LayarHijau – The Korean horror film Salmokji: Whispering Water is making waves not only in theaters but also beyond the screen, as its real-life filming location has unexpectedly become a hotspot for thrill-seekers late at night.
According to the Korean Film Council, the film, which premiered on April 8, topped last week’s box office with 724,029 admissions. Notably, more than 530,000 tickets were sold between Friday and Sunday alone, marking the strongest opening weekend for a horror title since Metamorphosis in 2019.
The story follows a film crew that returns to a remote reservoir to reshoot scenes after a mysterious figure is spotted in a road-view map image. What begins as a routine shoot soon turns into a nightmare as they encounter a strange, unidentified presence lurking beneath the dark water.
Helmed by Lee Sang-min and starring Kim Hye-yoon alongside Lee Jong-won, the film was shot at an actual reservoir in Yesan. Built in 1982 to support local agriculture, the site later gained a reputation among paranormal enthusiasts and was even featured on the MBC program Midnight Horror Story.
Recently, photos circulating on online communities and navigation apps have shown an unusual surge of visitors heading to the reservoir in the middle of the night. In some cases, reports suggest that up to 100 cars were seen approaching the area as late as 3 a.m. Social media users have jokingly referred to the crowds as a kind of “mass exorcism,” implying that such large gatherings might scare away any lingering spirits.
However, the sudden influx has also raised concerns. As the reservoir is a public space, activities such as camping, cooking, and fishing are strictly prohibited, making the late-night visits potentially risky.
Viewers say the film’s appeal lies less in graphic horror and more in the unsettling atmosphere created by the eerie setting itself. Kim Hye-yoon shared that she was already familiar with the reservoir’s ghostly reputation from television and focused on portraying her character’s inner turmoil and emotional breakdown.
Film producer Lim Eun-jung, known for The King’s Warden, sees this trend as a sign of changing audience behavior. She noted that people are no longer satisfied with simply watching a film—they are increasingly drawn to experiencing its world firsthand.
She added that despite the dominance of streaming platforms and social media, cinema still holds unique value as a medium that can connect audiences with broader cultural experiences in the real world.
