History has officially been rewritten. After 47 days in theatres, The King’s Warden has done what seemed nearly impossible — it has overtaken Extreme Job to claim the crown as the highest-grossing Korean film of all time by total revenue. The numbers are staggering, the achievement is monumental, and the Korean film industry is celebrating one of its proudest moments in recent memory.
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The King’s Warden — Box Office Milestones
| Record | Detail |
| All-Time Highest-Grossing Korean Film (Revenue) | ✅ 142.523 billion won (~$94.2M) as of March 22 |
| Previous Revenue Record Holder | Extreme Job — 139.6 billion won |
| Total Moviegoers (Day 47) | 14,757,108 |
| Attendance Ranking | 3rd all-time in Korean cinema |
| Release Date | February 4, 2026 |
| 10 Million Milestone | Achieved in just 31 days |
| Historical Film Milestone | 4th historical film in Korea to hit 10 million+ moviegoers |
The Historic Achievement Explained
According to the Korean Film Council’s (KOFIC) Korean Box Office Information (KOBIS), The King’s Warden recorded cumulative sales of approximately 142.523 billion won (approximately $94.2 million) from its release on February 4 to March 22, surpassing Extreme Job which previously held the No. 1 position at 139.6 billion won, and The Admiral: Roaring Currents at 135.7 billion won.
Let that sink in — a Joseon Dynasty period film has just out-earned every single movie ever released in South Korea. This is extraordinary by any measure.
As of March 22 — the 47th day of the film’s release — The King’s Warden recorded 14,757,108 moviegoers, making it the third biggest box office hit of all time, overtaking Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds and Ode to My Father. The only two Korean films to record a higher number of moviegoers are The Admiral: Roaring Currents (17.61 million total) and Extreme Job (16.26 million).
The King’s Warden became the first Korean film in nearly two years to surpass 10 million moviegoers, achieving the feat in just 31 days after its release. It is also the 25th Korean film to record over 10 million moviegoers and the fourth historical film to do so in Korea.
Learn more about the South Korean film industry and its box office records on Wikipedia.
What Is The King’s Warden About?
Set during the Joseon Dynasty, the film centres on King Danjong (Park Ji Hoon), the sixth king of Joseon, who is betrayed by his uncle and dethroned before being exiled to Cheongnyeongpo in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province. There, he encounters Eom Heung Do (Yoo Hae Jin), the head of the local village, setting the story’s events in motion. AsianWiki
A betrayed young king, a humble village guardian, and a bond forged in exile — it’s the kind of emotionally resonant historical drama that Korean cinema does better than anywhere else in the world. Park Ji Hoon’s portrayal of the tragic King Danjong alongside Yoo Hae Jin’s warmth has clearly connected with audiences on a profound level.
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FAQs
Q: Why is The King’s Warden historically significant for Korean cinema?
It became the highest-grossing Korean film of all time by revenue at 142.523 billion won (~$94.2M), surpassing the previous record holder Extreme Job, and is only the 4th historical Korean film to exceed 10 million moviegoers.
Q: Who stars in The King’s Warden and what is it about?
The film stars Park Ji Hoon as the exiled King Danjong and Yoo Hae Jin as a village leader during the Joseon Dynasty, exploring the bond between a betrayed king and an ordinary man who stands by him.
