Local hit “The Firefighters” led the South Korean box office, which returned to its sluggish ways after a brief spell that showed signs of recovery.
In its second weekend, “The Firefighters” climbed from second place to first with a $4.3 million gross, 657,124 admissions and a 41.9% market share, according to data from Kobis, the tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council. The film now has a cumulative gross of $11.5 million in the territory. However, the total box office for the top 10 titles fell to below $10 million, down from last week’s $16 million.
Directed by Kwak Gyeong-Taek (“A Love”), “The Firefighters” revolves around a fire station in Seoul, where a rookie firefighter joins the Rescue Unit and is quickly sent out on his first mission alongside a seasoned veteran, celebrated for saving many lives. In the chaos of a raging fire, the veteran defies the chief’s orders to withdraw, determined to save an occupant. Though he succeeds in rescuing a young girl, the mission ends in tragedy with the loss of a colleague. Tension builds as the rookie confronts the veteran, blaming him for the loss. Amid their unresolved conflict, they are called to another fire.
In second place, “Moana 2” collected $2.5 million with 389,500 and a 24.5% market share and now has a total of $17.6 million in the territory. “Wicked” moved down to third place with $930,195, 131,530 admissions, an 8.8% market share and a total of $11.7 million.
“About Family,” a Korean comedy about a man who’s an elite medical student who decided to become a priest, opened Dec. 11 and earned $650,354 in fourth place over the weekend and $1.1 million over five days. In fifth place, sports drama “One Win,” headlined by Korean superstar Song Kang-ho, earned $253,903, for a total of $1.7 million.
Mystery-thriller “Hidden Face” from veteran Kim Dae-woo (“The Servant”) collected $240,207 in sixth place for a total of $6.4 million. Cannes winner “The Substance” also opened Dec. 11 and earned $376,481 in seventh position.
Documentary “First Lady” that examines the controversies around Kim Keon-hee, the wife of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, released at a time of political turmoil in the country. It opened Dec. 12 and has grossed $227,357 so far to claim eighth place at the box office.
