SEOUL, February 22 (AJP) -"The King’s Warden" is rapidly emerging as South Korea’s next potential 10-million-viewer blockbuster, signaling a renewed appetite for domestic cinema after a year without a mega hit following "Exhuma" in 2024.
According to the Korean Film Council’s integrated box office database, the historical drama drew 581,184 admissions on Friday, ranking No. 1 for the day. Its cumulative audience reached 5,260,595.
Given packed cinemas nationwide over the weekend, the cumulative tally is likely to top six million admissions once weekend figures are fully reflected — a milestone many analysts now regard as all but certain.
The film is directed by Jang Hang-jun and stars Yoo Hae-jin, Park Ji-hoon, Yoo Ji-tae, and Jeon Mi-do.
In addition to box office momentum, audience reviews on South Korea’s leading portal Naver reflect strong viewer engagement. With more than 3,200 real-time audience ratings, The King’s Warden holds a 9.02 out of 10 average score, with: 73 per cent of reviewers rating it 9–10/10, 17 per cent rating it 7–8, and a gender split showing wider female viewer participation (66 per cent) vs male (34 per cent)
Such robust ratings point to strong word-of-mouth, particularly among female audiences — a factor that industry observers say is helping sustain box office growth beyond the opening week.
"The King’s Warden" reached the five-million mark two days faster than "The King and the Clown", the first Korean historical film to surpass 10 million viewers, and is tracking similarly to "Masquerade", which eventually drew more than 12 million admissions.
Unlike many recent releases that peaked early and tapered off, this film’s attendance curve continues to rise, a pattern distributors associate with strong long-term potential.
“At this pace, six million admissions look nearly certain, and reaching 10 million is well within reach,” said a senior distribution executive.
Released on Feb. 4, the film has benefited from a favorable competitive landscape. With no major domestic blockbusters scheduled through the March 1 Independence Movement Day holiday, The King’s Warden has maintained wide screen availability and high occupancy rates.
Set in 1457 during the Joseon Dynasty, the film explores the psychological isolation and daily life of the deposed King Danjong during his exile in Cheongnyeongpo, Yeongwol, and his unlikely bond with a village chief seeking to revive his struggling community.
Distributors credit its emotional storytelling and ensemble cast with drawing audiences beyond traditional historical drama fans.
The film’s success follows a challenging 2025 for Korean cinema.
In 2025, no domestic film surpassed the 10-million-viewer mark, an unprecedented outcome outside of 2021 when theaters were largely shuttered due to pandemic restrictions. The year’s most successful local release, "My Daughter Is a Zombie", drew about 5.6 million viewers. The last Korean film to cross the 10-million threshold was "Exhuma" in 2024.
At No. 2 was "Humint", directed by Ryoo Seung‑wan, which drew 100,053 viewers over the same period, with a cumulative total of 1,491,010. The espionage thriller stars Jo In‑sung, Park Jung‑min, Shin Se‑kyung, and Park Hae‑joon.
Third place went to No. 1, directed by Kim Tae‑yong, with 6,724 admissions and a cumulative total of 223,399.
Unlike many recent mid-range hits that cooled quickly after opening week, "The King’s Warden" continued to add audiences heading into its second weekend — a rare sign in the current theatrical landscape.
“The combination of high viewer ratings and strong weekend occupancy gives this film a real shot at reaching the 10-million mark,” said a theater-chain analyst.
If current momentum holds, the film is expected to top six million admissions comfortably in the coming days, and early forecasts increasingly point toward it becoming the first true Korean mega-hit in the post-pandemic era.
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