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Yeon Sang-ho’s 'Colony' Dominates South Korean Box Office

Strong festival buzz and wide distribution helped the film surge to market leadership and signal renewed audience demand for local tentpoles.

Overview

  • The survival thriller opened wide on May 21 and grossed $9.4 million from 1,283,343 admissions over the weekend of May 22–24, giving it a 71.85% share of the South Korean box-office market.
  • Korean Film Council (KOBIS) data show 'Colony' reached 2,018,644 cumulative admissions five days after release, making it the fastest film of 2026 to pass the 2 million mark.
  • The film held the No. 1 daily box-office position for a fifth straight day with 517,011 admissions reported for Monday.
  • Distributed by Showbox, 'Colony' pushed the weekend market total to $13.1 million, nearly doubling the prior week’s nationwide gross and lifting overall cinema attendance.
  • The Cannes Midnight Screenings premiere and pre-sales to international buyers have amplified overseas interest, and the film’s success continues Yeon Sang-ho’s commercial return to large-scale zombie survival stories following 'Train to Busan.'