Province has become an international pilgrimage site for fans of the boy band ATEEZ.
The phenomenon began after the group released their dramatic 'Crazy Form' video, which features members as demon hunters performing exorcisms against a backdrop of the village's stunning landscapes. The cinematic visuals have captivated a global audience, translating into a real-world travel frenzy.
Local authorities report that visitor numbers have skyrocketed by an astonishing 300% since the video's release. Fans from across the globe are making the journey to experience the locations featured in the supernatural-themed production firsthand.
The Locations Drawing the Crowds
Tourists are particularly eager to visit several specific sites immortalised in the video:
- The iconic red lighthouse: A central feature in the video's dramatic scenes
- The rugged coastal cliffs: Where much of the 'exorcism' narrative unfolds
- Local cafes and viewpoints: Now constantly filled with international visitors
Local business owners have been overwhelmed by the sudden influx. One restaurant owner commented, "We've never seen anything like this. Suddenly we're serving customers from Europe, America, and across Asia all here because of that music video."
Beyond Music: Cultural Tourism Boom
This incident highlights the growing power of Hallyu (the Korean Wave) in driving tourism trends. South Korea has increasingly become a bucket-list destination for pop culture enthusiasts, with this latest phenomenon demonstrating how music content can directly influence travel patterns and benefit remote communities.
Tourism officials are now capitalising on this unexpected windfall, developing dedicated tour maps and experiences centred around the ATEEZ video locations. The village, which previously relied on domestic tourists seeking its famous sunrise views, now finds itself on the international travel map.
This extraordinary case demonstrates the powerful intersection of entertainment and tourism in the digital age, where a single viral moment can transform the fortunes of a destination overnight.
