Korean Film 'The Man Living with the King' Captivates Global Audiences, Nears 10 Million Viewers

Actor Park Ji-hoon meets global audiences with the hit film 'The Man Living with the King'.

Directed by Jang Hang-jun, 'The Man Living with the King' is set in 1457 at Cheongnyeongpo and tells the story of village chief Eom Heung-do, who voluntarily exiles himself for the village's revival, and the young dethroned king Lee Hong-wi living together. The film has resonated with audiences across generations, achieving box office success and rapidly approaching 10 million viewers.

Receiving rave reviews, 'The Man Living with the King' is now screening in 26 cities across the United States, including New Jersey, LA, Washington DC, Seattle, and Las Vegas, as well as in Canada, Australia, Taiwan, and New Zealand, reaching international audiences.

Notably, the film premiered in Australia on the 19th of last month, garnering significant attention. Local audiences expressed their excitement on social media, with comments like "Thrilled for the Australian release" and "Almost sold out, glad I booked in advance," highlighting the film's global popularity.

Additionally, 'The Man Living with the King' recently surpassed 9 million viewers, edging closer to the 10 million mark. The film's success is attributed to the stellar performances of its cast, including Park Ji-hoon as King Danjong. It remains to be seen if this will be the first domestic film to reach 10 million viewers in two years, following 'The Grave' and 'The Outlaws 4' in 2024.

Moreover, the film has been officially invited to the main competition section of the '28th Udine Far East Film Festival', opening on the 24th of next month. This festival is Europe's largest showcasing Asian films with unique styles. Expectations are high for 'The Man Living with the King' to captivate global audiences with its universal humor and deep emotional impact.

Riding the wave of the film's success, Park Ji-hoon has been named the top rising star in the February 2026 Brand Reputation Rankings by the Korea Corporate Reputation Research Institute. He is also set to appear in the upcoming TVING original series 'The Legendary Cook', and reunite with Wanna One for a variety show, marking his return to the public eye after seven years.

Reporter: Jung Se-yoon, TenAsia yoon@tenasia.co.kr