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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Movies and TV devider Hit Korean film 'The King's Warden' reaches 16 million moviegoers

Hit Korean film 'The King's Warden' reaches 16 million moviegoers

Published Apr 5, 2026 02:24 pm
Park Ji-hoon in "The King's Warden" (Showbox / KOFIC)
Park Ji-hoon in "The King's Warden" (Showbox / KOFIC)

The Korean blockbuster film “The King’s Warden” achieved another milestone by garnering 16 million moviegoers in South Korea.

Showbox, the film’s distributor, announced that “The King’s Warden” reached the new record on April 5. 

On April 4, the movie reached 15,997,310 moviegoers. Since opening on Feb. 4 up to April 4, the film has earned $102.23 million at the Korean box office, according to data from the Korean Film Council (KOFIC). It reached 15 million viewers on March 25. 

The historical film stars Park Ji-hoon, Yoo Hae-jin, Yoo Ji-tae, Jeon Mi-do, Lee Joon-hyuk, and Ahn Jae-hong.

Set in 1457 during the Joseon Dynasty in Korea, the historical film 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" (Showbox / KOFIC)
"The King's Warden" (Showbox / KOFIC)
"The King's Warden" (Showbox / KOFIC)

It was revealed that eight out of every 100 viewers of the film watched the movie multiple times. 

According to cinema CGV, 5.2 percent of the audience for “The King’s Warden” watched it twice, and three percent watched it three or more times or that 8.2 percent of the audience saw it two or more times, Korean media reported. 

The film shared this achievement among all-time 10-million-viewer movies such as “12.12: The Day” (2023) and “Masquerade” (2012).

A CGV official said,”’ The King’s Warden’ is being viewed relatively evenly across all age groups, showing widespread popularity, while also generating demand for repeat viewings. The emotional resonance of the work, along with the preference for the actors and narrative, has created a highly immersive audience.”

As of April 5, “The King’s Warden” ranks third in box office success among all domestic releases, following “The Admiral: Roaring Currents,” which achieved it in 2014 and tallied 17.61 million moviegoers, and “Extreme Job” in 2019, which has 16.26 million moviegoers. 

Film critic Yoon Sung-eun analyzed the re-watching craze, saying, "The actors' dialogue and performances provide subtle enjoyment, making it easy to watch a movie you have already seen again. Additionally, the fandom of actor Park Ji-hoon, who, as a newcomer, successfully captured the melancholic atmosphere of Danjong, also played a role."

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