The film 'The King and the Man' has achieved a significant milestone by attracting an additional 1.25 million viewers over the recent weekend, bringing its total audience to over 13.46 million. This impressive number allows it to surpass previous box office hits such as 'Veteran' from 2015 and 'Seoul's Spring' from 2023, ranking it 8th among all-time blockbusters in South Korea, and 5th if considering only domestic films. It has also emerged as the highest-grossing film released after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Released on September 4th, 'The King and the Man' has resonated well with viewers, depicting the story of the 16-year-old deposed king Danjong, who spends his final years in exile in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, surrounded by local villagers led by the chief, Eom Heung-do. Its success reflects not only its engaging narrative but also the return of audiences to theaters following pandemic restrictions, demonstrating a renewed interest in film after a challenging period for the industry.

The film is now positioned just below blockbuster titles like 'Avatar', 'Frozen II', and 'Avengers: Endgame' in the box office rankings. This resurgence in film popularity signifies a potential recovery for the South Korean film industry and illustrates the impact of storytelling that resonates with domestic audiences, particularly in a post-pandemic context where people are eager to return to shared cinematic experiences.