Korean Box Office Breakthrough: ‘왕과 사는 남자’ Surpasses 13 Million Viewers in Record Time!

The film ‘The Man Who Lives with the King’ has surpassed 13 million cumulative admissions, marking a major milestone in South Korea’s box-office history.

Distributor Showbox said on March 15 that the film had topped 13 million admissions nationwide as of 9 a.m. that day. The movie reached the 10-million mark on March 6 — its 31st day in release after opening on Feb. 4 — and climbed to 13 million just nine days later.

That places ‘The Man Who Lives with the King’ eighth among all-time Korean releases, following ‘The Admiral: Roaring Currents’ (17.61 million), ‘Extreme Job’ (16.26 million), ‘Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds’ (14.41 million), ‘Ode to My Father’ (14.25 million), ‘Veteran’ (13.41 million), ‘Spring of Seoul’ (13.12 million), and ‘The Host’ (13.01 million).

The film shows no sign of slowing. Even a month after its release, weekday attendance remains around 150,000; it drew about 221,000 moviegoers on the 13th and roughly 554,000 on the 14th, demonstrating notable staying power. Industry insiders say that if the trend continues, the film could be on track to usher in a new era of 20 million admissions for Korean cinema.

Set in Cheongryeongpo in 1457, ‘The Man Who Lives with the King’ chronicles the exile of a young former king and the village head who shelters him. Praised for its disciplined storytelling and powerful performances, the film has earned strong reviews from critics and sustained audience support through an extended theatrical run.