The King's Warden just rewrote South Korean box office history. With cumulative earnings of 142.5 billion KRW as of March 2026, The King's Warden has claimed the top spot for box office revenue in the history of South Korean cinema.
In light of this achievement, here is a look at the top five highest-grossing Korean films of all time by box office revenue.
A quick note before we begin: South Korea's Korean Film Council tracks box office performance through two distinct metrics, total revenue earned and total admissions (tickets sold), and these two rankings do not always align. A film released in 2026 sells fewer tickets than a 2014 film would need to generate the same revenue, given that ticket prices have risen significantly over the years. This list ranks by revenue, the more direct measure of box-office gross, and the numbers here are drawn from the Korean Film Council.
1. The King's Warden (2026) - 142.5 Billion KRW
- Director: Jang Hang-jun
- RT Score: 97%
- Where To Watch: Currently in theaters
Plot: The King's Warden is a 2026 South Korean historical drama film directed by Jang Hang-jun. It explores the domestic life and isolation of the deposed King Danjong during his exile in 1457. During his exile, he befriends the villagers, who give him renewed hope and friendship. On March 20, 2026, it exceeded 14 million cumulative admissions, making it the fifth-most-watched and third-highest-grossing film of all time in South Korea. Despite holding the revenue record, it currently ranks third in admissions, with 14.75 million tickets sold, as per Korea Herald, behind Extreme Job and The Admiral: Roaring Currents.
3. The Admiral: Roaring Currents (2014) - 135.7 Billion KRW
- Director: Kim Han-min
- RT Score: 88%
- Where To Watch: Prime Video (US), Netflix (South Korea)
Plot: The Admiral: Roaring Currents is a 2014 South Korean historical war epic based on the real-life Battle of Myeongnyang. It documents the leadership of the legendary naval commander Admiral Yi Sun-sin, who faced a Japanese fleet of 300 ships with just 13 of his own. It earned 135.7 billion KRW during its domestic theatrical run and held the revenue record until Extreme Job surpassed it in 2019. By admissions, however, it remains the single most watched Korean film of all time with 17.61 million tickets sold, a record that has stood for over a decade. The King's Warden would need approximately 2.86 million additional tickets sold to challenge The Admiral: Roaring Currents' top spot.
The King's Warden, reaching number one by revenue while sitting third by admissions, is a precise reflection of how South Korean cinema has evolved over the past decade, with rising ticket prices, expanding multiplex infrastructure, and a domestic audience that turns out in enormous numbers for the right story.