Once We Were Us: Box Office Hit, Third Week at Number One

SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) — The Korean romance drama, “Once We Were Us,” dominated the weekend box office, according to data released Monday by the Korean Film Council.

Released on December 31st, “Once We Were Us” captivated 254,298 moviegoers between Friday and Sunday, surpassing a cumulative audience of 2 million and generating 19.5 billion won (US$13.3 million) in box office revenue.

Starring Koo Kyo-hwan and Moon Ga-young, “Once We Were Us” is a highly anticipated Korean remake of the popular 2018 Chinese film “Us and Them,” originally starring Jing Boran and Zhou Dongyu. This film is trending as a must-see in the Korean cinema scene.

Directed by Kim Do-young, celebrated for her directorial debut with “Kim Ji-young, Born 1982,” the film follows the journey of a young couple, Eun-ho (Koo) and Jung-won (Moon), as they reflect on their relationship and the missed opportunities of their twenties. The film explores themes of love, regret, and second chances.

“Once We Were Us” marks a significant milestone, becoming the first Korean romance film to attract over 2 million viewers since the 2019 hit “Crazy Romance,” signaling a resurgence in the popularity of the romance genre in Korean cinema.

Coming in second was “Choir of God,” a film delving into North Korea’s attempts to secure $200 million in aid by creating a fabricated praise troupe amidst international sanctions. The film offers a unique and compelling narrative.

Also released on December 31st, “Choir of God” attracted 155,282 viewers over the weekend, bringing its total audience count to 683,431.