[Edaily Starin Reporter Choi Hee-jae ] The film "Gyeongju Trip" continues to top the Korean box office, steadily drawing audiences even amid stiff competition from major foreign blockbusters. Critics say the film is building on its success thanks to high audience ratings and word-of-mouth, demonstrating the staying power of a "well-made Korean film."

Released on the 26th, “Gyeongju Trip” has topped the Korean film box office for five consecutive days since its release. It is making its presence felt by winning over audiences even as Hollywood blockbusters such as “The Odyssey” and “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” dominate the market.
“Gyeongju Trip” is a family revenge drama about four women—a mother and her three daughters—who embark on an “epic” journey after an eight-year wait for their youngest daughter, “Gyeongju,” who never returned from a school trip. Starring Lee Jung-eun, Gong Hyo-jin, Park So-dam, Lee Yeon, and Byun Yo-han, the film showcases distinctive character performances and strong ensemble acting.
Audience reactions, which are fueling the film’s word-of-mouth buzz, are also positive. As of the 31st, it has recorded a 93% CGV Golden Egg Index and a 9.17 rating from actual viewers on Naver, demonstrating high audience satisfaction. In a theater market where audiences are primarily flocking to blockbusters, reviews from actual viewers appear to be driving the film’s box office success.
Director Bong Joon-ho also lent his support to *A Trip to Gyeongju*. Having previously served as a moderator at a post-screening Q&A, Director Bong praised the film, calling it “a textbook example of what happens when good actors meet a good script and direction.”
*Journey to Gyeongju* is the first commercial feature film by director Kim Mi-jo, whose directing skills were recognized with her debut film *The Seagull*. Even before its release, the film was invited to the Hawaii International Film Festival, the Florence Korean Film Festival, and the Fantasia International Film Festival. In particular, it won the Audience Award at the 24th Florence Korean Film Festival held last March, gaining recognition for its artistic merit.
“Journey to Gyeongju” has also been invited to the 6th Barcelona Korean Film Festival, which will take place on September 2. Programmer Gloria Fernández described it as “an intense and unpredictable dark comedy thriller that allows the audience no room for compromise, set against a backdrop of intertwined love, loss, and revenge.”