Travel to South Korea is rising - let these K-dramas show you where to go

You've no doubt heard of "set-jetting", the practice of visiting a destination because it featured in a TV show or movie. Well, I'd like to propose a new trend: "re-stream", where you research a destination using shows and movies on a streaming service. Admittedly, I may need to work on the name.

Gone are the days when you had to lug around a brick-like Lonely Planet or a stack of travelogues in your backpack. While both of these still have their place (and thankfully are now available electronically), travellers are increasingly turning to streaming services for inspiration and insight. And nowhere does this better than South Korea.

I visited for the first time recently, joining a 12-day Explore Worldwide trip that started in Seoul and looped around the country via historical hotspots like Gyeongju and Busan, plus less-heralded gems such as Andong and Gwangju. Like many people, I'd watched the global hits Parasite and Squid Game, but was blissfully unaware of the vast number of Korean dramas and how useful they could be during my travels. Whether you're interested in a specific destination, a historical period or a cultural nuance, there's a K-drama that can help.

Visiting Seoul's stunning Joseon-era palaces is essential to comprehend the impact of this 500-year dynasty and its 27 kings. Lasting from 1392 to 1910, the period is an emotional rollercoaster of drama, intrigue and scandal, all of which makes for gripping TV. Start your research with Jewel in the Palace, a rousing tale based on the true story of Jang-geum, a 16th-century orphan who overcame prejudice and discrimination to become the first female royal physician. To learn more about the dynasty's downfall, watch Mr Sunshine, a love story set during the early 1900s as the country fights for independence against the imminent Japanese occupation.

Unsurprisingly, the complex relationship between North and South Korea is another K-drama goldmine. Visiting the four-kilometre-wide demilitarised zone (DMZ) between the two countries is a bizarre experience, given its curious mix of military memorials, amusement park rides and gift shops (keychain grenade anyone?). But it provides valuable insight as to why so many shows use the farcical situation for comedic effect, such as Crash Landing on You, the story of a wealthy South Korean heiress who accidentally paraglides into North Korea and falls for an army officer. Or 6/45, a comedy about North and South Korean soldiers clashing over a $6 million lottery ticket that blows across the DMZ.

For a grittier account of the ongoing tensions, check out Silmido, a 2003 movie based on the true story of Unit 684, a motley crew of hardened criminals and death row inmates assembled in 1968 to assassinate North Korean leader Kim II Sung (spoiler alert: they didn't).

A lesser-known Korean conflict is the May 1980 democratic uprising in the city of Gwangju, when its citizens staged a mass protest against the imposition of martial law by the new military government. While you can learn about the uprising (and its violent suppression) in the museum at the May 18th National Cemetery, to understand more about the events that led up to it, watch Seoul Spring, a drama about the military coup following the assassination of president Park Chung Hee in 1979.

The writer was a guest of Explore Worldwide and Korea Tourism Organization