Yoo Hae-jin and Park Ji-hoon’s new period drama movie "The King's Warden" has climbed to No. 1 in advance ticket sales nearly two weeks before release.
On Jan. 22, the Korean Film Council’s real-time chart showed the film commanding 15.8% of presales with 57,000 tickets booked, topping both share and volume. Rival title "HUMINT" had held the lead, but the rankings flipped after press and public previews on Jan. 21.
Set in 1457 at Cheongnyeongpo, the film follows a village head who chooses exile to revive his town and a young, dethroned king banished there. Yoo Hae-jin plays Eom Heung-do, the chief of Yeongwol, while Park Ji-hoon portrays the deposed monarch Lee Hong-wi.
Early reactions praise the film’s emotional punch, weaving historical record and imagination to reexamine the deposed king’s exile and death. The ensemble―Yoo Hae-jin, Park Ji-hoon, Yoo Ji-tae, and Jeon Mi-do―also drew strong notices.
Opening the first week of February, "The King's Warden" is aiming squarely at the Lunar New Year corridor, setting up a box-office showdown with "HUMINT", which lands just before the holiday. A prestige period piece versus an action title should make for a heated holiday frame.
"The King's Warden" opens Feb. 4.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)