Jeju to support local filming of Netflix drama 'Gwandang'

▲ This Yonhap file photo shows the Jeju-mok Government Office. (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Feb. 12 (Yonhap) -- Jeju Island said Thursday it will begin supporting the local filming of the Netflix drama "Gwandang," which is set to be shot on the island starting Feb. 22.

In cooperation with the Jeju Content Agency, the provincial government will provide one-stop administrative support, including assistance with securing filming locations. It also plans to subsidize part of the cast and crew’s stay on the island, covering up to 30 percent of total accommodation costs, with a ceiling of 100 million won (US$75,000), following a review process.

Jeju officials expect that attracting film and drama productions will lead to increased local spending through the long-term stays of production teams during filming, and later generate added value industries such as tourism and merchandise sales centered around filming locations once the content is released.

"Gwandang" stars Han Suk-kyu, Yoon Kye-sang, Choo Ja-hyun, Yoo Jae-myung, Kim Jong-soo and Go Doo-shim. The noir drama is directed by Choi Jung-yul and co-produced by Angelground and Studio N. It is scheduled to premiere on Netflix in the first half of next year.

Set in Jeju in the 2010s, "Gwandang" depicts the conflict among three families — the Go, Yang and Bu clans — as they clash to protect their families and vie for dominance on the island. Jeju’s distinctive coastal roads, oreum (parasitic volcanic cones) and rural fishing villages serve as major backdrops. The title "Gwandang" means “relatives” in the Jeju dialect.

In May last year, Jeju became the first metropolitan-level local government in South Korea to sign a memorandum of understanding with Netflix to promote Jeju culture, tourism and content development. The province also granted honorary Jeju citizenship to Kim Min-young, Netflix’s vice president for Asia-Pacific content.

Jeju Gov. Oh Young-hun said last year’s global success of Jeju-themed content such as "When Life Gives You Tangerines" and "K-pop Demon Hunters" proved the competitiveness of Jeju-based stories.

“We will actively support the filming of ‘Gwandang’ so it can help promote Jeju both at home and abroad, and we will continue to expand efforts to attract film and drama productions,” he said.

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