The King's Warden, directed by Jang Hang-jun, distributed by SHOWBOX and produced by Onda Works · BAE Entertainment, which rose to become the biggest box-office hit of 2026 and drew praise as a powerful historical film thanks to the actors' weighty performances that leave a lasting resonance, has released a riverside poster that leaves a deep aftertaste to celebrate surpassing 9 million viewers.
The riverside poster unveiled by The King's Warden to mark surpassing 9 million viewers captures the wistful figure of Yi Hong-wi (Park Jihoon) in the film, delivering a deep emotional impact.
The released poster depicts Yi Hong-wi, who was driven from the throne and exiled to Cheongnyeongpo, sitting alone by the river playing with the water in a lonely scene. The sight of Yi Hong-wi squatting in a white dopo suggests his longing for freedom even at a young age and evokes a hollowed feeling.
In particular, Yoo Hai Jin, who plays Eom Heung-do, and Park Jihoon, who plays Yi Hong-wi, directly expressed their impressions of the scene in the poster, amplifying audience sentiment. Yoo Hai Jin said, "I remember Yi Hong-wi playing with the water by the river at his place of exile, and I wondered if Eom Heung-do's feelings then were not those of a father looking at his son? He was at an age when he would have been free if not for exile, and it was so pitiable," noting his special affection for the scene.
Park Jihoon also said, "The scene of squatting by the river came from senior Haejin's suggestion. Thinking about it, at the age when you want to run and play with friends, what would you have thought while playing with water alone in exile? I tried to express that feeling of Danjong," and he revealed the behind-the-scenes story of the scene and the painstaking process of trying to portray Yi Hong-wi's complex inner life. The riverside poster, which moved not only the actors but also 9 million viewers, breaks away from the one-dimensional image of Danjong as the 'ill-fated king' and clearly reveals The King's Warden's unique narrative focusing on 'the human Yi Hong-wi.'
Meanwhile, in addition to the actors' passionate performances, audience praise continues for The King's Warden, which deeply captures the narrative of Danjong Yi Hong-wi.
"Although Park Jihoon had few lines, Danjong's sorrow and anger could be felt in his eyes" (CGV, brave****), "I couldn't leave the theater for a while after the scene of Hong-wi playing with the water. How sad must Eom Heung-do have been?" (CGV, sincere****), "This is the first time I've cried my eyes out since Titanic. The aftertaste lingers and I feel hollow just hearing Danjong's name" (Naver, shir****), "The film treated Danjong really warmly and embraces and comforts Yi Hong-wi as a person" (Naver, isky****), "The actors' performances were excellent and the development was superb until the end" (Megabox, enmm****), "Danjong's gaze still flickers before my eyes. Reserving for an nth viewing" (Megabox, olia****), "As a human, Danjong's figure and his love for his people move you. It makes the audience laugh and cry~^^" (Lotte Cinema, Song****), "Seeing Danjong, I was so heartbroken thinking he endured such hardships at a young age. It moved me deeply" (Lotte Cinema, Kim****) — praise for the passionate story that unfolded at Cheongnyeongpo in 1457 is expected to further accelerate the film's unstoppable box-office run.
The King's Warden, which left a weighty impression on the hearts of 9 million viewers with Danjong's hidden story in well-known history, depicts 1457 Cheongnyeongpo and tells the story of a village headman who volunteered to be exiled for the village's revival and the young deposed former king who was exiled from the throne.
[Photo] SHOWBOX
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