Park Ji Hoon's 'The King's Warden' nears 10 million admissions as global release expands to the U.S., Canada, and beyond

04 Mar 2026, 22:09 by K-Soul · allkpop

Actor Park Ji Hoon is set to meet global audiences amid the box office phenomenon of 'The King's Warden.'

The film 'The King's Warden' tells the story set in 1457 at Cheongnyeongpo, where village chief Eom Heung Do voluntarily exiles himself in hopes of reviving his struggling community and ends up living alongside the young deposed king Lee Hong Wi. Since its release, the film has resonated deeply with viewers of all generations, achieving major commercial success and racing steadily toward the coveted 10 million admissions mark.

Amid glowing reviews and enthusiastic audience responses, 'The King's Warden' is expanding overseas. The film is set to screen in 26 cities across the United States, including New Jersey, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Seattle, and Las Vegas, as well as in Canada, Australia, Taiwan, and New Zealand, broadening its reach to international moviegoers.

Notably, the film opened in Australia on February 19, where it quickly garnered significant attention. Local audiences shared their excitement on social media, posting comments such as, “I’m so moved it’s finally released in Australia,” and “It was nearly sold out. Good thing I made a reservation,” underscoring the film’s growing global popularity.

Recently surpassing 9 million cumulative admissions, 'The King's Warden' is now one step closer to the 10 million milestone. Much of its box office momentum has been attributed to the powerful performances of its cast, including Park Ji Hoon in the role of Danjong. Industry watchers are closely observing whether the film can become the next Korean production to surpass 10 million admissions domestically, following the successes of 'Exhuma' and 'The Roundup: Punishment' nearly two years ago.

Adding to its string of achievements, 'The King's Warden' has also been officially invited to the main competition section of the 28th Udine Far East Film Festival, which opens on April 24. The Udine Far East Film Festival is Europe’s largest film festival dedicated to showcasing distinctive Asian cinema. Anticipation is building over whether the film’s blend of humor and heartfelt emotion will captivate audiences beyond language and national boundaries.

Riding the wave of the film’s success, Park Ji Hoon continues his upward trajectory. He recently ranked No. 1 in the Rising Star Brand Reputation Index for February 2026, as announced by the Korea Corporate Reputation Research Institute, signaling his surging popularity.

Meanwhile, Park Ji Hoon is set to further expand his activities through the upcoming TVING original series 'The Legendary of Kitchen Soldier,' scheduled for release in the first half of this year, as well as a full-group variety program reunion with Wanna One, marking the group’s first complete gathering in approximately seven years.

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