Jang Hang-jun, director of South Korea’s latest box-office phenomenon, “The King’s Warden,” treated fans to free coffee in central Seoul on Thursday at an event celebrating the film’s surpassing of the 10 million admissions milestone.
Standing beside a “coffee truck” parked in front of the Korea Press Center, Jang thanked moviegoers for their support and expressed hope that the film’s success would help revive South Korea’s struggling film industry.
“I’m grateful for the overwhelming support,” he said.
The hourlong event, which began around noon, drew crowds from the morning. Jang handed out about 200 cups of coffee and posed for photos with fans who had gathered to see him.
The coffee giveaway came in place of a series of outlandish pledges Jang had jokingly made before the film’s release — apparently not expecting it to become such a major hit.
Appearing on the SBS Power FM radio program “Bae Sung-jae’s Ten” on Feb. 1, shortly before the film opened in theaters, Jang said he would “undergo plastic surgery, change his name and host a yacht party” if the film surpassed 10 million admissions.
The film, a historical drama based on the life of a tragic king of the Joseon Dynasty, has now exceeded 12 million admissions, becoming the most successful film in more than two years.
ylee221@heraldcorp.com
