Brief
Anime ‘Chiikawa’ Tops South Korean Box Office Over ‘The Assassin(s)’
The Toho‑distributed anime earned $3.13 million from 407,895 admissions, narrowly beating the domestic thriller.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Japanese animated fantasy “Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of the Mermaid Island” claimed the South Korean weekend box‑office crown for Oct. 9–11, edging out the political thriller “The Assassin(s)” by a margin of 215 tickets, according to data from KOBIS, the Korean Film Council’s tracking service.
What happened
The Toho‑distributed anime generated $3.13 million from 407,895 admissions across 1,067 screens, representing 29.7 % of the weekend market. Directed by Kei Oikawa and adapted from Nagano’s manga, the film follows its titular character on a remote‑island adventure that turns supernatural. It opened wide on Sep. 30 and has earned $9.9 million from 1,281,485 total admissions.
Hur Jin‑ho’s period crime drama “The Assassin(s)” placed second with $3.03 million from 407,680 admissions on 1,312 screens, a 28.78 % share. The film, distributed by Hive Media Corp, dramatizes the Aug. 15, 1974 assassination attempt on President Park Chung‑hee and stars Yu Hae‑jin, Park Hae‑il and Lee Min‑ho.
What the reports add
Variety notes that “The Assassin(s)” faces intense political backlash, with conservative civic groups, lawmakers and family members of the late First Lady Yuk Young‑soo filing defamation complaints over alleged historical distortion. Protests were reported outside lead actor Yu Hae‑jin’s private residence, and cast members withdrew from promotional events at the Busan International Film Festival. A coalition of 19 Korean film guilds issued a joint statement defending cinematic freedom of expression.
Since its launch on Sep. 23, “Chiikawa” has accumulated $21.8 million from 2,992,543 viewers, approaching the three‑million‑ticket milestone.
What was said
No direct quotations appear in the source.
How it came about
“Chiikawa” entered the market after a Sep. 23 launch and a wide release on Sep. 30, riding the popularity of its manga source. “The Assassin(s)” was released to coincide with the anniversary of the 1974 attempt on President Park, aiming to spark renewed interest in that historical episode.
Key facts
- Chiikawa earned $3.13 million from 407,895 admissions across 1,067 screens, 29.7 % of the weekend market. (variety.com)
- The Assassin(s) earned $3.03 million from 407,680 admissions across 1,312 screens, 28.78 % share. (variety.com)
- Chiikawa has total earnings of $21.8 million from 2,992,543 viewers since its Sep. 23 launch. (variety.com)
- The Assassin(s) dramatizes the Aug. 15, 1974 assassination attempt on President Park Chung‑hee. (variety.com)
- Protests occurred outside actor Yu Hae‑jin’s residence and cast withdrew from Busan International Film Festival promotions. (variety.com)
Timeline
- 2026-09-23 — Chiikawa the Movie launched in South Korea.
- 2026-09-30 — Chiikawa opened wide across 1,067 screens.
- 2026-10-09 — Weekend box‑office results: Chiikawa tops, The Assassin(s) second.
Sources
- [1] variety.com — originally reported as “Korea Box Office: Anime Feature ‘Chiikawa’ Edges Past ‘The Assassin(s)’ to Claim Weekend Crown”
