Director Jang Hang-jun's film "The Man Who Lives with the King" surpassed 9 million cumulative viewers just 27 days after its release. According to distributor Showbox on the 2nd, the cumulative audience reached 9,001,818 around 2 p.m. that day. The film gained momentum at the box office through word of mouth during the Lunar New Year and March 1st holidays. In particular, on March 1st alone, 817,205 people watched the film, marking the highest daily audience since its release.

The speed of "The Man Who Lives with the King" surpasses that of historical films that have recorded 10 million viewers in the past. "The King and the Clown," released in 2005, reached 9 million viewers in 50 days, and "Masquerade," released in 2012, did so in 31 days. This film tells the story of the deposed Danjong Lee Hong-wi (Park Ji-hoon) spending the last period of his life at Cheongnyeongpo in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, with village chief Eom Heung-do (Yoo Hae-jin) and others.

The film powerfully portrays the process of young Danjong connecting with ordinary people through the conflicts and tension created by Han Myeong-hoe (Yoo Ji-tae), a key figure in power. Selected by the Gangwon Film Commission as a supported project for filming in Gangwon in 2025, the film was shot at various locations including Cheongnyeongpo in Yeongwol, Hwaamsa Temple in Goseong, and the Dongmakgol set in Pyeongchang.

Considering the increasing audience trend, it is regarded as a foregone conclusion that "The Man Who Lives with the King" will surpass 10 million viewers. If it exceeds 10 million viewers, it will become the first new 10 million film in the Korean film industry in two years since "Pawn" and "The Outlaws 4" in 2024.

According to the Korea Film Council's integrated ticket sales system, "The Man Who Lives with the King" has established itself as the highest-grossing film of the year. Audiences have praised the passionate performances of the actors. The main cast, including Park Ji-hoon as Danjong, Yoo Hae-jin as the village chief, Yoo Ji-tae as Han Myeong-hoe, and Jeon Mi-do as a court lady, each excellently embody their roles, drawing viewers deeply into the story.

The film's story centers on the conflicts and human relationships Danjong experiences after his deposition and exile. Through this work, audiences experience profound reflections on tragic history and the essence of humanity.

With the rapid increase in audience numbers, "The Man Who Lives with the King" is setting a new milestone in box office success. The film's success reaffirms the potential of the Korean historical drama genre and raises expectations for future box office achievements.