▲ This still from "The Match," provided by BY4M Studio, shows Cho Hoon-hyun in the middle of a Go game. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, March 27 (Yonhap) -- The film "The Match" starring Lee Byung-hun and Yoo Ah-in has kicked off its box office run with a strong opening, attracting over 90,000 viewers on its release day.

 

According to the Korean Film Council’s integrated ticketing system on Thursday, "The Match" recorded 91,000 admissions, securing the top spot at the box office with a 52.8 percent market share.

 

Directed by Kim Hyung-joo, the film tells the story of Cho Hun-hyun (played by Lee Byung-hun), a legendary Go master, and his protégé Lee Chang-ho (played by Yoo Ah-in), as they face off in a series of intense championship matches in the 1990s.

 

The film was initially slated for a 2023 Netflix release after completing production in 2021. However, due to Yoo Ah-in's drug-related investigation, the theatrical release was delayed, making this his first big-screen appearance since the controversy.

 

 

▲ A poster for "The Match" is shown in this image provided by By4M Studio on March 7, 2025. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

"The Match" has received a high audience rating of 96 percent on CGV's Golden Egg Index, with praise for the performances of the two lead actors. However, some viewers have expressed discomfort over Yoo Ah-in's presence in the film.

 

With the release of "The Match," Bong Joon-ho’s "Mickey 17" has been dethroned after nearly a month at No. 1. The sci-fi film slipped to second place with an additional 17,000 viewers (9.8 percent market share), bringing its total admissions to 2.88 million.

 

 

▲ Mickey 18 and 17 are shown in this still from "Mickey 17," provided by Warner Bros. Korea. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

Ranking third at the box office is the anime film "Attack on Titan: The Final Chapter – The Last Attack," which drew 15,000 viewers (9.7 percent market share).

 

Released exclusively at Megabox on March 13, the film has exceeded 430,000 total admissions, an impressive feat for a theater-exclusive anime film targeting its dedicated fan base.

 

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]