The film "Salmokji" has overtaken "Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum" to become the second highest-grossing Korean horror film at the domestic box office. Attention is now focused on whether it will surpass the 3.14 million admissions record of "A Tale of Two Sisters," the highest-grossing Korean horror film of all time.
According to the Korean Film Council's integrated computer network on Tuesday, "Salmokji" surpassed 2.69 million cumulative admissions, overtaking "Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum," which was released in 2018. "Salmokji" broke the "Gonjiam" record after eight years and is being credited with reinvigorating the Korean horror film market.
Released on November 8, "Salmokji" tells the story of employees of a road-view street mapping service who venture into the Salmokji reservoir for street photography. The performances of young actors including Kim Hye-yoon and Lee Jong-won, along with the fresh subject matter of water ghosts, have received favorable reviews. The film's buzz-generating power has also been cited as a key factor behind its success, with moviegoers posting photos of their elevated heart rates during screenings and a challenge trend emerging in which fans visit the actual Salmokji reservoir in Yesan, South Chungcheong Province, where the film is set.
Meanwhile, the film has steadily maintained a top spot at the box office despite an onslaught of new releases with powerful fan bases, including "Super Mario Galaxy" and "The Devil Wears Prada 2," drawing heightened interest in its final admissions tally.
