Box Office Battle: 'Victory' Holds Strong While 'Lobby' Makes Its Debut
The human drama film 'Victory' (승부), directed by Kim Hyung-joo and produced by Film Company Wolgwang, has maintained its position at the top of the box office for eight consecutive days. Meanwhile, the black comedy 'Lobby' (로비), directed by Ha Jung-woo and produced by Workhouse Company and Film Momentum, has made its entrance, promising a dual box office success.
According to the Korean Film Council's integrated ticket sales network, 'Victory' attracted 50,766 viewers on April 2, securing its spot as the number one film with a cumulative audience of 877,735. 'Lobby', which premiered on the same day, ranked second with 37,158 viewers (including previews, totaling 41,775).
'Victory' tells the story of South Korea's legendary Go player, Cho Hun-hyun, who, after losing a match against his disciple, taps into his innate competitive spirit to challenge the odds once more. The film features a star-studded cast including Lee Byung-hun, Yoo Ah-in, Ko Chang-seok, Hyun Bong-sik, Moon Jung-hee, and Kim Kang-hoon, with Kim Hyung-joo at the helm.
Having opened on March 26, 'Victory' has surpassed 870,000 viewers and is on the verge of reaching the 1 million mark this week, solidifying its status as a leading film during the typically slow second week of its release.
On the other hand, 'Lobby' follows a startup CEO who, unfamiliar with the world of lobbying, embarks on his first golf outing to secure a 4 trillion won national project. The film stars Ha Jung-woo, Kim Ui-sung, Kang Hae-rim, Lee Dong-hwi, Park Byeong-eun, Kang Mal-geum, Choi Si-won, Cha Joo-young, Park Hae-soo, and Kwak Sun-young, marking Ha Jung-woo's third directorial effort following 'Roller Coaster' and 'Heo Sam-kwang'.
'Lobby' has received explosive audience acclaim in the off-peak theater season, expanding the reach of Ha Jung-woo's comedic genre. With a wave of recommendations from viewers flooding online platforms, it is generating significant interest as a potential box office hit alongside 'Victory'.
