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South Korean Films Drew 37.4 Million Admissions but Released Fewer Titles in First Half
Admissions rose 75 percent from the same period in 2025. Ticket sales reached 370 billion won, an 81.7 percent increase, according to data from the Korean Film Council released by Yonhap.
Jul 5, 1:14 AM·1m read1 source
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South Korean films attracted 37.4 million admissions in the first half of 2026, Yonhap reported on July 5. The figure marked a 75 percent increase from 21.4 million admissions in the corresponding period of 2025. Ticket sales for domestic films totaled 370 billion won, or US$242 million, during January through June.
That amount represented an 81.7 percent rise from the prior year. The Korean Film Council data showed 217 new Korean movies released in the first half, down from 240 films in the same months of 2025. Higher attendance and revenue stemmed largely from strong performances by a few titles.
The historical film "The King's Warden," directed by Jang Hang-jun, reached 16. It became the second-most-watched film of all time in South Korea. The zombie thriller "Colony" surpassed 5 million admissions, while the supernatural horror film "Salmokji: Whispering Water" exceeded 3 million admissions by the same date.
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