As The King's Warden, a film capturing one year of exile in the life of Joseon's sixth king, Danjong, nears the 10 million admissions mark, director Jang Hang-jun said it was "something I had never once imagined."
On the 6th, through SHOWBOX, the investor and distributor of The King's Warden, Jang said, "I'm happy but also cautious. When something this good happens, I feel like the opposite could happen too, so everything makes me cautious," sharing his thoughts.
According to the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) integrated computer network, The King's Warden drew 180,546 moviegoers the previous day, bringing its cumulative total to 9,777,998. In particular, Fridays see more than 30% higher attendance than weekdays, and considering weekend audiences, it appears possible to top 10 million admissions this weekend. If The King's Warden surpasses 10 million viewers, it will be the 34th film overall and the 25th Korean film to reach the milestone.
Regarding why The King's Warden has been loved, Jang said, "Danjong, previously seen as weak, is not simply a frail figure; many people were likely moved by his steady growth into a resolute character and his effort to live as a human being."
Among audience reactions to this work, he singled out as most memorable: "You enter as a viewer and leave as a subject," and "It filled the gaps of history with warmth."
He added, "No matter how tough life gets and how calculatingly we live, I believe there are things each of us wants to protect in our hearts," and said, "I hope people can take a moment to think about questions like 'What am I?', 'What is my meaning (significance)?', and 'Where is the minimum moral Maginot Line I must keep?'"
Jang is currently preparing his next project. He said, "Among the works currently under review, I plan to move forward with my next film."