South Korea, Samcheok | The Inception of South Korea's Film Industry

Samcheok Image Theme Park, also known as the Korean Hengdian World Studios, is located in Samcheok-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea. Covering an area of 1.65 million square meters, it is the birthplace of hundreds of films and TV dramas, including "The Attorney" and "Steel Rain." It is also a giant cultural installation that deconstructs the "boundary between reality and fiction." There are no roller coasters like in traditional amusement parks, but there is a more exciting experience - peeking into the dream-making logic of the Korean film industry in the gap between fiction and reality. The streets of the Joseon Dynasty, the abandoned village overrun by zombies... More than 200 film and TV scenes are open in a "semi-finished" state: the faded palace walls have holes left by the crew's nail guns, and the exhibits in the costume drama torture museum are labeled "Do not touch during filming." This "unfinished feeling" precisely exposes the magic backstage of the film industry. It is like a prism, reflecting the complex feelings of Koreans towards history: rewriting collective memory with fictional stories and deconstructing the heavy past with modern consumerism. Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday (closed on Mondays) Transportation: The park is relatively remote, so it is recommended to drive or take a taxi.