The Village That Lost Its Quiet
Iseltwald, once a tranquil village on the shores of Switzerland's Lake Brienz, saw its world change after scenes from the Korean series Crash Landing on You were filmed there. Since the show premiered in 2019, this peaceful spot has drawn a constant stream of fans eager to visit the now-iconic dock featured on Netflix. The influx of tourist buses, boatloads of visitors, and lines for a selfie have worn thin on the villagers.
Five Times More Cleaning, Little Relief
Life in Iseltwald has gotten complicated. Tourists arrive daily, many just to recreate a memorable scene from the show and snap photos on the famous dock. Kristian, a local quoted by Capital, expressed frustration:
“They’re so noisy, they’re everywhere—here, there. Even when we put up ‘private property’ signs, they just don’t care.”
To cope, local authorities imposed a fee to access the dock and put regulations in place, hoping to control the crowds and offset the costs of hosting so many visitors. According to officials, this system now brings in around 80,000 Swiss francs (about $87,000) annually. But for many local residents, the income covers little more than the extra costs. As one employee at the tourist office put it:
“It just covers what they cost us, because they leave trash, use the bathrooms. We spend five times more time cleaning than the tourists actually spend here.”
The Debate: Heaven or Hell?
While locals say they are overwhelmed, the reaction online isn't so clear-cut. One Instagram commenter under the Capital video remarked:
“We clearly don’t share the same definition of ‘hell’.”
Another added:
“I visited (not for the show, but for the scenery and hiking), and the shopkeepers are delighted because tourists spend money; hotels and inns are even happier—they've raised their prices. Outside the dock area, which costs €5 to access, it doesn't feel crowded at all.”
The Show That Started It All
If you're curious about the series behind Iseltwald's viral fame, Crash Landing on You is a 16-episode South Korean drama, created by Studio Dragon, which originally aired on tvN from December 2019 to February 2020 and is now available on Netflix. The story follows Yoon Se-ri, a wealthy South Korean heiress whose life is upended after a paragliding accident plants her in North Korea’s Demilitarized Zone. She’s rescued by Ri Jeong-hyuk, a North Korean army officer who risks everything to help her hide and eventually get home. Their relationship is tested by political divides and the stark realities of their worlds.
Between global fandom, a booming but contentious tourist industry, and local fatigue, Iseltwald remains at the center of a thorny question: how do you manage the viral success of a place that never asked to be famous?
About the Author
Minea is an intern journalist at Serieously and has loved TV series and movies for as long as she can remember. If there’s one show above all the rest in her eyes, it’s Supernatural. For comfort viewing, she always comes back to Friends. She moves easily between romantic comedies and action films, has a soft spot for Marvel and Disney, and holds the Pirates of the Caribbean saga close to her heart. When she’s not rewatching her favorite shows, Minea is rooting for Liverpool F.C. with the same passion as for her fictional heroes.
