#1
The Admiral: Roaring Currents 명량
17.62M admissions
Kim Han-min (김한민) directed this account of the 1597 Battle of Myeongnyang, in which Admiral Yi Sun-sin led 12 ships against a Japanese fleet of 133. CJ Entertainment released it on July 30, 2014, and it drew 682,882 viewers on its first day, the biggest opening day South Korea had seen for any film, Korean or foreign.3
It reached 10 million admissions in 12 days, the fastest any film had done so. By August 15, 2014 it had passed Avatar (13.62 million) to become the most-watched film ever released in South Korea, and two days later it became the first film to sell more than 14 million tickets there. Twelve years on it is still number one.31
#2
The King's Warden 왕과 사는 남자
16.92M admissions
Jang Hang-jun (장항준) co-wrote and directed this historical drama about the deposed King Danjong during his exile in 1457, his first sageuk (Korean period drama). Showbox released it on February 4, 2026, over the Lunar New Year holiday. On February 16 it drew 537,190 viewers, the biggest single day at Korean cinemas since March 2020.4
It passed 10 million admissions on March 6, 2026, the 25th Korean film (and 34th film overall) to do so. It has also taken more money at the Korean box office than any other film, although The Admiral still leads on tickets sold. It won the Grand Prize for film at the 62nd Baeksang Arts Awards.4
#3
Extreme Job 극한직업
16.27M admissions
Lee Byeong-heon (이병헌) directed this comedy about a squad of narcotics detectives who go undercover running a fried-chicken restaurant. CJ Entertainment released it on January 23, 2019, and it reached 10 million admissions two weeks later, on February 6.5
On February 10, after 19 days, it passed Miracle in Cell No. 7 (#10 here) to become the most-watched Korean comedy ever, and by February 18 it was the second most-watched film in Korean history. It held that place until The King's Warden passed it in 2026.54
#4
Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds 신과함께-죄와 벌
14.41M admissions
Kim Yong-hwa (김용화) adapted the Along with the Gods webtoon into two films, both shot at the same time. Lotte Entertainment released this first part on December 20, 2017. It drew 422,339 viewers on its opening day and reached 10 million in 15 days, by January 3, 2018.6
Its sequel, Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days, followed on August 1, 2018 and also passed 10 million admissions. It is #15 in this table, making Kim one of five directors with two films in this top 25.61
#5
Ode to My Father 국제시장
14.27M admissions
Yoon Je-kyoon (윤제균) tells South Korean history from the 1950s to the present day through the life of one ordinary man. CJ Entertainment released it on December 17, 2014, and by January 13, 2015 it had sold 10,001,709 tickets, the 11th Korean film to pass 10 million.7
The film was made under a standard labour contract enforced from pre-production, limiting the crew to 12-hour days with overtime pay and a weekly day off. Yoon is one of five directors with two films in this table: his 2009 disaster film Tidal Wave is #22.71
#6
Veteran 베테랑
13.41M admissions
Ryoo Seung-wan (류승완) directed this action comedy about a police detective who takes on the third-generation heir of a powerful conglomerate. CJ Entertainment released it on August 5, 2015, and it sold 2.75 million tickets in its first five days.8
It finished with 13,414,484 admissions. A sequel, I, the Executioner, premiered as a midnight screening at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival and drew 7,523,315 admissions in Korea.18
#7
12.12: The Day 서울의 봄
13.13M admissions
Kim Sung-su (김성수) dramatises the military coup of December 12, 1979 in Seoul, using pseudonyms for the real people involved. Megabox Plus M released it on November 22, 2023, and it became the highest-grossing Korean film of that year.9
It won Best Film at the 2024 Blue Dragon Film Awards and the Grand Prize for film at the 60th Baeksang Arts Awards, and was South Korea's submission for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards.9
#8
The Host 괴물
13.02M admissions
Bong Joon-ho (봉준호) made this monster film, about a monster in Seoul's Han River, seven years before Snowpiercer and 13 years before Parasite (#25 here). Showbox opened it on July 27, 2006 on 620 screens, then a Korean record, and its 2.63 million opening-weekend admissions beat the records set by Typhoon (2005).10
It finished its nine-week run with 13,019,740 admissions and was the most-watched Korean film until 2014. Bong is one of five directors with two films in this table.101
#9
The Thieves 도둑들
12.98M admissions
Choi Dong-hoon (최동훈) directed this heist film, released by Showbox on July 25, 2012. It sold 436,622 tickets on its first day, second only to The Host's 449,500, and reached 10 million after 22 days, only the sixth film in Korean history to do so.11
Its promoter later claimed in a press release that it had passed The Host with 13,020,393 admissions after 70 days, but the Korean Film Council counted 12,983,334, leaving the older record intact. Choi's 2015 film Assassination is #11.111
#10
Miracle in Cell No. 7 7번방의 선물
12.81M admissions
Lee Hwan-kyung (이환경) directed this comedy-drama about a man with a developmental disability who is wrongly imprisoned for murder. NEW (Next Entertainment World) released it on January 23, 2013. Its break-even point was only 1.7 million admissions, so it made the highest profit of any film to have reached 10 million at the time.12
It passed 10 million after 32 days, only the eighth film to do so. It has since been remade in Turkey (2019) and Indonesia (2022).12
