There’s a particular kind of stillness in Yeongwol that’s hard to explain until you’ve been there. The mountains close in on all sides, the Donggang River winds slowly through the valleys, and everywhere you look, there are reminders of a story that happened here over 500 years ago โ and still hasn’t been forgotten.
๐๏ธThe Story Behind the Film
King Danjong had one of the most heartbreaking fates of any ruler in Joseon history โ and the film captures that weight without overstating it
๐นA Reign Cut Short
Danjong was the sixth king of Joseon, but his reign lasted only three years (1452โ1455). His uncle, Grand Prince Suyang โ later known as King Sejo โ forced him from the throne, stripped him of his royal title, and had him exiled to Cheongnyeongpo in Yeongwol as a commoner
๐นAbandoned in Death
He was seventeen when he died in exile. And yet, no one came forward to claim his body. Sejo’s grip on the court was too tight, the consequences too severe. For a time, the body of a king lay unclaimed
๐นThe Man Who Stayed
It was Eom Heung-do, a local official in Yeongwol, who finally acted. At serious risk to his own life, he quietly retrieved Danjong’s remains and buried them in the hillside where the tomb stands today. He is, in every sense, the man the film’s title refers to โ someone who carried a king in his heart long after the rest of the world had moved on
๐นForgotten, Then Slowly Remembered
For a long time after Danjong’s death, the burial site was nothing more than an unmarked mound. No name, no marker, no official recognition. It wasn’t until 1516 โ during the reign of King Jungjong โ that the grave was located and a proper burial mound was constructed. In 1580, under King Seonjo, stone monuments were erected and memorial rites began to be performed
๐นA King Restored
The full restoration came in 1698, under King Sukjong โ 240 years after Danjong’s death. It was only then that he was formally given back his royal title and posthumous name, and the tomb was officially designated Jangneung. The site was renovated into the form we see today, and a king who had been erased from history was finally, quietly, brought back
๐งณWhere to Go in Yeongwol
1๏ธโฃCheongnyeongpo
Cheongnyeongpo is where Danjong was first sent after his exile. Three sides are surrounded by deep water, and the fourth by sheer cliffs โ it was, in effect, a prison with no walls. You reach it by a short boat crossing, which somehow makes the isolation feel more real once you arrive
๐ฒ The Bowing Pines (๊ณ ๊ฐ ์์ธ ์๋๋ฌด) ๐ฒ
One detail worth noticing: the pine trees around Danjong’s former residence don’t grow upright. They lean inward, toward the house โ as if bowing. Nobody planted them that way. It’s the kind of thing that’s easy to dismiss until you’re standing there looking at it
2๏ธโฃGwanpungheon & Jangneung
Gwanpungheon is where Danjong spent his final days. Jangneung, a short distance away, is his tomb โ the one Eom Heung-do prepared in secret. Both are quiet, well-maintained, and genuinely worth the visit rather than just a stop for a photo
๐ดWhat to Eat in Yeongwol
In one of the film’s most memorable moments, Danjong is shown eating a simple meal โ wild mountain vegetables over rice, and a bowl of broth made from river snails. No royal banquet, no ceremony. Just the food that the people of Yeongwol had always eaten. It’s a small detail, but it says a lot about where he ended up and how far he was from the life he was born into
Those two dishes โ Sanchae Bibimbap and Olgaengi-guk โ are still Yeongwol’s most representative foods today. The bibimbap is made with wild mountain vegetables, the kind you can’t really replicate with anything from a supermarket. The soup is made from marsh snails pulled from the Donggang River, and it’s the sort of broth that takes a few sips to fully appreciate
1๏ธโฃDonggang Dasulgi (๋๊ฐ๋ค์ฌ๊ธฐ): The go-to spot for marsh snail soup in town
Address: 2105 Yeongwol-ro, Yeongwol-eup, Yeongwol-gun, Gangwon-do
Phone: 033-374-2821
Hours: 08:00 AM โ Last Order 6:30 PM
2๏ธโฃBakgane (๋ฐ๊ฐ๋ค) : Eosoori Namul Bap (Wild Eosoori Herb Rice)
Address: 149 Jungang-ro, Yeongwol-eup, Yeongwol-gun, Gangwon-do
Phone: 033-375-6900
Hours: 10:30 AM โ Last Order 3:30 PM
๐กWhere to Stay
Want to spend a peaceful night surrounded by Yeongwol’s mountains and rivers?
๐ [Click here to find the best stays in Yeongwol 1]
๐ [Click here to find the best stays in Yeongwol 2]
๐ฌGlobal Release: ‘The Man Who Lives with the King
The film is now screening in major cities across the US and Europe. Check the screening schedule for your region below
๐กScreening schedules may vary by theater. We recommend checking your local cinema’s website (like AMC, Regal, or Odeon) or the official global distributor’s page for exact showtimes!
๐Not sure which transit card to grab before exploring Korea? Click here to find out!๐
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