A reunion of the cast of the hit K-drama series "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God" has been drawing attention, with the show's stars traveling together to Jumunjin — the coastal village where some of the drama's most iconic scenes were filmed.
The special program, "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God 10th Anniversary Trip" (tvN), brings together the four lead cast members — Gong Yoo, Lee Dong-wook, Yoo In-na and Kim Go-eun — on a trip to Jumunjin in Gangneung, revisiting filming locations and sharing behind-the-scenes stories. Lee El, Kim Byung-chul and Park Kyung-hye also appear as surprise guests, reprising their roles from the original series.
The program features Gong Yoo and Kim Go-eun re-enacting a confession scene, while Lee Dong-wook and Yoo In-na attempt to recreate the red-scarf flower-delivery moment at the Jumunjin pier — moments that have stayed with fans for a decade.
Jumunjin also has ties to BTS, whose members shot an album cover at the Hyangho Beach bus stop in the area.
Jumunjin's daytime scenery is world-famous, but few visitors beyond locals know the village's nighttime charm.
The city of Gangneung is now looking to change that. Starting Friday and running through Aug. 8, the "Jumunjin Starlit Sea Night Market" will open every Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. — eight sessions in all — along the stretch of Jumunjin General Market between Dongnam Mill and Samsungdang.
The night market is part of a cultural tourism market development project for Jumunjin General Market and will be operated by the market's cultural tourism development committee and its merchants' association.
There will be no separate opening ceremony. Instead, organizers will offer a rotating lineup of performances and events each week to give visitors plenty to see and do.
The market will run 12 food stalls and four flea market booths. The food stalls will serve squid cups, squid sundae and takoyaki, among other snacks, while the flea market booths will offer miscellaneous goods, illustrated postcards and palm-reading experiences.
This year, three vendor teams from Chuncheon's Pungmul Market are joining through an inter-market partnership agreement, adding a cooperative dimension between regional traditional markets and broadening the food and entertainment options for visitors.
Jeon Hyeong-geun, head of the Jumunjin General Market merchants' association, said organizers had worked hard to ensure the night market would inject energy into the traditional market and the local commercial district. "This year we have prepared an even richer program, including cross-operating vendor stalls with Chuncheon's Pungmul Market," he said. "We hope many residents and tourists will come and enjoy it."
Kim Hyeon-gyeong, head of the small business division at the Gangneung city government, said the city would take care to ensure visitors could experience the vitality of the traditional market, the distinctive atmosphere of a seaside village and the warm nighttime culture that only the Starlit Sea Night Market can offer.
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