The success of 'The King’s Warden' continues to make headlines.
The film has now reached third place among all-time domestic releases in terms of audience numbers, while its cumulative revenue of 142.5 billion KRW (approx. 95.7 million USD) makes it the highest-grossing Korean film to date. According to the Korean Film Council’s integrated ticketing system, over the weekend of March 20–22, the film attracted approximately 803,000 viewers, accounting for 52.2% of box office revenue, and maintained its No. 1 position.
As of March 22, 'The King’s Warden' had amassed a cumulative audience of 14.75 million, surpassing the records of 'Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds' (2017, 14.41 million) and 'Ode to My Father' (2014, 14.25 million), placing it third in Korean box office history. Only 'The Admiral: Roaring Currents' (2014, 17.61 million) and 'Extreme Job' (2019, 16.26 million) remain ahead.
In terms of cumulative revenue, the film already ranks first, boosted by rising ticket prices. Its total earnings of 142.5 billion KRW surpass 'The Admiral: Roaring Currents' (135.7 billion KRW) and 'Extreme Job' (139.6 billion KRW).
Director Jang Hang Jun’s first film to cross 10 million viewers, 'The King’s Warden' tells the story of King Danjong (Lee Hong Wi, played by Park Ji Hoon), exiled to Cheongnyeongpo in Gangwon Province, who spends his final days with village chief Eom Hong Do (Yoo Hae Jin) and the people of Gwangcheongol.
Since its release on February 4, the film crossed the 10 million viewer milestone on March 6 and has continued its strong performance. Park Ji Hoon captivated audiences with his nuanced emotional acting and poignant expressions, quickly establishing himself as a leading actor. Veteran actors Yoo Hae Jin, Yoo Ji Tae, and Jeon Mi Do also received praise for their performances.
On March 17, a special stage greeting was held at Megabox COEX in Gangnam to celebrate 10 million viewers, and Director Jang personally thanked audiences with a coffee truck event at the Seoul Shinmun Plaza in Jung-gu.
The film’s success has also sparked renewed interest in King Danjong and Yeongwol. Director Jang is scheduled to attend the opening day of the 59th Danjong Cultural Festival, held April 24–26. Tourist sites Cheongnyeongpo and Jangneung have already attracted approximately 110,000 visitors from January 1 to March 8, surpassing last year’s pace, when it took until June to reach 100,000 annual visitors.
With its record-breaking revenue and historic box office ranking, all eyes are on how far 'The King’s Warden' will continue its unprecedented success.
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