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This marks the third Korean film of 2026 to cross the one million threshold, following "What if?" (2.5 million admissions, released December 31, 2025) and "God's Band" (1.11 million). The milestone holds particular significance for director Jang Hang-jun, whose 2023 basketball drama "Rebound" drew only 680,000 viewers against a break-even point of 1.6 million. This success marks a strong comeback three years after that commercial disappointment.

"The King's Warden" is set in 1457 at Cheongnyeongpo in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, and tells the story of King Danjong (Park Ji-hoon), who was exiled after being deposed by his uncle King Sejo, and Eom Heung-do (Yoo Hae-jin), the village chief who receives him. The film drew attention from its production phase as the first Korean feature to fully explore the exile period of Danjong, one of the most tragic figures in Joseon Dynasty history.

Yoo Hae-jin portrays Eom Heung-do, historically recorded as a righteous man who recovered Danjong's body and gave him a proper burial. Director Jang recalled the intense emotions on set: "Yoo Hae-jin was in tears from the morning of shooting Danjong's final scene. When Park Ji-hoon came to greet him, Yoo told him to stay away because he couldn't bear to look at his face." Of Park's performance, Jang noted, "This isn't the depth of acting you'd expect from someone in their twenties. He's careful with his words and actions, very deliberate."

Jang debuted in 2002 with the comedy "Turn On the Lighter," followed by the thriller "Forgotten" (2017) and sports drama "Rebound" (2023), making this his first foray into historical drama. He revealed that his wife, acclaimed drama writer Kim Eun-hee, strongly encouraged him to take on the project, saying "This is a story you can tell well. You absolutely must do it."

The film has been praised for its attempt at fresh interpretation while respecting historical records. Historian Shim Yong-hwan, writing for film magazine Cine21, observed that the film "merged the villain tongyin (a court attendant) and the righteous Eom Heung-do into one character, boldly depicted Prince Geumseong's feeble attempt as a military rebellion, and portrayed a miserable death as one of dignity," calling it "a bold choice that doesn't negate official history."

"The King's Warden" now faces full competition ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, with "Humint" starring Cho In-sung and Park Jung-min, and "Number One" starring Choi Woo-shik and Jang Hye-jin both opening on February 11. As of 8:30 AM on February 9, advance ticket sales show "Humint" leading with 148,500 reservations, followed by "The King's Warden" with 78,000 and "Number One" with 38,600.

The film's performance carries significance beyond a single success story—it serves as an important indicator for the direction of Korean cinema in 2026. Director Jang commented, "Opportunities are becoming scarce now, with good scripts unable to secure investment. We were fortunate to get both funding and casting. This is a critical time for Korean cinema, so I feel more nervous than with my previous films."

The case demonstrates that historical subjects, particularly tragic royal figures, continue to exert strong appeal for Korean audiences. The combination of veteran actor Yoo Hae-jin's reliable box office draw and idol-turned-actor Park Ji-hoon's acting ability appears to have secured a broad audience base. The film's completion is further elevated by a solid supporting cast including Yoo Ji-tae, Jeon Mi-do, Lee Jun-hyuk, and Ahn Jae-hong.

Korean cinema has struggled with a double burden of declining theater attendance and reduced production investment since 2024. Against this backdrop, the stable launch of "The King's Warden" offers a positive signal to the industry. How well it maintains its audience against competing releases during the holiday period, and its ultimate cumulative admissions, will likely set the tone for Korean cinema's 2026.

While the historical drama genre may face limitations for overseas distribution, the film's exploration of universal themes—power, loyalty, and human dignity—through the tragic historical figure of Danjong leaves open possibilities for international film festival submissions. This precedent was set by Jang's previous film "Rebound," which won the Silver Mulberry Award at the 25th Udine Far East Film Festival in Italy in 2023.

Sources

• Newsis, "Yoo Hae-jin's 'The King's Warden' Crosses 1 Million in Five Days", 2026.02.09

• News1, "'The King's Warden' Maintains Top Spot for 7 Days... 'What if?' Crosses 2.5 Million", 2026.02.11

• Cine21, "Bold Yet Conventional – Historian Shim Yong-hwan's Review of 'The King's Warden'", 2026.02.10