[Edaily Starin YUN GI BACK Reporter] Director Na Hong-jin’s new film “HOPE” has signaled strong box office potential by climbing to the top of the advance ticket sales rankings just ten days before its release.

As of 10:30 a.m. on the 4th, based on data from the Korean Film Council’s integrated computer network, “HOPE” recorded 63,238 advance tickets sold, ranking second in advance ticket sales. With its domestic premiere yet to take place, the film is already securing a top spot in advance ticket sales just ten days before its release, demonstrating its status as one of this summer’s most anticipated films.
This achievement is particularly significant because it was attained without word-of-mouth from audiences who have actually seen the film. Analysts attribute the surge in advance ticket sales to the symbolic status of it being director Na Hong-jin’s new film, its artistic merit—which has drawn attention from the global film community—and high expectations for its all-star cast.
“Hope” garnered early attention from the global film community after being officially invited to the Competition section of this year’s 79th Cannes International Film Festival. The Cannes Competition section is the festival’s main section where new works by world-renowned masters compete, and “Hope” generated buzz by receiving recognition for its artistic merit and quality even before its domestic release. This explains why audience interest continues to grow steadily, even though the film has not yet been unveiled in Korea.
Excitement for the film is also evident in its star-studded cast. Featuring Hwang Jung-min, Jo In-sung, and Jung Ho-yeon, alongside Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, Taylor Russell, and Cameron Britton—actors representing both Korea and Hollywood—the film has been hailed as having one of the most impressive casts in history.
“Hope” tells the story of Beom-seok, the head of the Hopo Port branch office located in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), who is confronted with an unbelievable reality after hearing reports from local youths about a tiger on the loose. Directed by Na Hong-jin, this genre film blends sci-fi imagination with action, thriller elements, and unexpected humor, and is considered one of the most anticipated releases in theaters this summer.
Distributor Plus M Entertainment previously announced that it will hold a press screening for “Hope” on the 6th at the Megabox COEX Dolby Cinema in Seoul. As this marks the film’s first public screening in Korea following its invitation to the main competition section of the 79th Cannes International Film Festival, it is drawing significant attention from both within and outside the film industry.