Home > Entertainment > Movies

'The King's Warden' hits 14 million admissions, becomes Korea's 5th most-viewed film ever

Published: 20 Mar. 2026, 20:19 Updated: 21 Mar. 2026, 15:24

People walk in front of a promotional poster for historical drama film ″The King's Warden″ at a movie theater in Seoul on Jan. 22. [YONHAP]

"The King's Warden" has surpassed 14 million admissions, the film's promotion company Allround said Friday, becoming the country's fifth most-watched film ever.

The milestone comes just two weeks after the historical drama crossed the 10 million admissions mark, a significant threshold in a country of 51 million people.

Only four films, all Korean, rank ahead of it: the 2014 war epic "The Admiral: Roaring Currents" with 17.6 million, the 2019 action comedy "Extreme Job" with 16.2 million, the 2017 action fantasy "Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds" with 14.4 million, and the 2014 drama film "Ode to My Father" with 14.2 million.

Directed by Jang Hang-jun, "The King's Warden" reimagines historical events through a fictional lens, following the unlikely friendship between village chief Eom Heung-do (Yoo Hai-jin) and the deposed King Danjong (Park Ji-hoon) of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) during the latter's exile in the village.

The film has drawn praise for its ensemble performances, which allow viewers to deeply connect with the young king's suffering and the villagers who rally wholeheartedly to his side, as well as its stunning depiction of the real-life exile location, among others.

Yonhap