With the Lunar New Year holiday just days away, the film The Man Who Lives with the King has burst out of the gate on opening day with viral momentum.
According to the Korean Film Council's box office data on the 4th, The Man Who Lives with the King is nearing a 30% reservation share, with more than 140,000 tickets pre-sold—No. 1 among new releases. After topping the presales chart for a week, it continued an upward curve on opening day, keeping the early hype blazing.
The Man Who Lives with the King is set in Cheongnyeongpo in 1457 and follows village head Eom Heung-do (played by Yoo Hai-jin), who voluntarily relocates to an exile site to revive his village, and the deposed young former king Lee Hong-wi (Park Ji-hoon). Inspired by the real-life tale of Eom Heung-do—known as the man who retrieved the body of King Danjong—the film spins a fresh narrative that deftly balances laughs and tears, earning praise as a standout period drama.
The project also drew attention as the latest film from director Jang Hang-jun, known for distinctive storytelling across TV, film, and variety. Since debuting with Break Out in 2002, he has released features such as Forgotten and Rebound, though he has yet to land a true mega-hit. His best box office to date is 1.38 million admissions for Forgotten. The opening-day presales surge has sparked predictions that this could be "Jang Hang-jun's first major blockbuster."
Viewers are praising the tightly woven story that stays gripping even when you know the ending, the emotional push-and-pull between Yoo Hai-jin and Park Ji-hoon, and powerful support from Yoo Ji-tae, Jeon Mi-do, and Lee Jun-hyuk—prompting reactions that it "reaffirms the strength of Korean period films."
The production budget reportedly sits around 10.5 billion KRW, with a break-even point of roughly 2.6 million admissions. As the Lunar New Year crowd kicks in, the film's box office speed is expected to accelerate. Meanwhile, competitors like HUMINT and Number One are set to open soon, setting up a three-way showdown.
All eyes are on whether The Man Who Lives with the King, which captivated audiences across generations from day one, can seize control of the holiday box office.