According to the Korea Times, episodes 7 and 8 of the drama Extraordinary Attorney Woo, which aired last week, are about a fictional village named Sodeok-dong that faces the risk of being divided when a planned road cuts across the village.
A centuries-old tree located on a small hill in the center of the village, also known as the “guardian tree” and holding great significance to the local people, is also at risk of being cut down for the project. In fact, the ancient tree featured in the film is located in Dongbu Village, Changwon City, South Gyeongsang Province. With a height of 16 meters and a circumference of 6.8 meters, the tree was designated as a protected object by the local government in 2015.
After the episodes aired, the small village of about 70 households suddenly became famous and was visited by many tourists. Many people shared check-in photos at the place used as the film's setting on social media.
A scene from Extraordinary Attorney Woo.
To make it easier for visitors to find, the locals have erected a signboard indicating the tree at the entrance of the village. The Changwon City government has also promoted tourism promotion activities. According to the city's official website, standing at the top of the hill, one can see the entire Dongbu Village as well as a part of the nearby Nakdong River.
In addition, the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) has decided to consider designating the ancient tree in the village as a natural monument. The agency also said that the plan was scheduled last year, before the drama Extraordinary Attorney Woo aired.
"Considering its shape, age and growing conditions, we believe the tree has value as a cultural heritage. We will soon check with experts, local authorities and residents to make a decision," CHA said in a statement on July 25.
Extraordinary Attorney Woo is currently the most popular drama in Korea, continuously achieving high viewership ratings with each episode. The drama revolves around Woo Young Woo - a female lawyer with an IQ of 164 but suffering from autism spectrum disorder. The female lead is described as being able to memorize every book she has read, so she always achieves excellent results in school.
