Domestic films dominate the South Korean box office during the Chuseok festival; ‘The Assassins’ and ‘Tazza 4’ take the top spots

South Korean movie theaters are witnessing massive crowds during the traditional Chuseok holiday. Capitalizing on this surge, two local films—Hur Jin-ho’s political crime thriller *The Assassins* and the latest installment of the popular gambling-themed franchise, *Tazza 4: The Song of Beelzebub*—are achieving remarkable box-office success. Both films performed exceptionally well at the Korean box office during the three-day period from September 25 to 27.

According to data from the Korean Film Council’s tracking service, KOBIS, *The Assassins* secured the top spot at the box office over the weekend. In just three days, the film grossed $8 million across 1,532 screens, capturing approximately 40.9% of the market share. During this period, it drew an audience of 1,119,156. Since its release on September 23, the film’s total revenue has reached $11.2 million (approximately 1.38 billion KRW), with total admissions surpassing 1.5 million.

The Mystery Behind a 1974 Assassination Attempt

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Hur Jin-ho, *The Assassins* is set against the backdrop of a historic event on August 15, 1974. On that day, a fatal attack was launched against then-South Korean President Park Chung-hee during the National Liberation Day ceremony, resulting in the death of First Lady Yuk Young-soo. However, the film does not merely recreate history; it delves into various unanswered questions surrounding the official government investigation.

The story follows the quest for truth undertaken by a detective (Yoo Hae-jin), a veteran newspaper social affairs editor (Park Hae-il), and a rookie journalist (Lee Min-ho). A tense political mystery unfolds when ballistic evidence uncovered during the investigation fails to align with the government's "lone gunman" theory. ‘Tazza 4’ Takes Second Place
Choi Kook-hee’s *Tazza 4: The Song of Beelzebub* has secured the second spot at the box office. Screening in 1,045 theaters, it grossed $4.1 million (capturing 21.3% of the market share) over three days, drawing an audience of 566,526. Since its release on September 23, the film has already earned a total of $6.1 million, combining figures from previews and the holiday weekend.

The fourth installment of this franchise—based on a popular comic series—stars Byun Yo-han, Noh Jae-won, and Japanese actress Ayaka Miyoshi.

A Story of International Poker and Revenge
The main draw of *Tazza 4* is its dynamic narrative. A former online casino operator, having fallen victim to a scam, enters the international poker circuit to seek revenge. This sets the stage for a high-stakes game involving massive bets, strategic maneuvers, and deception. While continuing to explore themes of human greed and risk-taking seen in previous installments, the story expands its scope beyond local gambling dens to the international poker table.

Holiday Buzz at the Box Office
Chuseok is one of South Korea's major festivals, a time when families gather and flock to the cinema. Two distinct domestic films fully capitalized on this opportunity. On one hand, there is *The Assassins*, a film delving into historical truth and political intrigue; on the other, *Tazza 4*, offering the thrill of an established franchise and international gambling. Both films have won over Korean audiences with their unique appeal.

(Based on *Variety*)