Medialab Siso, Showbox Co., Ltd.
Actor Jeon Mi-do vaulted into the ranks of 10-million actors with her first leading role in a commercial film. Taking on the challenge of moving from musical and theater stages and the small screen to the big screen, Jeon saw it rewarded as ‘The Man Who Lives With the King’ surpassed 12 million admissions.
Released on February 4, ‘The Man Who Lives With the King’ surpassed 10 million viewers on March 6 and crossed 12 million on the 11th. It is the first 10-million film in two years since the April 2024 release ‘The Roundup 4’, and it has established itself as the top box-office hit of the year. Set in Cheongnyeongpo in 1457, the film tells the story of a village head who volunteers for exile to revive his village and a young former king who was deposed and banished, delivering a deep resonance and winning audience empathy.
This work is all the more significant as Jeon Mi-do plays her first lead in a commercial film. Jeon plays Maehwa, a court lady. By delicately portraying a person who quietly protects Danjong at his side, she reinforced the story mood and heightened immersion.
Jeon ranged from detailed acting that genuinely worries for the young Danjong to quick, witty back-and-forth with Yoo Hae-jin, moving freely between sorrow and anger. With restrained emotion and steady presence, she not only deepened immersion in the film but also drew audience empathy for Danjong, earning praise.
Medialab Siso, Showbox Co., Ltd.
Medialab Siso, Showbox Co., Ltd.
Yoo Hae-jin also offered high praise, saying, “The ad-libs we prepared fit the flow of the piece and are things Maehwa would naturally be able to say. So there are many parts that became very rich.” Director Jang Hang-jun said, “When watching Yoo Hae-jin and Jeon Mi-do act, everyone is watching with smiles. The two had wonderful chemistry. A director feels very happy at such moments.” Yoo Ji-tae, in media interviews, picked Jeon as an actor he would like to meet again, expressing his affection by saying, “She is an actor with great energy. I would like to work together again.”
As such, for Jeon Mi-do, who has been highly praised by audiences, the director, and fellow actors, ‘The Man Who Lives With the King’ is cited as an important milestone in her career. Jeon built her skills over many years on musical and theater stages. As a hit performer in works such as the musical ‘Maybe Happy Ending’ and the play ‘Oslo’, she has been recognized for her acting grounded in solid fundamentals. She later gained broad recognition and love through the tvN drama series ‘Hospital Playlist’. The warm, realistic acting she showed in the series resonated with many viewers and served as an opportunity to broaden her spectrum as an actor.
With the acting depth accumulated across various works, the popularity proven on television, and now the success of this film, Jeon has further solidified the label of ‘a trusted must-watch actor’. In particular, by setting the record of her first commercial-film lead surpassing 12 million admissions, she has secured her place as a noteworthy actor in the film industry going forward.
