Box Office Success of 'The Man Who Lives With the King' and 'Humint' Delivers Best Lunar New Year Results Since the Pandemic, Korean Films Up 90%

[Financial News] Thanks to the dual box office success of "The Man Who Lives With the King" and "Humint," theaters have posted their strongest Lunar New Year holiday performance since the pandemic.
According to Lotte Cinema on the 20th, the 2026 Lunar New Year holiday finally brought an end to the film industry’s unusually long slump, as theaters once again filled with the loud cheers of audiences. During this holiday period, screens and viewers overcame both physical and psychological distance and reconnected in a meaningful way. It also marked the most successful Lunar New Year box office since the pandemic, signaling a new spring for Korean cinema.

Data from the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) integrated box office system show that theaters were more vibrant than ever during the five-day Lunar New Year holiday (February 14–18). An average of about 850,000 people visited cinemas each day, setting a valuable new record for the "highest single-day attendance" during a Lunar New Year period since the pandemic. This represents an increase of roughly 58% in average daily attendance compared with last year’s holiday, and it demonstrates that filmgoing has once again become a deeply rooted source of everyday enjoyment for the public, beyond a simple rise in numbers.
Unlike last year, when Korean films struggled somewhat against the onslaught of foreign blockbusters, this year’s Lunar New Year holiday saw Korean films capture more than 90% of the market, winning overwhelming support from audiences.
First, "The Man Who Lives With the King" attracted about 2.67 million viewers during the holiday alone, pushing its cumulative total past 4.17 million. "Humint," which delivers large-scale spectacle and gripping tension on the big screen, has also given audiences an unforgettable sense of immersion and is sustaining strong box office momentum.
A Lotte Cinema representative commented, "This Lunar New Year holiday was a precious turning point that brightly lit the way for audiences to return to theaters," adding, "Throughout this year, we will repay audiences’ support with a diverse range of content and differentiated services."

jashin@fnnews.com Shin Jin-ah Reporter