No Longer Just
an Eyesore

Jangheung Prison Becomes a K-Culture Star

Jangheung Prison, built in 1975, was a major correctional facility with 42 buildings. In 2015, when the prison was relocated, the existing facility lost its function as a prison. The residents strongly requested the removal of the old prison as it degenerated into a hideous eyesore, but officials were concerned about the high cost of demolition. Jangheung Prison had become a huge headache.

Realistic and Historical

It was all thanks to some creative thinking by an interested person that Jangheung Prison found a way out. Most of the prison scenes in dramas and movies were filmed on sets, often remodeled schools, or at Seodaemun Prison. The indoors could be implemented as a movie set, but it was somewhat arduous to vividly capture prison exteriors. In addition, as most of the prison facilities are reconstructed or newly built, finding a prison that fits the popular image of a closed and intimidating space proved difficult.

Jangheung Prison was one of only a handful of old prison facilities remaining at the time. Officials believed it would make a great movie or TV set given its rare ¡°old prison¡± feel and the tangible traces of its former inmates. In response, they actively advertised the prison as a venue for film production. They received inquiries from the production crew of the film ¡°The Prison,¡± who were aiming to shoot their film in a prison settings. The production crew was also searching for a place where they could realistically film a prison for six months. It was the moment when Jangheung Prison went from nuisance to local specialty.

During the four months to make the movie, the crew filmed throughout Jangheung Prison, from the general detention rooms to punishment rooms, the kitchen, workshops, bathhouses and watchtowers. Traces from more than 20 years, including graffiti, photographs and empty boxes left by the inmates, added a touch of realism to the movie and immersed the actors. After the release of ¡°The Prison,¡± the realism of the set went viral throughout the entertainment industry, and Jangheung Prison became a favorite filming locale.

Jangheung Prison appeared in the TV series ¡®Prison Playbook.¡¯ © CJ ENM

Small Ideas Spark Remarkable
Transformations

So far, six movies and 12 TV shows, including ¡°The Defendant,¡± ¡°Wise Prison Life,¡± and ¡°Dr. Prisoner,¡± have been filmed at Jangheung Prison. The schedule for future filming is already full. As Jangheung Prison emerged as a blue chip for K-culture production, changes large and small began to emerge in the surrounding community. Jangheung began to revitalize. When there is filming, 50 to 90 people visit the town. That might not sound like much, but for a place like Jangheung, a small city of just 40,000, it¡¯s enough to spark an economic recovery. Locals get to see famous actors, too.

Jangheung Prison is sparking even bigger transformations. Jangheung plans to make Jangheung Prison the centerpiece of a complex cultural for Jangheung residents, the so-called ¡°Jeongnamjin Jangheung Art Town.¡± The complex will be the nation¡¯s first prison experience space, and will include a filming studio and educational facilities. The local government aims to open the complex by 2025.

This remarkable transformation began with a small idea. Jangheung Prison will go down as an textbook example of local regeneration.

The TV series ¡®Doctor Prisoner¡¯ also used Jangheung Prison as a set. © KBS, Doctor Prisoner

Jangheung Prison¡¯s interiors and exteriors have been put to use in many films and TV shows, including the TV series Undercover. © Jeonnam Film Commission