Firefighter Film Dominates Korean Box Office, Approaches 2 Million Viewers

The film '소방관' (Firefighter), directed by 곽경택, has maintained its position at the top of the Korean box office for 15 consecutive days and is on the verge of surpassing 2 million viewers. As of December 18, the film's production and distribution team, 바이포엠스튜디오 and 에스크로드 픽쳐스, announced that it is expected to reach this milestone soon.

Following the success of '베테랑2' (Veteran 2), which crossed the 2 million viewer mark on September 15, '소방관' is set to become the first Korean film to achieve this feat since then. The film is performing at a pace comparable to '웡카' (Wonka), which reached 2 million viewers on its 16th day, and is outpacing '탈주' (Escape), which hit the same milestone on its 20th day. This winter, '소방관' is heating up the box office, contributing to the revival of Korean cinema, which has seen only five films surpass the 2 million mark this year.

The film's success is also attributed to its commitment to social impact, as it participates in the '119원 기부 챌린지' (119 Won Donation Challenge). For every ticket sold, 119 won is donated to improve the equipment and treatment of firefighters in South Korea. This initiative means that simply watching '소방관' contributes to a charitable cause, with donations aimed at supporting the National Fire Hospital set to open in 2025. Upon reaching 2 million viewers, the film plans to donate approximately 238 million won, and if it surpasses the break-even point of 2.5 million viewers, it could contribute around 300 million won.

Additionally, the film's title track, 'HERO' by 박효신 (Park Hyo-shin), has garnered attention for its emotional resonance, further encouraging repeat viewings. '소방관' tells the story of firefighters who, during the tragic Hongje-dong fire disaster in 2001, faced dire conditions with the singular goal of extinguishing the fire and rescuing victims. The film is currently showing in theaters nationwide.