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| Living with the King / Photo=Courtesy of Showbox |
[Sports Today reporter Lim Si-ryeong] Living with the King has passed 16 million admissions and is now closing in on the No. 2 spot on the all-time box office chart.
On the 5th, the Korea Film Council’s integrated box office system reported that Living with the King surpassed 16 million admissions that morning.
Distributor Showbox said the film reached the milestone on its 61st day in theaters. \”We sincerely thank audiences for coming to Gwangcheon-gol and for becoming the film’s enduring companions,\” the company said.
Set in 1457 at Cheongryeongpo, the film follows village head Um Heung-do (Yoo Hae-jin), who chooses self-exile to revive his hometown, and the young, deposed king Danjong — portrayed by Park Ji-hoon. The film opened on Feb. 4 and surpassed 10 million admissions on March 6.
Despite a steady stream of new releases, the film’s momentum has not slowed. On March 23 it passed 14.75 million admissions and rose to No. 3 on the all-time box office list. On its 61st day, April 5, it crossed the 16 million mark, leaving it roughly 260,000 admissions shy of the No. 2 record set by Extreme Job (16.26 million).
Its cumulative box office has already eclipsed Roaring Currents and Extreme Job to claim the all-time top spot for gross revenue. As of April 5, the total stands at ₩154.3 billion (about $115.7 million), up from ₩142.5 billion (about $106.9 million) on March 23 — an increase of roughly ₩11.8 billion (about $8.9 million). Living with the King is rewriting records not only in admissions but in revenue as well.
The film has ceded first place in the daily box office and advance-ticket rankings to Project Hail Mary. Still, on its 61st day it continues to draw about 100,000 weekend moviegoers per day, keeping the possibility of another milestone alive.
Audience immersion has driven strong repeat viewings, and the film’s cultural ripple effects have expanded into publishing and experiential events, sustaining its long-term box office run. The screenplay volume reached No. 1 on bookstore bestseller lists within three days of preorder sales. Visits to Danjong’s exile site in Yeongwol County, Gangwon Province, totaled about 1,363,000 as of March 23 — an increase of 181,000 year over year. Director Jang Han-jun is scheduled to appear at the Danjong Cultural Festival beginning on the 24th, further extending the film’s cultural footprint.
OndaWorks CEO, speaking after the film crossed the 10 million mark, said that seeing audiences enjoy the movie made him recognize the positive influence cinema can have. \”It made me think that people are actively embracing culture,\” he said. \”The film industry is now competing with exhibitions and a range of cultural activities. I hope films can become a comprehensive medium that connects people to culture.\”
All eyes are on how far Living with the King can climb as it approaches the all-time No. 2 box office spot.
[Sports Today reporter Lim Si-ryeong ent@stoo.com]
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