[Edaily Starin, Reporter YUN GI BACK ] The movie “Hope” has surpassed 4 million viewers just 30 days after its release, establishing itself as this summer’s top box office hit.

According to the Korean Film Council’s integrated computer network on the 2nd, “Hope” surpassed 4 million cumulative viewers that morning. It is the third film this year to reach the 4 million mark, following “The Man Who Lives with the King” (16.91 million) and “The Army” (5.95 million).
The success of “Hope” is particularly significant because it has not merely capitalized on its initial momentum but has continued to enjoy long-term box office success. Having maintained the No. 1 spot in Korean film ticket pre-sales for 30 consecutive days since its release and consistently attracting audiences, the film recorded a seat occupancy rate of 44.3% on the 1st—even as highly anticipated foreign films were released one after another—significantly outpacing its competitors. It is seen as further proof of the competitiveness of Korean films in the summer box office, as word-of-mouth-driven enthusiasm continues to spread over time.
In particular, a craze known as “Hopp-chinjja”—where viewers interpret and share the film’s settings and meanings—continues to spread among actual moviegoers, leading many to watch the film multiple times. The film’s unique genre appeal, blending sci-fi imagination, thrilling action, suspense, and humor, has earned rave reviews from audiences and is driving its box office success.
“Hope” tells the story of Beom-seok, the head of the Hopo Port branch office in the Demilitarized Zone, who encounters a series of unbelievable events after receiving a report that a tiger has appeared in the village. Even a month after its release, the film continues to perform strongly at the box office, and expectations are high that it will enjoy a long-term run in August as well.