The film The King's Warden, which captures one year of the deposed Danjong's exile, has surpassed 10 million admissions.
According to SHOWBOX on the 6th, The King's Warden topped 10 million cumulative admissions as of 6:30 p.m. on the 31st day since its release. It is the 34th film released in Korea to reach 10 million admissions.
With overall theater attendance significantly down, it is the first time in two years that a locally released film has drawn 10 million moviegoers. After Exhuma (11.91 million admissions) and The Roundup: No Way Out (11.5 million) released in 2024, there was no 10-million film last year.
The King's Warden became a 10-million film in 31 days after release. The film surpassed 1 million on day five and 2 million on day 12, then reached 3 million on Feb. 17, the 14th day, and 4 million on day 15. On March 1, 817,000 people watched the film in a single day, the most since its release.
With The King's Warden drawing 10 million viewers, it became the fourth historical drama to reach 10 million. The other historical dramas to do so are The King and the Clown (2005), Masquerade (2012) and The Admiral: Roaring Currents (2014).
The King's Warden depicts the story of a village head who voluntarily chooses exile in Cheongnyeongpo in 1457 to revive the village, and a young former king who was deposed and banished from the throne. Park Jihoon plays Danjong Lee Hongwi, and Yoo Hai Jin plays Eom Heung-do, who watches over Danjong during his exile. Yoo Ji-tae, Kim Min, Lee Jun-hyuk and Park Ji-hwan also appear in the film.
Ahead of the 10-million mark, director Jang Hang-jun said through SHOWBOX, "My family and I are happy yet cautious in a situation we never once imagined," adding, "I am grateful for the many congratulatory messages."