Korean Film '16 Million' Box Office Hit

The movie 'The Man Who Lived with the King' has surpassed 16 million cumulative viewers, ranking third in the all-time Korean film box office. Distributor Showbox announced on the morning of the 5th that the film had exceeded 16 million viewers.

To date, only 'The Admiral: Roaring Currents' (17.61 million viewers) and 'Extreme Job' (16.26 million viewers) have drawn over 16 million people in domestic releases. 'The Man Who Lived with the King' now ranks third, following these two films. The box office gap with 'Extreme Job' is approximately 260,000 viewers, and if this trend continues, it is possible for the film to become the second highest-grossing film of all time.

Although the increase in viewers has slowed somewhat after recently losing the number one spot at the box office to the SF blockbuster 'Project Hail Mary,' the film continues to enjoy steady popularity, with over 150,000 people still watching the movie on weekends.

'The Man Who Lived with the King' is a film that warmly depicts the story of Yi Hongwi (played by Park Ji-hoon), the deposed King Danjong, after being exiled to Yeongwol in Gangwon Province, as he mingles with the villagers, including the village chief Eom Heung-do (played by Yoo Hae-jin). After its release on February 4th, the movie surpassed 10 million viewers on March 6th, just over a month later, and has shown a rapid pace of success, exceeding 15 million viewers in 50 days.

The reasons for the film's box office success are attributed to its narrative that resonates with the audience and the solid acting skills of the cast, including Yoo Hae-jin and Park Ji-hoon. Additionally, director Jang Hang-jun, known for his familiar image, helming the production has also contributed to drawing public attention.