The Korean TV blockbuster "Crash Landing on You", released in late 2019 with the participation of two stars Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin, quickly became a phenomenon on the Asian screen. The romantic love story between North Korean Captain Ri Jeong Hyeok and businesswoman Yoon Se Ri not only touched the hearts of millions of viewers but also turned the filming locations into tourist "holy lands".
Not only was the film filmed in Korea, it also had many beautiful scenes in Switzerland, making viewers feel like they were lost in a fairy tale land. The footage in this country quickly became a hit and became one of the iconic scenes of "Crash Landing on You".
The idyllic Swiss village of Iseltwald has been thrust into the spotlight thanks to its appearance in Netflix's hit Korean drama series, "Crash Landing on You."
Specifically, after the film aired in 2020, the small marina on Lake Brienz in the village of Iseltwald, Switzerland, where the main couple's romantic moments were recorded, quickly became a sought-after check-in spot, especially from Asian tourists. In addition, the final scene of the film, where Ri Jeong Hyeok and Yoon Se Ri found happiness together at Lake Lungern, Obwalden, was also rated by the audience as one of the most beautiful scenes, leaving a deep impression.
At the time the film aired, the boat dock where the male lead filmed attracted many fans to check in.
The majestic mountain scenery, blue lakes and traditional wooden houses have helped the small village of Iseltwald attract more than 1,000 visitors a day, an astonishing number for a place with only three hotels and four restaurants, according to SCMP.
Iseltwald, with a population of just 400, is a quiet village nestled on a picturesque lake. However, the explosive popularity of "Crash Landing on You" has led to a surge in tourism. Although the movie ended many years ago, the attraction of the filming locations has not diminished. According to local media reports, Iseltwald's website recorded around 400,000 visits last year, a testament to the huge interest from all over the world.
The mountain scenery, clear blue lake and typical wooden houses help the small village attract more than 1,000 visitors a day, even though it has only 3 hotels and 4 restaurants.
The large number of visitors has brought significant economic benefits, but at the same time caused many inconveniences for the people of Iseltwald. Noise, garbage and traffic congestion are problems that the villagers face every day. Many tourists even go into people's yards or private gardens to take pictures, affecting the privacy of the residents. The only grocery store in the village, which was only open from Monday to Friday, now has to operate all week to meet the increased demand.
To control the flow of people and have more funds for maintenance, from 2023, the village of Iseltwald will install automatic toll gates at the entrance to the marina, charging 5 Swiss francs (about 6.3 USD) per trip.
To control the flow of people and raise more money for maintenance, the village of Iseltwald decided to install automatic toll gates at the entrance to the marina, charging 5 Swiss francs (about $6.30) per trip. However, despite the fee, the number of visitors has not decreased so far. Titia Weiland, representative of the Bönigen-Iseltwald tourism agency, said that she had hoped for more tourists, but now it was "a bit too much".
In response to this situation, the Iseltwald authorities have proactively set up a website to guide visitors on how to get around, and to urge people not to litter, to maintain order, and to respect the privacy of residents. The message on the village website conveys the wish: "We hope visitors have a wonderful experience and take away beautiful memories of Switzerland."
