[Edaily Starin YUN GI BACK Reporter] In the first half of this year, Korean films dominated the box office. Led by *The Man Who Lives with the King*, which drew 16.9 million viewers, films such as *Salmokji* and *Gunche* also enjoyed successive box office successes, pushing the market share of Korean films to its highest level in the past five years. However, with the exception of Director Na Hong-jin’s “Hope,” there are few major Korean film releases scheduled for the second half of the year, while a large number of Hollywood blockbusters are set to hit theaters, suggesting the competition for box office dominance is entering a new phase.

◇ 217 Korean Films Released… Korean Film Audience Up 74.9%
According to the Korean Film Council’s integrated computer network on the 6th, the number of viewers for Korean films in the first half of this year reached 37,369,886, accounting for 63.5% of the total audience. The number of viewers for foreign films stood at 19,675,138 (33.5%). The market share of Korean films is at its highest level in the past five years (2022–2025).
At the heart of this box office success was *The Man Who Lives with the King*. Having surpassed 16.9 million viewers, it established itself as the overwhelming box office hit of the first half of this year, while films such as *The Army* (5.84 million), *The Narrow Path* (3.24 million), and *If We* (2.47 million) also contributed to the box office success, boosting the presence of Korean films. Notably, even excluding the audience figures for *The Man Who Lives with the King*, Korean films still drew approximately 20.46 million viewers, far outpacing foreign films.
While the number of Korean film releases was limited to 217, compared to 928 foreign films—more than four times as many—Korean films held the upper hand in box office performance. Driven by this success, the number of Korean film viewers in the first half of the year increased by 74.9% compared to the same period last year, leading the recovery of the theater industry.

◇ “Moana,” “Spider-Man,” “Odyssey”… The Foreign Film Offensive
While the first half of the year was dominated by Korean films at the box office, the second half is likely to see a shift in momentum.
Among Korean films, director Na Hong-jin’s new film “Hope,” set to open on the 15th, is considered the most anticipated release. While films like “Okay Madam” and “Assassins” are also preparing for release, the lineup of major blockbusters is considered somewhat thin compared to previous years.
In contrast, a string of mega-blockbusters from overseas is lined up. Films expected to be global hits—including Disney’s live-action “Moana,” Marvel Studios’ “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” and Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey”—will meet audiences one after another from the summer peak season through the end of the year.

As the recovery trend that began last year continued into the first half of this year, the box office competition in the second half is expected to be fiercer than ever. Korean films face the challenge of maintaining their upward momentum, led by *Hope*, while foreign films are poised to counterattack for market share by leveraging major franchises and director brands.
A film industry insider predicted, “While Korean films led the box office in the first half of the year, spearheaded by *The Man Who Lives with the King*, the second half is likely to see a head-to-head battle between Korean films and Hollywood blockbusters,” adding, “Whether Korean films can maintain their market share lead through the end of the year will be the biggest point of interest in this year’s box office.”