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How 'The King's Warden' drew in 10 million moviegoers

Published: 06 Mar. 2026, 19:39 Updated: 08 Mar. 2026, 11:01

A still of actor Park Ji-hoon, who plays King Danjong in "The King's Warden" [YONHAP]

Drawing 10 million admissions has become a rarity in Korean cinema, as streaming platforms dominate and theatrical releases face an uphill battle for viewers.

The historical film "The King's Warden" has just reached this rare milestone, hitting the 10 million mark on Friday, after a two-year drought of the coveted benchmark.

Directed by Jang Hang-jun, the film follows the final days of the tragic life of King Danjong (1441-1457), played by Park Ji-hoon, during his exile. Drawing on historical facts while weaving in imaginative storytelling, it paints a picture of how the young king spends his remaining days — ones that, despite their sorrow, are softened by the warmth and kindness of the local villagers led by village chief Eom Heung-do, played by Yoo Hai-jin.

While a combination of factors, including a stroke of luck, undoubtedly contributes to a film's ability to attract such a massive audience, reviews consistently point to Park's performance as a pivotal element in the film's success.

The actor has been credited with convincingly portraying the desperate plight of the young king, who reigned for roughly three years before being deposed by his uncle, King Sejo. He died at just 16 in exile in Cheongnyeongpo, Yeongwol, in what is now Gangwon.

A still of actor Yoo Hai-jin, who plays village chief Eom Heung-do in "The King's Warden" [YONHAP]

On Naver, the country's major search portal, the film has earned an average rating of 8.93 out of 10 based on 6,292 viewer reviews as of Friday morning.

"His gaze is so powerful that you instantly see why Park Ji-hoon was cast for the role," one viewer wrote, a comment that resonated widely, with over 12,700 users giving it a thumbs up.

Even more remarkably, the film marks the feature debut of the actor, who previously made his name in a leading role in Netflix's hit series "Weak Hero" (2022-25)

Yoo Hai-jin, with his signature gift for wringing laughs from the most unlikely moments, brings much-needed lightness to the film. While not losing sight of the film's emotional core, the veteran actor draws viewers into the young king's suffering and brings to life the villagers' gradual, heartfelt transformation into his steadfast protectors.

A poster for ″The King's Warden″ [YONHAP]

Already a household name in Korean cinema, the actor is no stranger to the 10 million-admissions club, having appeared in "The King and the Clown" (2005), "Veteran" (2015), "A Taxi Driver" (2017) and "Exhuma" (2024).

Others in the cast also left their mark: Yoo Ji-tae of "Oldboy" (2003) and "One Fine Spring Day" (2001) delivers against type as the cold-blooded Han Myeong-hoe, a key aide to King Sejo, while Jeon Mi-do brings quiet strength and emotional resilience to Maehwa, the court lady who serves as the king's closest and most devoted attendant.

Another key driver of the film's success is its strong word-of-mouth appeal, establishing itself as a must-see film for all generations and attracting families to theaters in droves over both the Lunar New Year and the March 1st Independence Movement Day holidays.

What draws audiences to theaters is the film's portrayal of Danjong's transformation, "from a monarch abandoned by the royal court to a man who finds common ground with ordinary people, enriches their lives and ultimately summons the courage to stand up against injustice," Yoon Sung-eun, a film critic, said.

Yonhap