▲ A poster for "Salmokji: Whispering Water" is seen in this image provided by Showbox. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, April 10 (Yonhap) -- The horror film “Salmokji,” starring Kim Hye-yoon, is expected to rank No. 1 at the box office during its opening weekend.

 

According to the Korean Film Council’s box office data system on Friday, “Salmokji” drew about 70,000 moviegoers the previous day, accounting for 43.0 percent of total ticket sales, to top the daily box office.

 

The film also debuted at No. 1 on its opening day, April 8, attracting about 89,000 viewers.

 

Directed by Lee Sang-min, the movie tells the story of employees working for a road-view service who encounter eerie events after entering the reservoir known as Salmokji to film street views. The reservoir exists in real life and has gained notoriety among horror fans after being featured in TV programs dealing with ghost stories.

 

The sci-fi blockbuster “Project Hail Mary” ranked second, drawing about 33,000 viewers (22.5 percent share) the previous day. Its cumulative audience reached about 1.76 million.

 

“The King's Warden,” which has surpassed 16 million admissions, fell to third place with about 32,000 viewers (18.2 percent share).

 

Its cumulative audience stood at about 16.22 million, and it is expected to soon surpass “Extreme Job” (2019), which recorded 16.26 million admissions, to become the second most-watched film of all time in Korea.

 

As of 9 a.m., “Project Hail Mary” ranked first in advance reservations with 27.8 percent, with about 86,000 tickets booked.

 

“Salmokji” followed with 25.6 percent (around 80,000 reservations), while “The Man Who Lives with the King” came in third with 7.8 percent (about 24,000 reservations).

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]