Firefighter Movie Surpasses 3.7 Million Viewers Amidst Winter Success

The film '소방관' (Firefighter) has achieved remarkable success this winter, surpassing 3.7 million viewers thanks to the heartfelt support of audiences. As of January 12, 2025, the movie has accumulated a total of 3,702,985 viewers, climbing to the top of the box office following '하얼빈' (Harbin).

Since its release on December 4, 2024, '소방관' reached 1 million viewers within eight days, 2 million by the fifteenth day, and 3 million by the twenty-fourth day. Even in its third week, the film continued to gain momentum, marking a significant resurgence in the new year. This success is attributed to the genuine enthusiasm and support from the audience, solidifying '소방관' as a box office phenomenon.

Additionally, the film is partaking in the '119 Won Donation Challenge,' where for every ticket sold, 119 won is donated to improve the equipment and treatment of firefighters in South Korea. This initiative allows viewers to contribute simply by watching the film, with the funds aimed at supporting the National Fire Hospital set to open in 2025.

The positive impact of the audience's generosity has been significant, with donations exceeding 440 million won.

In related news, controversy arose when director 곽경택 (Kwak Kyung-taek) faced backlash after his brother, lawmaker 곽규택 (Kwak Gyu-taek), abstained from voting on the presidential impeachment motion. This led to calls for a boycott of '소방관.' In response, director Kwak expressed his disappointment and anger over his brother's decision, stating that impeachment was warranted for President 윤석열 (Yoon Suk-yeol).

'소방관' portrays the harrowing experiences of firefighters during the 2001 Hongje-dong fire disaster, focusing on their singular goal of extinguishing the fire and rescuing all victims. The film was released on December 4, 2024.