‘The King’s Warden,’ starring Wanna One’s Park Ji Hoon, becomes South Korea’s highest-grossing film of all time

According to The Korea Heralddata released Sunday by the Korean Film Council showed that “The King’s Warden” has overtaken previous record holders “Extreme Job” (2019), which earned 139.6 billion won, and “The Admiral: Roaring Currents” (2014), which brought in 135.7 billion won.

Directed by Jang Hang Jun, “The King’s Warden” premiered on Dec. 29, 2025, and quickly gained traction at the box office, buoyed by strong word-of-mouth and audience interest in its historical narrative.

The film tells the tragic story of King Danjong of the Joseon era, portrayed by Park. Exiled to Cheongnyeongpo in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, the young monarch forms poignant bonds with local villagers as he navigates political upheaval and personal loss.

Blending historical drama with emotional storytelling, “The King’s Warden” has resonated with audiences for its humanizing portrayal of a fallen king, while also marking a significant milestone in Park’s transition from K-pop idol to leading big-screen actor.

The film currently ranks third in all-time admissions. It has drawn 14.75 million viewers in a country of roughly 51 million people, surpassing “Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds” (2017) and “Ode to My Father” (2014), which recorded 14.41 million and 14.25 million viewers respectively. It trails only “The Admiral: Roaring Currents,” which holds the top spot with 17.61 million admissions, and “Extreme Job” with 16.26 million.

The film’s success has come as a surprise to its creators. Earlier this month, after it crossed the 10 million admissions mark, Lim Eun Jung, CEO of production company Onda Works, told The Korea Times she “never imagined” such an achievement.

“Given how difficult the market has been lately, our initial goal was just to break even,” she said. “Before the release, the director and I cautiously whispered to each other that we hoped to double the break-even point since it was a holiday season, but the actual response from the public has been beyond our wildest dreams.”

According to Chosun Bizthe net production cost of “The King’s Warden” is estimated at 10 billion won, with its break-even point set at approximately 2.6 million cumulative admissions.

To mark the 10 million admissions milestone, Jang also hosted a public event in Seoul on March 12, handing out 200 cups of coffee to fans as a gesture of appreciation.