Korean cinema showed clear signs of a comeback in the first half of the year, and Showbox was at the center of it.
The distributor delivered a string of hits with Once We Were Us, The King’s Warden, Salmokji: Whispering Water and Colony, helping bring audiences back to theaters across multiple genres.
Once We Were Us drew 2.6 million moviegoers, followed by The King’s Warden with 16.9 million, Salmokji: Whispering Water with 3.24 million and Colony with 5.6 million. Together, the four films brought in 28.21 million admissions and about 279.8 billion won (approx. $180 million) in revenue as of June 25th.
Unlike last year, when My Daughter Is a Zombie led Korean films with 5.64 million admissions, this year’s first-half box office was powered by several major hits across different genres, signaling a broader market recovery.
The clear standout was The King’s Warden. The historical drama, directed by Jang Hang Jun and starring Yoo Hae Jin and Park Ji Hoon, opened over the Lunar New Year holiday and built strong word of mouth with its gripping story and performances. Its popularity even spilled beyond theaters, drawing more visitors to Cheongnyeongpo in Yeongwol, the place of King Danjong’s exile.
The film drew 16.9 million admissions, making it the second-biggest film ever at the Korean box office after Roaring Currents, which recorded 17.61 million admissions in 2014. It also surpassed 12.12: The Day to become the most-watched Korean film released since the pandemic began in March 2020.
The King’s Warden also helped set the tone for what followed. Salmokji: Whispering Water and Colony both cleared their break-even points, proving that audiences are still willing to head to theaters for strong Korean films, whether historical drama, horror or zombie action.
Showbox will look to keep the momentum going in the second half with White Blast, starring Kim Yoon Seok and Koo Kyo Hwan.
>> ‘The King’s Warden’ Becomes the Highest-Grossing Korean Film of All Time
In the meantime, watch trending K-dramas for free on Amasian TV.
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