The film "The King's Warden" has surpassed 13 million admissions in Korea and is drawing attention after receiving praise following its North American release.
Recently, the film "The King's Warden" (director Jang Hang-jun, distributor/showbox SHOWBOX, production OndaWorks·BA Entertainment, abbreviated "The King's Warden") was released in North America. The English title is "The King's Warden(The King's Warden)". It is presumed the title was changed to a more intuitive one for release considering second- and third-generation overseas Koreans and local audiences who may relatively lack knowledge of the turbulent early Joseon history and era—such as Danjong's tragic end and the Gyeyujeongnan.
What is most interesting is the local reaction after the release. On Rotten Tomatoes, a movie rating site considered one of the places to see honest audience reactions in North America, "The King's Warden" maintained a 96% score on the audience score popcorn index as of 9 a.m. Korea time on the 19th. Although the critic score, the tomato index, has not yet been determined, it is a remarkable achievement given that passing a popcorn index of over 80% on Rotten Tomatoes is considered a noteworthy film.
Above all, the flood of five-star reviews from overseas audiences attracted attention. One viewer said, "It's a fantastic movie. Don't think too much, just watch it. It's intense, fun, charming, emotional, very sad and moving. You will have an emotionally satisfying experience like riding a roller coaster," offering a strong recommendation for the film.
There were also praises that transcended language, such as "Rare among this year's works, a beautiful and moving film. There is pure and sincere friendship that transcends class and age," and "An intense and amazing film. Don't be intimidated by the subtitles. Highly recommended."
There were also tributes to the actors' performances. One read, "An overwhelmingly beautiful film! I love Yoo Hai Jin," praising actor Yoo Hai Jin for his passionate portrayal of the protagonist Eom Heung-do, while others said, "History comes alive. Wonderful actors," praising the overall cast.
Alongside the praise, there were responses pointing out the film's lack of historical background. In fact, "The King's Warden" unfolds its story after the Gyeyujeongnan, when Grand Prince Suyang had already ascended the throne as King Sejo and Danjong had been demoted to retired king. As a result, with the absence of Grand Prince Suyang and King Sejo, the film focused the center of evil on a new interpretation of Han Myeong-hoe, played by actor Yoo Ji-tae.
One comment even appeared saying, "The person who killed Danjong is No. 456 from Squid Game Season. Watch the Korean film The Face Reader," prompting curiosity about King Sejo, who ousted his nephew. The recommendation of The Face Reader, which is praised as the Korean film that most powerfully depicts Grand Prince Suyang as played by Lee Jung-jae, drew laughs.
"The King's Warden" depicts the year 1457 at Cheongnyeongpo, telling the story of a village headman who volunteered himself into exile for the revival of the village and a young former king exiled from the throne. It beautifully portrays the story of Joseon's young king Danjong (Park Jihoon), who was deprived of the throne by his uncle at a young age and ultimately killed, and Eom Heung-do, who risked his life to handle his final moments, earning praise. Riding that momentum, it has recorded more than 13.8 million cumulative admissions in Korea as of the 18th and is meeting overseas fans with its North American release.
[Photo] Provided by SHOWBOX, source Rotten Tomatoes homepage.
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