The Korean film The Man Who Lives with the King has officially joined the prestigious "10-million viewers" club.
According to the Korean Film Council's integrated box office system, the film surpassed 10,000,000 admissions on March 6, reaching 10,000,855 cumulative viewers. The milestone was achieved roughly 31 days after its theatrical release.
This makes it the 34th film released in Korea to exceed 10 million admissions, and the 25th Korean-produced film to achieve the feat. It marks the first Korean movie in about two years to cross the 10-million mark, following the 2024 hits Exhuma and The Roundup: Punishment.
Fourth Historical Film to Reach 10 Million
The achievement is particularly notable within the historical-drama genre. Only three Korean historical films previously reached the milestone:
The King and the Clown (2005), Masquerade (2012), and The Admiral: Roaring Currents (2014).
The Man Who Lives with the King capitalized on the Lunar New Year holiday box office surge. During the five-day holiday period from February 14 to 18, the film attracted 2,675,454 viewers, solidifying its dominance at the box office.
On Lunar New Year's Day (February 17) alone, the movie drew 661,449 viewers, setting the largest single-day attendance record for the holiday period since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Box Office Momentum Continues in March
The film maintained strong momentum even after the holiday season. On March 1 (Independence Movement Day), it recorded 810,000 admissions, marking its highest single-day performance. It then surpassed 9 million viewers on March 2, a substitute holiday.
Distributor Showbox celebrated the milestone on social media, writing:
"We welcome the birth of the year's first 10-million film. Thank you to the ten million citizens who chose to stand alongside The Man Who Lives with the King."
Director Jang Hang-jun expressed his gratitude ahead of the milestone, saying he had "never imagined such a situation," adding that he felt both joy and caution while receiving congratulatory messages from many people.
The film tells the story of King Danjong, the sixth king of the Joseon Dynasty, focusing on the young exiled monarch and the villagers who protect and care for him after his fall from power.
