Kim Hye-yun's 'The Moon' Tops Box Office

The horror film 'Salmokji,' starring Kim Hye-yun, is writing a new box office history for Korean horror films, having held the number one spot for 21 consecutive days since its release. According to the Korean Film Council's integrated network, 'Salmokji' has maintained its top position without a single day's break from its release on April 8th until the 28th, continuing its reign for three consecutive weeks. This marks the longest run at number one for a film released in 2026 and is the second-longest box office run, following the film 'King and the Clown.'

'Salmokji' is a horror film that tells the story of a film crew who encounter an unknown entity while revisiting a reservoir for reshoots, after a mysterious figure was captured during a road view filming. The mystery and tension unfolding in the dark, deep water are captivating audiences and spreading through word-of-mouth. The film is particularly significant for its unusually long box office run as a horror genre movie. 'Salmokji,' which has shown a unique presence in the April cinema market, is further expanding its box office success with strong support from audiences in their teens and twenties who have finished their mid-term exams.

With audience reactions remaining strong even in its fourth week of release, there is keen interest in how far 'Salmokji' will extend its record. 'Salmokji' stars Kim Hye-yun, Lee Jong-won, Kim Jun-han, Kim Young-sung, Oh Dong-min, Yoon Jae-chan, and Jang Da-ah, and is currently showing in theaters nationwide.

'Salmokji' surpassed 2 million viewers, setting the highest box office score for the horror genre since the pandemic, and is the first horror film in 8 years since 'Gonjiam' to exceed 2 million viewers. 'Salmokji,' the feature directorial debut of director Lee Sang-min, is significant for proving the marketability of a project that combines the horror genre with special screening formats.

While 'Salmokji,' currently number one at the box office, has dropped to third place in pre-sale ticket rankings, its strong current box office performance and screen efficiency suggest it will maintain its top-tier defense in the short term. The April cinema market is being led by Korean films, which hold over 70% market share, with the horror genre specifically accounting for the highest audience share at 40.7%. The success of 'Salmokji' demonstrates that Korean horror films can also secure dominance in weekday box office performance.