Movie "Sinui Akdan" (director Kim Hyeong-hyeop, produced by Studio Target Co., Ltd.) has upheld the pride of Korean cinema by climbing the box office rankings thanks to word of mouth from audiences.
"Sinui Akdan" surpassed 300,000 cumulative admissions around 1 p.m. on the 14th and continues its unstoppable run.
The most surprising aspect is the change in ranking. "Sinui Akdan," which started at No. 5 at the box office in its opening week, overtook strong competitors and, entering its third week, climbed to No. 3 at the box office. It broke the unwritten rule of the film industry that rankings decline as time passes after release and instead drew a rising curve.
In particular, its solid box office indicators attract attention. Despite a disadvantage in the number of screens, "Sinui Akdan" has maintained the No. 1 seat occupancy rate since its second week. This figure is far superior to that of the Hollywood blockbusters causing a global box office frenzy, proving how strong actual audience satisfaction and viewing enthusiasm are.
"Sinui Akdan" is a human drama about the story that unfolds when the North Korean security agency hastily assembles a fake praise troupe to earn foreign currency. Park Si-Hoo's sincere performance, returning to the screen after 10 years, and the delightful ensemble of actors including Jung Jin-woon captured the hearts of audiences. Its uniquely weighty emotional code has been hailed this winter as a "must-see movie" for family audiences and is said to be leading a craze for repeat viewings.
The strong performance of "Sinui Akdan" contrasts with the deep slump in Korea's film industry in 2025 and signals a hopeful start to 2026. Last year, Korean cinema suffered from the absence of "10-million viewers" films and polarized box office results, but January 2026 feels distinctly different.
Melodrama "If We" starring Koo Kyo-hwan and Mun Ka-young surpassed its break-even point (1.1 million admissions) 13 days after release, recording the fastest box office pace for a Korean melodrama since "Decision to Leave," and the youth romance "Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight" (O Se-isa) has also passed its break-even point and is sailing smoothly at the box office. Including "Sinui Akdan," which is writing a reverse-climb legend, three Korean films are bringing audiences back to theaters with their genre diversity.
The producer of "Sinui Akdan" said, "We are pleased that Korean films such as "If We" and "Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight" are all doing well, and we think this will be a good start for the Korean film industry. The current film "Sinui Akdan" has proven that the power of a story that moves the audience works," and expressed confidence, saying, "Based on steady reservation rates and seat occupancy that have not fallen even in the third week since release, we will continue a long-running box office race."
[photo] "Sinui Akdan"
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