According to industry tracking data released on April 11, the historical drama "The King's Warden" has officially become the second most-watched movie in South Korean box office history, with 16.28 million cumulative admissions within 68 days of its release.
The movie, directed by Jang Hang-jun, is still doing well at the box office and has now passed the 2019 hit Extreme Job, which was previously in second place on the all-time admissions chart.
AllKpop wrote about how quickly the movie became popular, saying that it was able to draw in giant crowds in a short amount of time and solidify its place among Korea's most successful movies.
Showbox, the distributor, said, "Thanks to the audience who knocked on the long-awaited gates of Gwangcheongol, we feel deeply warmed. We sincerely thank the 16.27 million citizens who made their way to Gwangcheongol."
The movie takes place during the reign of King Danjong, the sixth king of the Joseon Dynasty. It follows the emotional journey of a young king who has been exiled and forms an unexpected bond with people in Gwangcheongol.
According to those involved in the industry, the emotionally charged plot and performances by a large group of actors have made it possible for the film to remain appealing to a broad audience.
The transition into critical reception occurred before more reporting from The Korea Times, which confirmed the film's new place in Korean cinema history and its continued success at the box office.
A direct statement from the industry said in a report, "The film has attracted a cumulative audience of 16.28 million as of Saturday morning, outperforming the 16.26 million recorded by the 2019 comedy action 'Extreme Job,' the previous second-place holder," according to Show Box.
The same report went on to say that The King's Warden is in second place for ticket sales, but it has already made the most money at the box office in Korean film history.
The report also said, "In box office revenue, however, it has already became the biggest earner, grossing 156.9 billion won (US$10.56 million), well above the 135.7 billion won earned by 'The Admiral: Roaring Currents.'"
Even though it broke records, the competition at the local box office is still strong, with other movies still drawing big crowds.
According to a final industry update, it was said that the movie still has to compete with new releases. For example, "On Friday, 'The King's Warden' ranked third in the local box office, with 38,000 tickets sold, behind the mystery horror 'Salmokji' with 111,000 and 'Project Hail Mary' with 56,000."
As The King's Warden continues to play in theaters, experts say its long-term position against Korea's all-time leader, The Admiral: Roaring Currents, will depend on how many people keep coming to see it in the next few weeks.
