Historical Film Starring Idol-Actor Surpasses 4 Million Movie Goers Breaking Records In 2026
The historical film “The King’s Warden” starring Yoo Hae Jin and Park Ji Hoon, has dominated theaters during the Lunar New Year holiday. It surpassed competing film “Humint” (directed by Ryoo Seung Wan) by a wide margin and became the first film released this year to exceed 4 million moviegoers.
According to the Korean Film Council’s integrated ticketing network, “The King’s Warden” drew 660,000 viewers on Lunar New Year’s Day (17th of February) alone, ranking first at the box office. This marks the highest single-day attendance during the Lunar New Year holiday since the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020.
Compared to “Humint,” which ranked second the same day with 210,000 viewers, it attracted more than three times the audience. Released on the 4th of this month, “The King’s Warden” gave up the No. 1 spot to “Humint” only on the 11th — the latter’s opening day — and maintained first place throughout the rest of its run. It has already far surpassed its break-even point of 2.6 million viewers.
The film portrays the final year of King Danjong, the sixth king of Joseon, who was dethroned by his uncle King Sejo and met a tragic death. The story centers on Danjong (played by Park Ji Hoon), who was demoted to Prince Nosan and exiled to Yeongwol in Gangwon Province, and Eom Heung Do (played by Yoo Hae Jin), the village chief of Gwangcheongol in Yeongwol who forms a friendship with him. Yoo Hae Jin’s signature witty comedy and emotional acting, along with Park Ji Hoon’s sorrowful charm, have generated strong word of mouth, expanding the audience base and drawing viewers of all ages to theaters.
For director Jang Hang Jun, the achievement is especially meaningful. Since making his directorial debut in 2002 with “Turn on the Lighter,” this marks his highest-grossing film to date. Previously not strongly associated with box office success, he reinterpreted King Danjong not as the weak figure often portrayed in traditional historical dramas but as an intelligent and determined character, while adding dramatic imagination to the real-life figure Eom Heung Do. With no major competing releases following the holiday, the film is expected to continue its strong run at the box office.
Source: (A)
