A scene from the historical film The King and the Man Who Lived With Him. / Showbox

The historical drama The King and the Man Who Lived With Him (often shortened to Wangsnam) is on the verge of surpassing the 10 million viewer mark in South Korea, drawing attention to the factors behind its unexpected box office success.

According to the Korean Film Council’s box office data, the film attracted 194,493 viewers on March 3, its 28th day in theaters, bringing total admissions to 9,407,833. As of noon on March 4, the film held a reservation rate of 56.7 percent, making it likely to become the 23rd Korean movie to surpass 10 million viewers — and the first since The Roundup: Punishment in 2024.

Few industry insiders predicted such success before its release. The film revisits the well-known historical episode of the 1453 political upheaval known as the Gyeyujeongnan, a story already depicted many times in film and television.

Skeptics also noted that while the film stars veteran actor Yoo Hae-jin as village chief Eom Heung-do, it lacked a conventional star-studded cast, and director Jang Hang-jun had not recently proven his commercial directing power despite his popularity on television.

Analysts say the film’s success stems largely from fresh interpretations of familiar historical figures.

In the movie, the deposed king King Danjong — played by Park Ji-hoon — is portrayed not as a weak monarch but as a determined young ruler capable of empathizing with common people.

Meanwhile, the powerful strategist Han Myeong-hoe — portrayed by Yoo Ji-tae — breaks from earlier depictions of a small, cunning schemer. Instead, he appears as a physically imposing figure standing 188 centimeters tall and weighing about 100 kilograms, giving the character a new presence.

Director Jang previously explained that while the film includes fictional elements, historical records suggest that King Danjong was intelligent and capable, and that Han Myeong-hoe was known for both his strong physique and martial ability.

Another factor behind the film’s success is its adherence to storytelling formulas proven effective in earlier historical hits. Like The King and the Clown, Masquerade, and The Face Reader, the film explores conflicts and reconciliation between characters from vastly different social classes.

By blending humor with emotional drama, the film captures both laughter and tears from audiences.

Film critic Jeon Chan-il credited the film’s strong direction.

“For a commercial film to succeed, audiences must emotionally connect with the characters,” he said. “Jang Hang-jun’s careful character placement, stable storytelling and balanced mix of comedy and drama made that connection possible.”

He also praised the performances of the cast, noting that Yoo Ji-tae’s role could become one of his most memorable since Oldboy, while Yoo Hae-jin’s performance anchors the film with exceptional depth and presence.

ⓒ "젊은 파워, 모바일 넘버원 아시아투데이"