Poster for ‘The Man Who Lives with the King’. Provided by Showbox.
The film ‘The Man Who Lives with the King(Wangsanam)’ completely dominated theaters during the March 1st holiday.
According to the Korean Film Council integrated ticketing network, ‘The Man Who Lives with the King’ drew 817,207 moviegoers on the 1st alone. As of the 2nd, cumulative admissions stand at 9,213,408. Released on February 4, the film surpassed 9 million admissions in 27 days, further quickening its pace toward the 10-million milestone.
In particular, during the March 1st holiday period (February 28~March 2), it drew a total of 728,982 viewers, exceeding the 653,641 recorded over the Lunar New Year holiday (February 16~18). That means more people flocked to theaters than during the period typically regarded as the peak season.
To commemorate surpassing 9 million, ‘Wangsanam’ also unveiled a riverside poster.
The poster depicts Lee Hong-wi, pushed from the throne and exiled to Cheongnyeongpo, crouching alone by the riverside and splashing in the water. The young monarch in a white robe gazes at the quiet river, evoking his longing for freedom and leaving a lasting impression.
Yoo Hae-jin, who plays Eom Heung-do, said of the scene, “The image of Lee Hong-wi playing with the water on the riverbank at the place of exile has stayed with me for a long time,” and added, “In that moment, Eom Heung-do felt like a father looking at his son. It was heartbreaking that he had to be in exile at an age when he should be running free.”
Poster for ‘The Man Who Lives with the King’. Provided by Showbox.
With its holiday momentum continuing, attention is focused on when ‘The Man Who Lives with the King’ will reach the 10-million admissions mark.
