‘The Man Who Lives with the King’ Breaks Box Office Records
‘The Man Who Lives with the King’ is now Korea's highest-grossing film, surpassing Myeongryang. Learn the term 역대 매출 1위.
‘The Man Who Lives with the King’ is now Korea's highest-grossing film, surpassing Myeongryang. Learn the term 역대 매출 1위.

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EN brief: [속보]‘왕과 사는 남자’, 역대 매출 1위 영화 등극…‘명량’·‘극한직업’ 넘어 (culture) + 1 glossary term.
A new milestone has been reached in Korean cinema history. The historical drama ‘The Man Who Lives with the King’ has officially become the highest-grossing film of all time in South Korea in terms of sales revenue.
According to data from the Korean Film Council's integrated computer network, the film reached this record-breaking achievement on March 21, 2026. It has successfully overtaken previous long-standing record holders that dominated the domestic box office for years.
While the number of admissions is a common metric for success in Korea, the total sales revenue has now pushed this specific production into the top spot. The film's steady performance since its release has shown remarkable longevity at the multiplex.
Industry analysts suggest that a combination of high ticket prices for premium formats and consistent repeat viewings contributed to this financial success. The film continues to screen in theaters across the country.
The cultural phenomenon ‘The Man Who Lives with the King’ has rewritten the history of the Korean film industry. As of Saturday evening, the film's cumulative sales surpassed the previous records held by the 2014 naval epic ‘Myeongryang’ (The Admiral: Roaring Currents) and the 2019 comedy hit ‘Extreme Job’.
While ‘Myeongryang’ still holds the record for the highest number of total viewers (approximately 17.6 million), ‘The Man Who Lives with the King’ has leveraged higher average ticket prices and specialized screenings like IMAX and 4DX to claim the title of the highest revenue generator. The film's production company expressed deep gratitude to the audience for this unprecedented support.
Critics attribute the film's success to its unique portrayal of the relationship between a fictional monarch and a commoner, blending historical accuracy with modern emotional sensibilities. It has resonated particularly well with the 'MZ generation,' who have shared their reviews extensively on social media platforms.
As of this report, the film has not yet shown signs of a significant drop-off in daily ticket sales. Whether it will eventually surpass ‘Myeongryang’ in terms of total admissions remains to be seen, but its financial dominance is now firmly established in the record books.
This phrase translates to "All-time No. 1 in sales." In the context of the news, it specifically refers to the highest grossing financial performance in history for a specific category, such as movies or music albums.
이 영화는 역대 매출 1위를 기록했습니다.i yeonghwaneun yeokdae maechul 1wireul girokhaetseupnida. — This movie recorded the highest sales of all time.
역대 매출 1위 자리를 지키는 것은 쉽지 않습니다.yeokdae maechul 1wi jarireul jikineun geoseun swipji anseupnida. — It is not easy to maintain the position of all-time number one in sales.