Blockbuster success boosts payouts for film’s key figures

Mar 27, 2026, 09:17 am

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“The Man Who Lives with the King” / Showbox

With “The Man Who Lives with the King” surpassing 15 million viewers, attention is turning to the additional earnings expected for director Jang Hang-jun and lead actor Yoo Hae-jin.

According to box office data, the film has drawn more than 15.03 million viewers since its release on Feb. 4, generating cumulative revenue of about 145 billion won, the highest among Korean films.

Industry estimates suggest that, after deducting taxes, theater shares, distribution fees, production costs, and investor returns, the production company’s net profit stands at roughly 17.5 billion won.

Based on common industry practices, directors typically receive 10–20% of the production company’s profit once the break-even point is surpassed. Under this structure, Jang is expected to earn between 1.75 billion and over 3.5 billion won in additional incentives.

For Yoo, who played the lead role of Eom Heung-do, earnings include both his base salary and a “running guarantee,” a performance-based bonus tied to audience numbers.

Top actors often receive around 200 won per viewer beyond the break-even point. However, such bonuses are usually capped at a level similar to the actor’s base fee.

Given that Yoo’s reported base salary was just under 900 million won, his total running guarantee is expected to reach approximately the same level, despite theoretical calculations suggesting a much higher payout.

Industry insiders noted that Yoo’s rising fees reflect his consistent box office success and strong work ethic, adding that his central role in the film justified the scale of his compensation package.

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