‘The Assassin(s)’ Leads Korea’s Chuseok Box Office Presales
Hur Jin-ho’s historical thriller moved to the front of South Korea’s competitive holiday cinema slate, capturing 31 percent of advance ticket sales as the four-day Chuseok break began.
The Korean historical thriller “The Assassin(s)” has emerged as the early leader in South Korea’s Chuseok box office race, taking 31 percent of advance ticket sales as the holiday period began.
More than 238,000 tickets had been reserved for the film as of 2 p.m. Wednesday, according to Korean Film Council data. The result placed it ahead of several major domestic and international releases competing for audiences during one of the Korean film industry’s busiest seasons.
Directed by Hur Jin-ho, “The Assassin(s)” stars Yoo Hae-jin, Park Hae-il and Lee Min-ho. The film draws inspiration from the 1974 attempt to assassinate then-President Park Chung-hee, an attack that killed first lady Yuk Young-soo. Its combination of modern Korean history, suspense and a prominent cast has made it one of the most closely watched local releases of the holiday period.
Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” ranked second in advance sales with a 17.1 percent share. The film has already attracted more than 11.2 million admissions in South Korea since opening in August, making it the country’s second most-watched theatrical release of the year. Only the Korean historical drama “The King’s Warden,” with 16.9 million admissions, has drawn a larger audience in 2026.
Other Korean films are also seeking a share of the holiday audience. “Tazza: Song of Beelzebub,” the final installment in the long-running crime franchise, held 14.6 percent of advance sales. A Korean remake of “The Intern” followed with 7.2 percent, while director Lee Chang-dong’s Venice prize-winning “Possible Love” accounted for 4.9 percent.
“The Assassin(s),” “Tazza: Song of Beelzebub” and “Possible Love” all opened Wednesday, one day before the four-day Chuseok holiday. “The Intern” had entered theaters a week earlier, giving moviegoers a crowded selection of domestic titles across historical thriller, crime, drama and remake genres.
Holiday periods are traditionally critical for South Korean distributors because families have more time for cinema visits and major films can build momentum quickly. The calendar could provide an extended opportunity this year, with additional public holidays arriving in early October.
The strong reservation lead gives “The Assassin(s)” an advantage at the start, but presales do not guarantee the final ranking. Audience reaction, word of mouth and competition from established hits will determine whether it can convert its early momentum into the next major Korean box office success.