Since the widespread development of the Hallyu wave and especially the success of BTS in the global market, the кσяєαn tourism industry has witnessed a strong growth. It is undeniable that BTS has become an indispensable part of promoting кσяєαn tourism.
There are places that seem to be abandoned but have become famous and attract investment after BTS visited. The Chuncheon Pungmul traditional market is a typical example thanks to the recent appearance of V.
Not only did V make this place known to many people, but he also helped the market attract huge investment capital and become a local tourist area:
It is no coincidence that BTS has held the position of honorary tourism promotion ambαѕѕador of Seoul for 4-5 consecutive years. With an extremely large fan base in the world, especially in Asia, and the influence of Kpop superstars, BTS has brought a huge number of tourists to кσяєα every year. Any place that BTS has left their mark on has become a popular and attractive destination for tourists.
More specifically, there are places that have been abandoned for a long time, such as Iryeong Station, Yongma Land amusement park, and Mosan Airport, which have now become tourist icons thanks to BTS filming there. In addition, there are unknown places such as some eateries, cafes, beaches, and restaurants, but they attract a large number of visitors every time a member of the group shares a photo of himself appearing there.
The case of V and the traditional market Chuncheon Pungmu is no exception. On the 23rd of last month, V, who is currently serving in the 2nd Army Corps stationed in Chuncheon, updated a photo on Instagram. In the photo, he is wearing a military uniform, posing on a bench, and the wall behind him has the name of the novel 'Camellia' written by Chuncheon writer Kim Yu Jeong. The post containing the photo garnered more than 15 million likes, making him to be the first Asian Act to have an Instagram post with over fourteen million likes in 2025.
At the time the photo was posted, the location in the photo also quickly became a hot topic among fans. Several local fans later confirmed that it was a bench at the Chuncheon Folk Flea Market located under the Gyeongchun Line train bridge. Other ARMYs quickly left comments on online communities saying that they wanted to visit the location that V had visited and take similar photos.
Seeing the number of fans flocking to the location a few days after V shared the photo, along with the excitement of online netizens, the local government recently announced that it would develop the area. Pungmul Market was selected as a target for a specialized market development project. Ministry of SMEs and Startups plans to invest 1 Billion KRW (approximately $685,000) by next year to enhance the market’s appeal as a tourist destination.
It is worth mentioning that before V visited the location and made it famous, Pungmul Market was at risk of disappearing due to lack of investment capital for development. Chuncheon Pungmul Market was originally just a scattered market formed by street vendors in various places in the old city center. But thanks to the appearance of V, this traditional market has been revived and even developed into a tourist destination.
Meanwhile, Chuncheon Pungmul Market is a traditional five-day market that stretches about 500 meters beneath the Gyeongchun Line’s elevated railway. It is conveniently located just a five-minute walk from Namchuncheon Station, the Chuncheon intercity bus terminal, and the express bus terminal, making it easily accessible for both locals and tourists traveling by train or bus.
Unlike most traditional markets, Chuncheon Pungmul Market is surrounded by high-rise buildings, creating a distinctive and striking atmosphere. On market days, it is filled with a variety of street stalls selling fresh produce, seafood, snacks, and miscellaneous goods.
