Nine Days at No. 1, One Million Reached

Horror film Salmokji: Whispering Water has surpassed one million moviegoers in under ten days since its release. The Korean Film Council confirmed on April 17 that the film officially crossed the milestone, having held the No. 1 spot at the Korean box office every single day since its April 8 opening.

Fastest Since 2019

According to industry reports, this marks the fastest any Korean horror film has reached one million admissions since Metamorphosis in 2019. The achievement signals a renewed appetite for domestic horror among Korean audiences and sets a new commercial benchmark for the genre.

The Story: Terror in the Reservoir

The film follows a production crew dispatched to a reservoir called Salmokji to reshoot road-view footage after an unidentified figure appeared in their original recordings. Once there, they encounter a mysterious and threatening presence lurking beneath the dark water. The film stars Kim Hye Yoon and Lee Jong Won in the lead roles.

Star Power Meets Genre

Analysts point to the star power of both leads as a key driver of the film's success. Kim Hye Yoon rose to widespread fame through the drama Lovely Runner, making Salmokji her first foray into horror. Lee Jong Won also brings a loyal fanbase built through his television work. The combination of familiar faces and an unfamiliar genre appears to have piqued audience curiosity, while word-of-mouth has helped sustain momentum at the box office.