This year’s Lunar New Year box office in South Korea showcases a diverse mix of genres, including occult thrillers, comedies, and romances. With leading actors returning in roles that could define their careers, theaters are optimistic about a surge in holiday attendance, as the break extends up to six days for some viewers.
Among the most anticipated releases is The Priests 2: Dark Nuns, leading with a reservation rate of 16.2% (36,446 tickets as of Jan. 14, 10 p.m.). Actress Song Hye-kyo returns to the big screen after a decade, her last appearance being in My Brilliant Life (2014). Known for her popularity in dramas like Descendants of the Sun and Netflix’s The Glory, Song’s box office appeal remains untested. Her previous films, Hwang Jin Yi (2007) and My Brilliant Life, attracted 1.19 million and 1.62 million viewers, respectively. The success of this film could prove pivotal in her 30-year acting career.
A sequel to the 2015 hit The Priests, which garnered 5.44 million admissions, this installment is directed by Kwon Hyuk-jae, taking over from Jang Jae-hyun. Kwon, who previously worked as an assistant director on Ryoo Seung-wan’s Arahan Jangpung Daejakjeon and Dachimawa Lee, made his directorial debut with Troubleshooter (2010). Both he and Song are exploring the occult genre for the first time. While the original film blended Catholicism and exorcism rituals, the sequel shifts focus to a nun performing an exorcism. Kim Min-ji, head of public relations and marketing at distributor Next Entertainment World (NEW), described it as an “emotionally intense character-driven drama about pushing boundaries to save a child.”
Two comedies are also competing for audience attention. Hitman 2, an action-comedy sequel directed by Choi Won-sub and starring Kwon Sang-woo, revisits the story of a former National Intelligence Service agent turned webtoon artist. The original film surprised audiences in 2020, drawing 2.4 million viewers during the pandemic. In the sequel, Kwon’s character, now a successful webtoon creator, experiences a fall from grace as terrorists mimic his comics, leading to a series of comedic mishaps. The performance of distributor BY4M STUDIO, which saw success with Firefighters (3.71 million viewers), will also be closely observed.
Thunderstruck Cop, the late Kim Soo-mi’s final film, adds to the holiday lineup. Reuniting with Shin Hyun-joon, her co-star from the Marrying the Mafia series, Kim reprises her role as a foul-mouthed mom, while Shin plays a police officer who gains superpowers after being struck by lightning.
On the romantic front, Secret: Untold Melody is a Korean adaptation of the 2008 Taiwanese hit Secret. This marks Doh Kyung-soo’s first leading role in a romance film, following his transition from idol to actor in projects like The Moon. The Korean version emphasizes character development and features nostalgic tracks like the legendary Korean rock band Deulgukhwa’s With You Everyday, creating a warm and emotional atmosphere. According to production company Hive Media Corp, “We tailored the story to better suit domestic audiences, crafting a brighter and more heartwarming narrative than the Taiwanese original.”
