The film "The King's Warden" surpassed 10 million moviegoers, and small business sales in Yeongwol County, Gangwon, a key filming location, have surged.
The Small Enterprise and Market Service (SEMAS) on the 19th released an analysis of changes in local commercial districts following the film's success. SEMAS compared KB Card sales data over the four weeks before and after the film's release date (Feb. 4, 2026) for 2,161 stores in tourism-linked sectors in Yeongwol County.
According to the analysis, over the four weeks after the film's release, the average daily sales of small businesses in Yeongwol County increased 35.7% compared with the four weeks before the release. By sector, accommodation and food service sales rose 52.5%, the highest increase. Next were arts, sports and leisure services at 37.8%, and wholesale and retail at 27%.
In particular, weekend sales rose 68.5% and weekday sales 22.1%, showing that tourism demand was concentrated on weekends.
Sales also increased compared with the same period a year earlier. Overall sales rose 16.4%. By sector, arts, sports and leisure services increased 59.9%, accommodation and food services 21.5%, and wholesale and retail 11.7%.
In Tae-yeon, chair of SEMAS, said, "We will strengthen SEMAS's research function to respond to rapidly changing commercial district trends and key regional issues," and added, "We will support this analysis so it boosts the self-sustainability of local commercial districts and leads to sustainable competitiveness rather than a temporary boom."
Meanwhile, SEMAS plans to systematically analyze the economic ripple effects on nearby commercial districts and small business sentiment related to the BTS concert to be held on the 21st at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul.