Yoo Hae-jin and Park Ji-hoon's 'King of the Land' Surpasses 8 Million Viewers

The film 'The Man Who Lived with the King' has surpassed 8 million viewers in just 26 days of its release, raising expectations for it to be the first film to reach 10 million viewers in 2026. As of March 1st, the cumulative audience count stands at 8,006,326, marking the highest record for a Korean film in the 2025-2026 period.

The movie is a faction historical drama set in Cheongnyongpo in 1457, telling the story of village chief Eom Heung-do, who voluntarily took on the role of exile for the village's prosperity, and the young former king Danjong, Yi Hong-wi, who was dethroned and exiled.

In particular, the film is receiving rave reviews for the outstanding performance of Park Ji-hoon, who plays Danjong, combined with the seasoned acting of Yoo Hae-jin. Park Ji-hoon, a former idol group member, has seen his acting gain word-of-mouth popularity, sparking a trend of multiple viewings and even causing a surge in tourists visiting Cheongnyongpo in Yeongwol, Danjong's place of exile.

Director Jang Hang-jun expressed his gratitude to the audience, saying, "8 million viewers have watched the film, a number that I believe neither I nor the production crew and actors ever imagined. We are all living each day with a grateful heart."

The lead actors also expressed their thanks through handwritten messages. Yoo Hae-jin said, "Unexpected great love. Thank you sincerely!", Park Ji-hoon stated, "Thanks to your love, the movie 'The Man Who Lived with the King' has achieved 8 million viewers! Thank you so much!", Yoo Ji-tae commented, "Just being a part of an 8 million viewer film in my life makes me a successful actor already. Thank you sincerely," and Jeon Mi-do added, "I sincerely thank everyone who empathized with the story of Eom Heung-do and Danjong."