‘The King’s Warden’ Surpasses 13 Million Viewers, Signaling Korean Film Industry Recovery
South Korean historical drama film, The King’s Warden (왕과 사는 남자), directed by Jang Hang-jun, has exceeded 13 million admissions as of March 15, 2026, marking a significant milestone for the Korean film industry and demonstrating a potential turnaround from recent recession. The film, released on February 4, 2026, had already surpassed 10 million viewers earlier in March .
A Boost for the Korean Film Industry
The success of The King’s Warden is being hailed as “a glimmer of hope and a meaningful sign of recovery for the frozen Korean film industry.” The film’s initial release saw a slower start, but positive word-of-mouth steadily increased its audience, highlighting the impact of artistic quality and audience choice in a market often focused on short-term box office performance. It is the 25th Korean film to reach 10 million viewers.
Investment and Collaboration
Korea Venture Investment (KVI) played a key role in the film’s production, investing approximately 50% of the ₩11 billion (approximately $6.9 million) production budget through sub-funds established via Fund of Funds contributions. KVI hosted a ceremony on March 17, 2026, at its headquarters in Seoul to celebrate the film’s achievement.
The ceremony was attended by key figures including Lee Dae-hee, CEO of Korea Venture Investment. Lim Seong-hwan, Director of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Tae Eun-jeong, Director of the Korean Film Council; Director Jang Hang-jun; Jang Won-seok, CEO of BA Entertainment; and Shin Ho-jeong, CEO of Showbox. Participants emphasized the importance of continued collaboration between policy financing and private investment for the sustainable growth of the Korean film industry.
About ‘The King’s Warden’
The King’s Warden explores the story of Yi Hong-wi, the deposed King Danjong and his life in exile in 1457. The film stars Yoo Hae-jin, Park Ji-hoon, Yoo Ji-tae, and Jeon Mi-do. Distributed by Showbox, the film delves into the domestic life and psychological isolation of the former king.
An official from KVI stated that the film’s success is “a valuable result created by creators, production companies, distributors, and investors together, and is a symbolic example that shows the possibility that the Korean film industry can leap forward again.” KVI plans to continue supporting excellent content projects through its fund of funds to strengthen the competitiveness of the Korean film industry.