The cultural phenomenon surrounding the film ‘The King and the Man,’ which has drawn 5.8 million viewers, is manifesting in reality.
The movie ‘The King and the Man’ (directed by Jang Hang-jun), which has topped the weekend box office for three consecutive weeks and is nearing 6 million admissions, is sparking a surge of interest in history and visits to cultural heritage sites.
‘The King and the Man’ tells the story of a village chief who voluntarily chose exile in Cheongryeongpo in 1457 to revitalize his village, and a young, deposed former king in exile. It centers on the real-life figures of Joseon’s 6th monarch, King Danjong, and Eom Heung-do.
Park Ji-hoon, portraying Danjong’s sorrowful demeanor, and Yoo Hae-jin, playing Eom Heung-do, have garnered widespread praise and affection for their performances across various platforms. Eom’s steadfast loyalty to Danjong through dangerous times, and even arranging his funeral, deeply resonated with audiences.
Following the buzz around the actors’ stage greetings, viewers started visiting Cheongryeongpo, Danjong’s actual place of exile, and Danjong’s tomb.
During the Lunar New Year holiday, visitor numbers to Cheongryeongpo reportedly surged fivefold compared to the previous year, underscoring the film’s influence. Additionally, some netizens gained significant attention for leaving heartfelt reviews at Jangneung in Yeongwol, expressing their empathy for Danjong.
Netizens responded positively, giving perfect scores and leaving comments such as, “Rest in peace, Danjong,” “I’ve become Eom Heung-do in spirit,” “Please watch ‘The King and the Man,'” and “I cried so much. Be happy.”
The review pages are now flooded with the film’s posters, still cuts of Park Ji-hoon, and crying memes.
Cultural heritage sites, such as Gwangneung, King Sejo’s tomb, are also experiencing negative reviews. Some viewers have left emotionally charged comments alongside movie posters, asking, “How could he treat his nephew like that?” and “Did you have to do that to someone so young? Aren’t you sorry to Danjong?” Commenters also noted learning new historical facts from these reviews.
One mapping platform even implemented a “safe mode,” temporarily halting reviews due to a flood of low ratings and emotionally charged comments.
Netizens are discussing this phenomenon, commenting, “It’s fascinating how the movie has sparked interest in cultural heritage,” “It’s been a while since a movie had such a real-world impact,” “While the ‘review bombing’ is concerning, it’s wonderful that young viewers are rediscovering Korean history,” and “We need more films like this.”
Many are expressing interest in the final box office tally for ‘The King and the Man,’ which has become the biggest hit of 2026, and are curious about Director Jang Hang-jun’s promise.
Director Jang amused listeners during an appearance on SBS Power FM ‘Bae Sung-jae’s Ten’ on the 29th of last month. He joked, “There’s no way it will hit 10 million, but if it does, I might change my phone number, get plastic surgery, and even naturalize elsewhere so no one recognizes me. Perhaps I’ll buy a yacht and throw a boat party. But becoming a 10-million-viewer director sounds exhausting.”
As the film approaches 6 million viewers, fans are supporting him with amusing comments such as, “We hope Director Jang gets his surgery,” “Change your name to Hang-joonie,” and “How about a boat party with the audience?”
Meanwhile, ‘The King and the Man’ is currently screening nationwide.
