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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Movies and TV devider 20 top-grossing films in South Korea in 2023 revealed

20 top-grossing films in South Korea in 2023 revealed

Published Jan 3, 2024 04:49 pm

The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) has released the list of the top-grossing films in South Korea in 2023.

Based on data from KOFIC's Korea Box Office Integrated System, there were 1,536 films released in 2023, lower compared to 1,774 films released in 2022. 

Total admissions in Korean cinemas in 2023 reached 125,135,911, higher compared to  112,805,094 in total admissions in 2022. 

The 2023 gross from films released in South Korea in 2023 reached a total of 1.26 trillion won (about $960.14 million), up from 1.16 trillion won (about $884.25 million) in 2022. 

Bagging the No. 1 spot in the 2023 box office in South Korea is the Korean film “12.12: THE DAY,” released on Nov. 22, starring Hwang Jung-min, Jung Woo-sung, Park He-joon, Kim Sung-kyun and Lee Sung-min. 

“12.12: THE DAY” garnered total admissions of 11.85 million and earned a gross of $88.12 million in 2023. 

1212A.jpg

“12.12: THE DAY" (KOFIC)

Placing second is “The Roundup: No Way Out,” released on May 31, starring Ma Dong-seok (aka Don Lee), Lee Joon-hyuk and Munetaka Aoki. It posted total admissions of 10.68 million and gross of $79.97 million in South Korea in 2023. 

thn_c90a340d369f42dbbaace20fec4afaec.jpg

Ma Dong-seok in “The Roundup: No Way Out,” (KOFIC)

Third is the American animated movie “Elemental,” which had 7.23 million on total admissions and gross of $54.33 million. 

thn_dced26e06d6741499ba9d4e10c96d22e.jpg

"Elemental" (KOFIC)

Japan’s “Suzume” is fourth with 5.57 million in total admissions and gross of $43.62 million followed by the Korean film “Smugglers,” which had 5.14 million in total admissions and gross of $37.95 million. It stars  Kim Hye-soo, Zo In-sung, Yum Jung-ah, Park Jeong-min, Kim Jong-soo, and Go Min-si.

thn_ec33a50cdd854e7e9dbcf8eb6b75d259.jpg"Suzume" (KOFIC)

thn_14623edae67b4d788e411c2d198c206a.jpg

Actress Kim Kye-soo in "Smugglers" (KOFIC)

Here are the 20 top-grossing films in South Korea in 2023 based on KOFIC data: 

Rank

TITLE

Release Date

Yearly Gross

(Total)

Admissions

Revenue Share

1

12.12: THE DAY

South Korea
(Plus M Entertainment)

Nov 22, 2023

$88,121,429

11,854,809

9.14%

2

THE ROUNDUP : NO WAY OUT

South Korea
(K-MOVIE ENTERTAINMENT)

May 31, 2023

$79,975,354

10,682,813

8.29%

3

Elemental

U.S.

Jun 14, 2023

$54,331,933

7,238,453

5.63%

4

Suzume

Japan

Mar 08, 2023

$43,626,074

5,574,358

4.52%

5

Smugglers

South Korea
(CONTENTS PANDA)

Jul 26, 2023

$37,956,462

5,143,219

3.93%

6

The First Slam Dunk

Japan

Jan 04, 2023

$38,240,749

4,786,406

3.96%

7

Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3

U.S.

May 03, 2023

$33,886,292

4,209,118

3.51%

8

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One

U.S.
(Paramount Pictures)

Jul 12, 2023

$30,885,247

4,022,072

3.2%

9

Concrete Utopia

South Korea
(Lotte Entertainment)

Aug 09, 2023

$28,581,209

3,849,242

2.96%

10

Avatar: The Way of Water

U.S.

Dec 14, 2022

$36,173,311

3,491,916

3.75%

11

Noryang: Deadly Sea

South Korea
(ACEMAKER MOVIEWORKS)

Dec 20, 2023

$25,997,362

3,437,833

2.69%

12

Oppenheimer

U.S.

Aug 15, 2023

$26,260,862

3,232,774

2.72%

13

The Super Mario Bros. Movie

U.S.

Apr 26, 2023

$17,997,582

2,395,519

1.86%

14

Love Reset

South Korea
(Barunson E&A)

Oct 03, 2023

$16,239,023

2,165,358

1.68%

15

The Boy and the Heron

Japan

Oct 25, 2023

$14,927,654

2,009,401

1.54%

16

John Wick: Chapter 4

U.S.

Apr 12, 2023

$15,245,724

1,924,768

1.58%

17

Dr. Cheon And The Lost Talisman

South Korea
(Filmmaker R & K)

Sep 27, 2023

$14,236,434

1,916,429

1.47%

18

Hero

South Korea
(JK Film, CJ ENM Corp.)

Dec 21, 2022

$13,574,184

1,787,536

1.4%

19

Fast X

U.S.

May 17, 2023

$14,113,215

1,773,424

1.46%

20

The Point Men

South Korea
(Plus M Entertainment)

Jan 18, 2023

$13,339,121

1,721,100

1.38%

 

Related Tags

Korean movies KOFIC
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