[NC Box Office] Koo Kyo-hwan and Moon Ga-young’s Once We Were Us Tops 1 Million, Reclaims No.1 in a Day

Once We Were Us starring Koo Kyo-hwan and Moon Ga-young. Photo by Showbox.

Once We Were Us, starring Koo Kyo-hwan and Moon Ga-young, reclaimed the No.1 spot at the box office in just one day. The film is fueling fierce competition with Avatar: Fire and Ashes in the early-year theatrical market.

According to the Korean Film Council’s integrated box office system on January 12, Once We Were Us drew 133,312 moviegoers on January 11 alone, rising to first place. Its cumulative audience reached 1,046,423, surpassing the one-million mark in just 12 days since release.

The film tells a realistic romance story of Eun-ho (Koo Kyo-hwan) and Jung-won (Moon Ga-young), former lovers who reunite by chance after ten years and trace the lingering traces of their memories. Released on December 31, the movie has gained strong momentum through word of mouth, driven by the actors’ powerful performances and its emotionally resonant storyline.

Avatar: Fire and Ashes. Photo by Walt Disney Company Korea.

Second place went to Avatar: Fire and Ashes, which attracted 122,873 viewers in one day, bringing its total admissions to 6,079,648.

The film achieved remarkable milestones, reaching one million viewers in four days, two million in seven days, three million in ten days, four million in twelve days, five million in seventeen days, and six million in twenty-six days, demonstrating its overwhelming box office power.

The story follows the Sully family as they confront new threats after the death of their eldest son Neteyam. Led by Varang, the Ash Clan emerges, drawing the family into an even greater crisis unfolding across a Pandora engulfed in fire and ash.

Zootopia 2. Photo by Walt Disney Company Korea.

Third place was claimed by Zootopia 2, which drew 51,883 viewers in one day. Its cumulative total stands at 8,313,928.

The sequel follows the beloved duo Judy and Nick as they chase a mysterious snake named Gary who has thrown the city into chaos, diving into a new world to solve a dangerous and thrilling investigation.

In fourth place was Choir of God, starring Park Si-hoo and Jung Jin-woon. The film attracted 38,270 viewers, bringing its cumulative audience to 260,439.

Choir of God depicts the story of a fake praise troupe formed in North Korea for the purpose of earning foreign currency, and the events that unfold around it.

Fifth place went to Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight, which drew 24,849 viewers in one day. Its total admissions reached 779,299.

The film portrays a youth romance between Seo-yoon (Shin Si-a), who loses her memory every single day, and Jae-won (Choo Young-woo), who fills in her lost memories and protects her, as they learn to remember and cherish love together.

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