The film The King’s Warden (directed by Hang-jun Jang) has blasted past KRW 150 billion in cumulative gross, shaking up South Korea’s all-time box office rankings. ‘The King’s Warden’ is extending its record streak in both revenue and admissions.
According to the Korean Film Council’s integrated box office system on the 30th, the film’s cumulative admissions have reached 15,615,945. That figure is closing in on the all-time No. 2, Extreme Job (16.26 million).
Over the weekend alone, it drew 511,885 moviegoers and, as of the 29th, recorded KRW 150.7 billion in gross revenue—already securing the title of the highest-grossing film ever in Korea. With a net production budget of KRW 10.5 billion, ‘The King’s Warden’ has delivered roughly a 14-fold return on investment, emerging as a mega-hit in an otherwise sluggish theatrical market.
Set in 1457, the film follows village head Eom Heung-do (Hae-jin Yoo), who voluntarily chooses exile for the sake of his community, and the young exiled king, Danjong (Ji-hoon Park). Since its release, the film has sparked intense nationwide buzz.