1200만 관객 돌파! ‘왕과 사는 남자’가 한국 영화 역사에 남긴 기록은?

[TV Daily reporter Choi Hana] The Man Who Lives with the King surpassed 12 million cumulative admissions after an unrelenting box-office run, marking a new milestone in South Korean cinema.

On the 11th, distributor Showbox announced the 12 million milestone on its official social channels. \"A box-office king has emerged,\" the company said, adding that, thanks to audiences' relentless \"'donkey'\" support, the film has followed Pamyo in recording the highest attendance for a Korean film over the past two years. Showbox expressed its gratitude to everyone who went to see The Man Who Lives with the King.

The milestone pushed The Man Who Lives with the King past Pamyo's final total (11.91 million), moving it into 20th place on South Korea's all-time box-office chart. It is now within reach of 19th place, held by A Taxi Driver with roughly 12.18 million admissions.

Set in 1457 at Cheongnyeongpo in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, The Man Who Lives with the King is an epic about the unlikely, deep friendship between village head Um Heung-do (played by Yoo Hae-jin), who volunteers for exile to save his village, and the ill-fated young king Danjong (played by Park Ji-hoon).

Blending historical fact with cinematic imagination and winning over audiences across generations, the film is the first to reach 10 million admissions since Crime City 4, approximately one year and 10 months ago, and has emerged as one of the dominant box-office hits of 2026.

[TV Daily reporter Choi Hana news@tvdaily.co.kr / Photo courtesy of Showbox]