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Korean President Lee Jae Myung congratulates film 'The King's Warden' for achieving 10 million moviegoers
Korean President Lee Jae Myung congratulates film 'The King's Warden' for achieving 10 million moviegoers
Korean President Lee Jae Myung congratulated the Korean film “The King’s Warden” for garnering 10 million viewers, the first film to achieve the feat in nearly two years in South Korea.
“I'm delighted to hear the news that the film ‘The King’s Warden’ has surpassed 10 million viewers. This achievement is even more meaningful because it was achieved in just two years since 2024,” Lee posted on X on March 7.
“The King’s Warden” stars K-pop idol and actor Park Ji-hoon, Yoo Hae-jin, Yoo Ji-tae, Jeon Mi-do, Lee Joon-hyuk, and Ahn Jae-hong.
The film is set in 1457 during the Joseon Dynasty in Korea and tells the story of King Danjong (Yi Hong-wi), played by Park Ji-hoon, who is betrayed by his uncle and dethroned. He is exiled to Cheongnyeongpo, Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, and encounters the village chief, Eom Heung-do (Yoo Hae-jin).
“The King’s Warden,” released on Feb. 4, achieved 10 million moviegoers at about 6:30 p.m. KST, becoming the 34th film in Korean film history to reach 10 million moviegoers.
Based on data from the Korean Film Council’s Korea Box-office Information System, on March 6, “The King’s Warden” added 271,755 in total cinema admissions for a total of 10,049,738 moviegoers.
It earned $1,791,167 at the box office on March 6 for a total revenue of $65.12 million.
On March 7, “The King’s Warden” experienced a surge in popularity with 754,549 people watching the film in South Korea.
This led to a total admissions of 10.8 million and revenue of $70 million with a revenue share of 80.36 percent for March 7.
“The King’s Warden” was reportedly produced with a budget of 10.5 billion won (about $7 million) and its break-even point at the box office is 2.6 million people.
The film was directed by Jang Hang-jun, who debuted in 2002 and achieved the 10-million moviegoer mark after 24 years.
"This is an unprecedented situation, so I'm both excited and cautious with my family. I sincerely thank everyone who has congratulated me,” he said through distributor Showbox, Korean media reported.
President Lee added, “The fact that so many people have come to see a film means that the sincerity conveyed by the film has deeply resonated with the audience. I congratulate and thank the director and actors for creating a precious space of empathy, and all the staff who worked hard to complete the film.”
He added, “Korean cinema has steadily grown through the passion and challenges of creators and the love of audiences. This milestone, surpassing 10 million viewers, is also a valuable achievement made possible by the exceptional imagination and power of storytelling by filmmakers, and the unwavering support of the Korean people.”
“I look forward to seeing even more stories shared with the world and loved by everyone. The government will also do its utmost to create a nation where creative freedom thrives and culture becomes a source of national pride. I wholeheartedly support the new challenges and bright future of Korean cinema,” he said.
Lee and his wife, First Lady Kim Hea Kyung, watched “The King’s Warden” during “Seollal” or Lunar New Year in February.
