Dozens of Korean films of various genres will be screened throughout 2021. Several films such as Escape from Mogadishu and Sinkhole managed to dominate the South Korean box office in 2021. Here are the 10 highest-grossing local films in Korea throughout 2021 based on data from the Korean Film Council.
1. Escape from Mogadishu
Escape from Mogadishu tells the life and death story of runaway workers at the North and South Korean embassies who are stranded in the midst of the Somali Civil War. Escape from Mogadishu is the latest film from Ryoo Seung-wan who directed Veterans in 2015. This true story-inspired film stars Kim Yun-seok, Zo In-Sung, and Heo Joon-ho. Jo In-sung's latest film is the only Korean film to sell more than 3 million tickets at the local box office this year. Since airing July 28, 2021, Escape from Mogadishu has sold more than 3.6 million tickets or the equivalent of US$28.9 million.
2. Sinkhole
Sinkhole is a natural disaster tragedy film as well as a comedy that tells the story of the struggles of many people's lives when the foundation and place they stand on and their house suddenly collapses. The story begins with Park Dong-won (Kim Sung-kyun), a man who has been saving for 11 years to be able to buy his own house. However, the house disappeared within minutes as a sinkhole horribly opened in the center of town. Sinkhole has sold more than 2.1 million tickets since it premiered on August 11, 2021. Those sales were equivalent to US$17.9 million.
3. Hostage: Missing Celebrity
Hostage: Missing Celebrity tells the story of the kidnapping of a famous Korean actor named Hwang Jung-min. He was kidnapped after attending the premiere of his film which took place in downtown Seoul, South Korea. When the unfortunate incident happened to him, the actor actually thought that the incident was just a joke. He was relaxed and calm. Since airing August 18, 2021, Hostage: Missing Celebrity has sold more than 1.6 million tickets, which equates to $13 million.
4. On the Line
On the Line is a crime action film that tells the story of Seo-joon (Byun Yo-han) who becomes the victim of a voice phishing crime group. He then worked hard to find the center of the voice phishing crime group in China. There, he meets Pro Kwak (Kim Moo-yul), the mastermind behind voice phishing. On the Line has sold more than 1.4 million tickets worth the equivalent of US$11.7 million since it premiered September 15, 2021.
5. Hard Hits
Hard Hit is an action thriller film that tells the story of Sung-kyu (Jo Woo-jin), a bank manager who suddenly faces a life and death situation when he receives a phone call. Hard Hit is directed by Kim Chang-ju. This film also stars Ji Chang-wook, Lee Jae-in, Jin Kyung, Kim Ji-ho, Jun Suk-ho. This film has sold more than 955,000 tickets or the equivalent of US $ 7.6 million.
6. The Medium
The Medium tells the story of a documentary film team who visits the village where Nim (Sawanee Utoomma) lives, a shaman who is possessed by Bayan or a deity worshiped by the local community. This film is the result of a collaboration between two well-known Thai and South Korean directors, namely Banjong Pisanthanakun (Shutter) and Na Hong-jin (The Wailing) and the Korean Film Council included The Medium as a South Korean film. The film, starring Nailya Gulmongkolpech and Sawanee Utoomma, has sold more than 834 thousand tickets or the equivalent of US $ 7.2 million.
7. Spiritwalker
Spiritwalker tells the story of a man who has lost his memory. He always wakes up with a different body every 12 hours. Until one day, he meets a woman who claims to know him. The meeting led him to an organization that was after him all this time. The film, starring Yoon Kye-sang and Park Yong-woo, has sold more than 803,000 tickets, which is equivalent to US$6.5 million.
8. Miracle
The film, set in the 1980s, tells the story of Jun Kyung (Park Jung-min), a young man who lives in the countryside. He only has one goal in life, which is to take a train to his village. Miracle also stars Girls' Generation's YoonA or SNSD as Ra Hee, an intelligent woman who becomes Jun Kyung's friend and source of inspiration. The film has sold more than 715 thousand tickets which is equivalent to US $ 5.5 million.
9. Nothing Serious
Nothing Serious tells the story of Woo-ri (Son Suk-ku), a 33-year-old man who works as a new journalist and is tasked with writing a column about sex. However, he was confused because he had never had sex with anyone else at all. He then meets Ja-young (Jun Jong-seo) via a dating app. Ja-young is a brave woman. He was determined not to date again because his girlfriend decided after a month of dating. Nothing Serious raised $4.9 million from sales of more than 576 thousand tickets.
10. Perhaps Love
This film tells the story of Hyun (Ryu Seung-ryong) a famous screenwriter who has not published a book in the last seven years. He tried to write but couldn't. Hyun, who lives alone because his wife and child are abroad, starts living with Yoo-jin to write novels together. However, Yoo-jin begins to have feelings for Hyun. Perhaps Love has raised $4.3 million from sales of more than 514 thousand tickets.
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