“The King’s Warden,” a Korean historical film, has reached a significant milestone, surpassing 10 million admissions just over a month after its February 4th premiere. This achievement makes it the first film – domestic or foreign – to reach this mark in two years.
The last films to achieve this level of success were “Exhuma,” a supernatural thriller released in February 2024 with 11.9 million viewers, and “The Roundup: Punishment,” the fourth installment in the action-crime series starring Ma Dong-seok, which garnered 11.5 million viewers two months later.
“The King’s Warden” exceeded its break-even point of 2.6 million admissions during the Lunar New Year holiday and has maintained its position as the top film at the Korean box office since then.
Directed by Jang Hang-jun, known for works like “Break Out” (2002) and “Rebound” (2023), “The King’s Warden” offers a fictionalized take on historical events. The film centers on the unlikely friendship between village chief Eom Heung-do (Yoo Hai-jin) and the exiled King Danjong (Park Ji-hoon).
The movie has been praised for its strong ensemble cast, which allows audiences to connect with King Danjong’s plight and the dedication of the villagers who support him. The stunning depiction of the real-life exile location has also been a highlight.
