Park Bo-gum’s barbershop turns rural village into a rising tourist hotspot

The real filming location of Park Bo-gum’s Magic Salon is now drawing hundreds of visitors every week, transforming Muju’s quiet Apseom Village into a new K-content travel destination.

A single variety show has reshaped the map.

Since the broadcast of tvN’s Park Bo-gum’s Magic Salon, the small village of Apseom in Muju, North Jeolla Province, has seen a rapid surge in tourists. The barbershop set used in the program was preserved after filming, allowing visitors to experience the space in person — and turning the area into a must-visit spot for fans.

From filming set to real travel course

Unlike temporary drama sets that disappear after production ends, the barbershop building remains intact.

Clear location signs have been installed at the village entrance, and both the interior and exterior still closely resemble what viewers saw on screen. As a result, 인증샷 (photo-taking) has become the main activity for visitors, placing the site at the center of the local travel route.

The effect is visible in the numbers.

The village is now receiving:

• around 500 visitors on weekends
• 200–300 visitors on weekdays

A variety show built on Park Bo-gum’s real skill

The program follows Park Bo-gum, who holds a certified barber’s license obtained during his military service, as he runs a countryside barbershop with his close friends Lee Sang-yi and Kwak Dong-yeon.

• Park Bo-gum → haircuts
• Lee Sang-yi → customer service & nail care
• Kwak Dong-yeon → cooking

The show combines technical skill, slow village life, and human connection — a format that has resonated strongly with viewers.

Location planning was part of the storytelling

The production team spent nearly a year preparing the project, with the cast reportedly taking part in:

• selecting the village
• remodeling the building
• designing the interior

The filming used an actual local hair salon, which helped maintain authenticity and made it easier to convert the site into a real tourist experience after the broadcast.

K-content tourism effect appears again

The village is now being added as a stopover course for travelers who already visit nearby attractions such as:

• Deogyusan
• Muju Resort

Surrounded by the Geumgang River’s curved landscape, the area naturally encourages walking routes, expanding the visit from a simple filming-site tour into a full village experience.

The trend reflects a growing pattern in Korea where a single hit program can create a new regional travel keyword — and this time, Park Bo-gum’s barbershop is at the center of it.