The South Korean historical drama The King’s Warden has surpassed 9 million cumulative admissions just 27 days after its release, placing it within reach of the coveted 10 million mark.
Distributor Showbox said on March 2 local time that the film exceeded 9 million admissions as of Sunday afternoon. On March 1 alone, it drew approximately 817,000 moviegoers, marking its highest single-day attendance since its debut.
The film has demonstrated notable staying power, benefiting from strong word-of-mouth during the extended Lunar New Year and March 1 Independence Movement Day holiday period.
Its pace to 9 million has been comparatively swift. The historical blockbuster The King and the Clown (2005) reached the same milestone in 50 days, while another period hit, Masquerade (2012), did so in 31 days.
Directed by Jang Hang-jun, The King’s Warden recounts the final chapter of the deposed King Danjong, Yi Hong-wi, portrayed by Park Ji-hoon. Exiled to Cheongnyeongpo in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, the young monarch spends his last days forming bonds with local villagers, including town head Eom Heung-do, played by Yoo Hae-jin.
Set against political tensions driven by power broker Han Myeong-hoe, portrayed by Yoo Ji-tae, the film juxtaposes court intrigue with the poignant humanity of a child king forging connections with ordinary people.
Given its current trajectory, surpassing 10 million admissions appears all but certain. If achieved, it would mark the first South Korean film to cross that threshold since Exhuma and The Roundup: Punishment in 2024, signaling renewed momentum in the country’s theatrical market.
