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 Jumunjin Breakwater in Gangneoung

# Goblin: The K-Drama That's Still Glorious 10 Years Later


## The Story

Kim Shin (Gong Yoo) was a Goryeo-dynasty general who died an unjust death in battle — and as punishment (or perhaps mercy), the gods cursed him to live forever as a "goblin," a sword permanently lodged in his chest. The only way to end his immortality is to find his human bride and have her pull the sword out. Enter Ji Eun-tak (Kim Go-eun), a high school senior who claims to be exactly that. Their fated meeting sets off a sweeping romance that also pulls in an amnesiac Grim Reaper (Lee Dong-wook) and a warm-hearted radio PD, Sunny (Yoo In-na) — blending fantasy, romance, and human drama into something genuinely one of a kind.

## Why It Became a Phenomenon

Written by star screenwriter Kim Eun-sook (the writer behind Paris Lovers, Secret Garden, Descendants of the Sun, and The Glory), Goblin premiered in December 2016 and became the first Korean cable drama in history to break a 20% viewership rating. Reimagining the goblin and grim reaper — figures straight out of Korean folklore — as sleek, contemporary characters was a bold move for its time, and it's a big part of why the show captured audiences far beyond Korea. Even after it ended, Goblin kept finding new fans through international streaming and remains one of the dramas most credited with fueling the global Hallyu wave. It went on to sweep major awards, including the 2017 Baeksang Arts Awards.

## Behind the Scenes: The 10-Year Reunion

In 2026, Goblin marked its 10th anniversary with something special. As part of tvN's 20th-anniversary programming, the network produced a travel variety show called "Goblin 10th Anniversary Trip," reuniting Gong Yoo, Lee Dong-wook, Kim Go-eun, and Yoo In-na for a nostalgic getaway to Gangneung. It premiered on July 4, 2026.

The behind-the-story is charming in its own right: the idea reportedly started when the three lead actors ran into each other at a concert and got to talking about how to mark the anniversary — and it was Kim Go-eun herself who first suggested a group trip. Filming took place over one night and two days, April 24–25, 2026, in Gangneung.

In the first episode, the four actors' very first stop was the breakwater in Jumunjin — the exact spot where the drama's most iconic scene was filmed. Ten years later, Gong Yoo and Kim Go-eun recreated their legendary moment on the same pier, surrounded by props straight from the show: the red scarf, buckwheat flowers, and a specially decorated "Goblin House" that brought the show's nostalgic atmosphere right back to life.

## The Hottest Filming Location: Jumunjin Breakwater, Gangneung

Among all of Goblin's filming locations, none is more iconic than the breakwater near Yeongjin Beach in Jumunjin, Gangneung. It's the site of the single most important scene in the entire series: the moment Kim Shin and Ji Eun-tak first meet.

In the story, Eun-tak lights a candle on a cake to celebrate her 19th birthday alone, making a quiet wish as she blows it out. At that exact moment, Kim Shin — standing in a field of buckwheat flowers far away — is summoned straight to this breakwater. Eun-tak, wrapped in her signature red scarf, and Kim Shin, holding buckwheat blossoms, come face to face against the sea wind — an image that instantly became the visual symbol of the entire drama. After the episode aired, the breakwater turned into such a pilgrimage site that it drew weekend crowds large enough to cause traffic congestion in the area.

Walking out to the end of the pier with the waves crashing behind you is still one of the most popular photo spots for visiting fans today. And the fact that the four leads chose this exact spot as their very first stop in the 2026 reunion special says everything about how central this location remains to the Goblin universe.
 


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