A scene from the film "Salmokji: Whispering Water" / Courtesy of Showbox
In a season where the cinematic landscape can feel stagnant, the horror genre has emerged not just as a source of entertainment, but as cultural phenomenon.
The film "Salmokji: Whispering Water" has recently shattered the 3-million-viewer mark and is poised to unseat the legendary "A Tale of Two Sisters" (2003) as the highest-grossing Korean horror film in over two decades. On the small screen, the Netflix series "If Wishes Could Kill" mirrors this success, dominating global non-English TV charts.
However, the true story isn’t just in the numbers — it’s in how these works are spilling out of the screen and into the real world. "Salmokji," is a fictional account of a camera crew haunted by a dark presence in a reservoir, rooted in real folklore surrounding the Salmokji Reservoir in Yesan, South Chungcheong Province.
A promotional app that appeared in Netflix series "If Wishes Kill." Courtesy of Netflix
The film's success ignited a tourism boom, with audiences feeling compelled to verify the terror with their own eyes. The area surrounding the reservoir has transformed from a quiet rural site into a viral destination for "courage tests." The fervor became so intense that local authorities were forced to implement a 6 p.m. curfew, citing safety concerns.
The series "If Wishes Could Kill" also extends this trend. The story revolves around an app that grants wishes but curses the user in return. As a promotional tool, Netflix released a tie-in app, which has soared in popularity on both Google and Apple app stores, surpassing 1 million downloads.
Online communities are flooded with user experiences, with many saying, "I downloaded it out of curiosity but deleted it immediately," or "Just having the app on my phone feels eerie."
The horror genre has evolved beyond simple consumption; it is now about experiencing and sharing fear. The Korea Times has compiled a list of urban cafes and bars that are popular among locals for their ability to grant real-life chills.
Interior of "Geukrakwangsaeng" in Mullae-dong, Seoul / Captured from Instagram (@geukrak_coffee)
Source: Korea Times News
