Director Lee Sang-il's 'Gukbo' on the Verge of Shattering Japanese Live-Action Box Office Records

Director Lee Sang-il's masterpiece, 'Gukbo' (National Treasure), a film by a Zainichi Korean director, is poised to set a new benchmark for the highest-grossing live-action film in Japanese box office history.

On the 14th, the film's distributors announced that 'Gukbo' has officially surpassed 12.07 million admissions in Japan, bringing it to the cusp of becoming the all-time highest-grossing live-action Japanese film.

As of the 10th, 'Gukbo' had amassed an astonishing 12,075,396 viewers and generated 17,040,165,400 yen in revenue over its 158-day run. The film is projected to surpass the 17.35 billion yen earnings of 'Bayside Shakedown 2: The Movie' (2003) within this month, marking a monumental achievement after 23 years. The box office phenomenon of a live-action film, rather than animation, achieving such success is truly unprecedented.

Following its triumph in Japan, 'Gukbo' is set to premiere in Korea next week. Riding the wave of critical acclaim, the film will hold RE: premiere screenings this upcoming weekend. These exclusive showings, offered once daily at major multiplexes like CGV, Lotte Cinema, Megabox, and CineQ, provide a golden opportunity to experience the film before its official release.

'Gukbo' tells the compelling life story of two men who had to surpass each other to reach the pinnacle of national treasure status. Garnering both commercial success and critical praise, this must-see film of the fall is scheduled for release in Korea on the 19th.

Korean netizens expressed excitement over the news of 'Gukbo's' box office success in Japan, with comments like, "Director Lee Sang-il is amazing! Rooting for its success in Korea too," "Breaking a 23-year-old record is truly incredible," and "Can't wait to see it!"