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Eric Nam is not exactly a household name in Tasmania but his fame elsewhere could help put the state on the map, for tourists at least.
The Korean-American singer, one of South Korea's most popular musical artists, has swapped a microphone for a backpack while filming a new reality TV show in the state.
The K-pop star, who was born in the US, was one of about 40 cast and crew based in Tasmania as part of production for a new reality show, Wizard of Nowhere.
The travel show will follow six celebrities as they backpack around remote corners of the globe.
In Australia that meant Nam and South Korean actors Choi Min-yong and Kim Soo-ro were put through their paces wrangling and counting sheep at Curringa Farm, just outside Hamilton.
"It's not easy work. I'll be honest, I was awful," he said.
But while wrangling sheep might not have been his thing, he was captured by the state's scenery.
"It's a beautiful place and I think the landscape and the geography is extremely diverse and beautiful and the animals are amazing," he said.
"It's a little hard to get to but I think once you get here, you kind of forget about all that and it's been a good time, so definitely would recommend it."
During five days of filming the crew also visited some of Tasmania's iconic locations, including Cradle Mountain, Dove Lake, Maria Island and Gordon Dam.
Nam shot to fame in 2011 when he was part of a Korean talent search program, and was last year named one of GQ Korea's "men of the year".
He has collaborated with artists such as US rapper Timbaland and singer Gallant and was in 2017 listed on Forbes 30 under 30 celebrities in Asia.
Tourism operators hope the endorsement will strike a chord with Nam and his co-stars' millions of followers in Korea, as well as homes across China, Japan and South-East Asia where the show is broadcast.
In the 12 months to September, about 3,800 Koreans visited the state, making up just 1.4 per cent of all international visitors to Tasmania.
That is dwarfed in comparison to the tens of thousand of travellers who come to Tasmania from other Asian countries.
Curringa Farm owner Tim Parsons said he was hopeful the show could help promote the state to Korean tourists.
"Korea is not a strong market for Tasmania and this may turn that around," he said.
"If their following picks up, and if they hit the demographic perfectly, and the experienced traveller from South Korea identifies Tasmania as being a destination that's endorsed by these celebrities, then yeah the doors open for everybody."
Photo:
Eric Nam shakes hands with farmer Tim Parsons after the day's filming. (ABC News: Tim Morgan)
Topics: television, arts-and-entertainment, human-interest, travel-and-tourism, tas
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