Korean films, Q1 2026: the quarter in review
Editors Β· 2026-10-05
One historical drama carried the Korean box office in the first quarter of 2026. The King's Warden, released in February, passed 10 million admissions and climbed to second place on the all-time chart, while Ryoo Seung-wan's espionage film Humint opened the same month.
Admissions are based on figures from the Korean Film Council's box office system (KOBIS) and Wikipedia.
The King's Warden β the 34th film to reach 10 million
Released on February 4, the film tells the story of the boy king Danjong, who loses his throne to his uncle, Grand Prince Suyang, and is exiled to Cheongnyeongpo in Yeongwol, and of a village chief who believes hosting the exile will revive his village. It is director Jang Hang-jun's first historical film, starring Yoo Hae-jin, Park Ji-hoon, Yoo Ji-tae and Jeon Mi-do.
On March 6 it became the 34th film released in Korea to pass 10 million admissions, and as of July 2026 it had drawn 16.91 million viewers, ranking second in all-time admissions and first in box office revenue. It won the Grand Prize at the 62nd Baeksang Arts Awards.
The King's WardenView title details βHumint β espionage in Vladivostok
Written and directed by Ryoo Seung-wan, this espionage action film opened on February 11. After losing an informant, a black-ops agent of the National Intelligence Service follows the trail to Vladivostok and recruits a North Korean restaurant worker as a new source. About 1.98 million people saw it in theaters.
HumintView title details βHeartman β a Korean take on an Argentine comedy
Released on January 14, this comedy (English title Heartman: Rock and Love) remakes the 2015 Argentine film No Kids (Sin hijos). Kwon Sang-woo and Moon Chae-won star, with Park Ji-hwan and Pyo Ji-hoon (P.O) in supporting roles.
Heartman: Rock and LoveView title details βProject Y β a crime noir with Han So-hee and Jeon Jong-seo
Directed and co-written by Lee Hwan, this crime noir opened on January 21. Han So-hee plays Yoon Mi-seon and Jeon Jong-seo plays Lee Do-kyung, with Kim Shin-rok, Jung Young-joo and Kim Sung-cheol co-starring.
Along with Heartman, it later appeared on Netflix's weekly Top 10 in Korea after the quarter ended.
Project YView title details β