'Chiaksan' Murder Horror Story? Furious at Wonju City... "Can't Change Movie Title"

Tourists May Stop Coming... Wonju City Officially Protests
Production Company "Sorry for the Inconvenience, Reshooting is Difficult"

As the horror film 'Chiaksan' approaches its release, Wonju City expressed concerns that the national park Chiaksan might be associated with a negative image, but the production company stated that "changing the title is not possible."

Set to be released on the 13th of next month, 'Chiaksan' is a horror film depicting strange events that happen to members of a mountain biking club who visit Chiaksan, where a mysterious dismembered body was found 40 years ago. As the trailer states, "The truth behind the ghost story is revealed," the film is based on a fictional Chiaksan ghost story.

Chiaksan stills
[Photo by Doho Entertainment]

On the 24th, Wonju City expressed concerns that the content, which is at the level of an unfounded ghost story, could create a negative image for the national park Chiaksan and the region, which are major tourist resources. The name Chiaksan is used for local specialty products and tourist attractions such as Chiaksan Hanwoo beef, Chiaksan peaches, pears, apples, and the Chiaksan Dullegil trail.

Wonju City stated, "If the image of Chiaksan National Park, one of the most famous mountains in the country, is damaged, it would be a loss not only for Wonju but also on a national level," and added, "We are persuading the production company."

They requested the production company to change the film's title and to insert phrases such as "fictional, not real" and "no relation to the region" at the beginning of the film.

In response to the controversy, Doho Entertainment, the production company, expressed regret for causing discomfort to Wonju City and local residents.

Regarding Wonju City's request to change the title and delete all mentions of 'Chiaksan' in the film, the production company said, "The story's continuity would be disrupted to the extent that the film would have to be reshot from the beginning."

They further explained, "One of the main actors is currently serving in the military, so reshooting is also impossible, and we ask for understanding on this matter."

Additionally, they stated, "Regarding the request to notify that the film's content is fictional and unrelated to actual locations and events, this has been noted in the end credits, but we will re-edit the film so that this notice appears immediately after the main screening."

Previously, the film 'Chiaksan' sparked controversy over an unofficial poster. The unofficial poster shared on the personal account of director Kim Seon-ung on the 21st graphically depicted a dismembered body, which drew reactions calling it disgusting.

Regarding this, the production company explained, "We received a '15 and older' rating during the review process and proposed holding a private screening for Wonju City officials and local residents to clear up misunderstandings."

They added, "We are making every effort to ensure that Wonju City and local residents are not harmed by this controversy and promise to do our best to prevent any damage."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.