South Korea's Box Office Milestone: "The King’s Warden" Surpasses 15 Million Admissions

The historical drama "The King’s Warden," directed by Jang Hang-jun and featuring stars Yoo Hae-jin and Park Ji-hoon, has achieved a significant milestone at the South Korean box office, surpassing 15 million admissions during the weekend of March 27–29, 2026. The film added $3.3 million over the weekend, bringing its cumulative gross to $99.4 million, just shy of the $100 million mark. This achievement solidifies its status as the highest-grossing film of all time in South Korea, having already surpassed the previous revenue record of $93.7 million held by "Extreme Job."

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As of now, "The King’s Warden" ranks third in total admissions, needing less than 650,000 tickets to overtake "Extreme Job," which holds the second position with 16.26 million admissions. The film's impressive attendance figures reflect its popularity among audiences, with a total of 15,615,948 admissions recorded.

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In the competitive landscape of the South Korean box office, "The King’s Warden" faced notable contenders. The Hollywood science-fiction film "Project Hail Mary" maintained a strong presence, earning $2.9 million from 391,882 admissions since its debut on March 18, 2026, with a cumulative gross of $8.6 million. Meanwhile, the Japanese animated feature "Detective Conan the Movie: The Last Wizard of the Century" debuted in third place, grossing $330,899 over the weekend and totaling $360,912 since its launch.

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Other films in the top ten included Pixar’s "Hoppers," which reached a cumulative total of $4.6 million, and "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba Infinity Castle Arc," which grossed $40.8 million overall. The overall market gross for the weekend was $7.9 million, a notable decline from the previous week's $15.5 million.

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While "The King’s Warden" has garnered significant acclaim and box office success, some critics have raised concerns regarding the portrayal of historical events and figures within the film. Dissenting voices argue that the film may oversimplify complex historical narratives, potentially leading to misconceptions among viewers.

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Industry experts have praised "The King’s Warden" for its production quality and storytelling. A representative from the film's production team stated, "We are thrilled with the audience's response and hope to continue sharing our rich history through cinema."

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As "The King’s Warden" continues its record-breaking trajectory, it remains to be seen how it will influence future productions and audience expectations in the South Korean film industry.

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