'The King's Warden' hits 8 million viewers as director's 10 million pledge resurfaces

01 Mar 2026, 04:14 by hjang · allkpop

The film 'The King's Warden', directed by Jang Hang Jun, has officially surpassed 8 million viewers. According to the Korea Box Office Information System (KOBIS), the film reached a cumulative total of 8,006,326 viewers on March 1, 2026, marking its 26th day since release. Set in 1457 at Cheongnyeongpo, the story follows a village head who volunteers his town as an exile site to revitalize the local economy and his encounter with a young, deposed king. The film’s success is attributed to strong word-of-mouth and a high rate of repeat viewings among audiences.

In response to the milestone, Jang Hang Jun expressed his heartfelt gratitude, stating that neither he nor the cast and crew ever imagined reaching such numbers. The lead actors also shared handwritten messages to celebrate the achievement. Yoo Hae Jin, who plays the village head Um Heung Do, thanked fans for the unexpected love, while Park Ji Hoon, portraying the young king Lee Hong Wi, pledged to continue working hard. Other cast members including Yoo Ji Tae, Jeon Mi Do, Kim Min, Park Ji Hwan, Lee Joon Hyuk, and Ahn Jae Hong also extended their appreciation to the public for supporting the historical drama.

With the film nearing the 10 million mark, a humorous pledge made by Jang Hang Jun has become a viral topic once again. During a recent appearance on the SBS radio show 'Bae Sung Jae’s Ten', the director joked that if the movie reached 10 million viewers, he would change his phone number, name, and even undergo plastic surgery so that no one could recognize him. He further joked about naturalizing in another country to avoid the public eye. As the film continues its strong run through the March 1st Movement Day holiday weekend, industry observers are closely watching to see if it will join the prestigious 10 million viewer club.

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