3 days Ago By Korea Bizwire
JEJU, South Korea, April 2 (Korea Bizwire) – As the Netflix series When Life Gives You Tangerines (Korean title: Poksak Sokassuda ), set against the scenic backdrop of Jeju Island, garners global attention, local authorities are moving swiftly to position Jeju as a premier filming destination. In a bid to strengthen its competitiveness in location-based production, Jeju Province has announced plans to construct a large-scale outdoor film set starting next year. The Jeju Provincial Government, in collaboration with the Jeju Content Agency, will launch a feasibility study this month for the creation of a major film industry cluster.
The project envisions the development of a permanent outdoor studio, indoor sound stages, and auxiliary facilities, with candidate sites currently narrowed down to three to five ranch villages in the island’s eastern region. Strict land-use regulations protecting Jeju’s famed natural landscapes—such as its volcanic cones and coastal areas—have often posed challenges for film production. Administrative hurdles have led several production teams to abandon plans for building sets on the island.
One recent example was the production of When Life Gives You Tangerines , which initially considered constructing a temporary set on Jeju. The idea was ultimately shelved due to complex permitting processes, and the set was instead built in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province. The province cited this incident as a missed opportunity, underscoring the limitations of reaping full economic and branding benefits when Jeju-based content is filmed elsewhere.
In response, Jeju is also expanding its location incentive program. Beginning this year, the province will increase its financial support for productions filmed on the island from 50 million won to 100 million won (approximately $68,000). An additional 200 million won has been allocated in the latest supplementary budget, bringing this year’s total incentive fund to 3.
5 billion won. By comparison, other regions such as Gyeonggi Province offer up to 1.5 billion won in support, while cities like Incheon, Gwangju, and Daejeon provide 1 billion won.
Jeju officials cited recent data showing that 20 productions filmed on the island over the past two years—including Welcome to Samdal-ri , Tyrant , and Exhuma —have generated an estimated 3.1 billion won in local economic impact. “As content set in Jeju draws global acclaim, we see this as a strategic moment to enhance our support infrastructure,” said Kim Yang-bo, Director of Culture, Sports and Education for Jeju Province.
“By improving our filming incentives and facilities, we aim to elevate Jeju’s brand and invigorate the local economy.” Lina Jang ([email protected]).
