The winner of the Lunar New Year box office was director Jang Hang-jun. His new film 'The King and the Man' has shown explosive box office power, completely dominating the theaters during the Lunar New Year holiday. The good news of its success has brought a refreshing breeze to the Korean film industry.
According to the integrated ticketing system, 'The King and the Man' recorded a cumulative audience of 4,174,928 as of the 18th. This achievement came just 2 weeks after its release on the 4th. Set in 1457 at Cheongnyeongpo, this film has attracted attention even before its release due to the outstanding performances of actors Yoo Hae-jin, Park Ji-hoon, and Yoo Ji-tae, along with Jang Hang-jun's unique directing style.
The speed of its success is unprecedented. It surpassed 1 million viewers on the 5th day of its release, and on the 16th, it easily exceeded the break-even point of 2.6 million. Notably, on the last day of the holiday, the 18th, it reached the milestone of 4 million. This is a record faster than the historical drama hit 'The King's Man', showcasing the best box office trend of the year.
The film's popularity is also contributing to the revitalization of the local economy. In Cheongnyeongpo, Yeongwol-gun, Gangwon-do, where the filming took place, the influx of tourists coming to see the film has been continuous. Various social media platforms are filled with photos of visitors at the Yeongwol exile site, leaving a good example of 'screen tourism'.
The dominance of 'The King and the Man' is expected to continue for the time being. As of the morning of the 19th, after the holiday, it firmly holds the top spot in advance ticket sales, with the number of advance viewers exceeding 150,000. Considering the upcoming holiday period at the end of February and early March, the film industry is focused on the final box office records this movie will achieve.
