Korean horror boom turns Seoul occult cafes into tourist draws

The runaway success of horror film "Salmokji: Whispering Water" and Netflix series "If Wishes Could Kill" has spawned a wave of so-called occult tourism across South Korea, drawing fans to filming locations and horror-themed bars in Seoul, the Korea Times reported Wednesday.

The trend reflects how Korean horror — from streaming platforms to art-house theaters — is increasingly driving real-world consumer behavior. For Southern California's sizable Korean-American community, the phenomenon underscores cultural ties to Seoul that stretch well beyond the screen.

"Salmokji: Whispering Water" has surpassed 3 million viewers and is on pace to become the highest-grossing Korean horror film in more than two decades, according to the Korea Times. The Netflix series "If Wishes Could Kill," meanwhile, has topped the platform's global non-English TV charts.

Audience enthusiasm has overwhelmed at least one filming site. Authorities in Yesan, South Chungcheong Province, imposed a 6 p.m. curfew at the Salmokji Reservoir area after visitor numbers surged beyond manageable levels, the Korea Times reported.

The "If Wishes Could Kill" promotional app, which delivers in-universe supernatural experiences, cleared 1 million downloads. Online forums quickly filled with user reactions. "I downloaded it out of curiosity but deleted it immediately," one commenter wrote. Another said, "Just having the app on my phone feels eerie."

In Seoul, three horror-themed establishments have emerged as destinations for experience-seekers. Geukrakwangsaeng, tucked into the industrial back alleys of Mullae-dong, pairs occult decor with craft cocktails. Zoosindang, near the Sindang-dong and Euljiro corridor, offers 12 zodiac-themed signature drinks alongside a curated macabre atmosphere.

59 Stairs — accessible only after climbing its namesake 59 steps — doubles as a piece of living film history. The bar, situated near the Mapo and Yongsan district boundary, served as a filming location for Netflix's "My Name" and MBC's "Late-Night Ghost Talk," the Korea Times reported.

South Korea's horror genre has built steady international momentum since "A Tale of Two Sisters" in 2003. The current occult tourism wave suggests audiences increasingly want to step inside the worlds Korean filmmakers construct — not simply watch them unfold on screen.