Japanese animated sensation “Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of the Mermaid Island” maintained a commanding grip on the South Korean box office over the weekend of Oct. 23–25, capturing nearly 45% of nationwide ticket revenue in its fourth frame. According to data from KOBIS, the tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council, the Toho-distributed fantasy release took in $2.5 million from 320,293 admissions across 1,115 screens, accounting for 44.7% of the weekend market. Directed by Kei Oikawa and adapted from the popular manga by Nagano, the fantasy feature tracks the small protagonist and companions journeying to a scenic coastal island before uncovering a sinister local mystery.
Driven by enduring youth and family turnout, the animated blockbuster pushed its cumulative South Korean haul to $17.5 million from 2,248,137 total admissions since launching on Sep. 30. Director Hur Jin-ho’s political thriller “The Assassin(s)” held second place, earning $520,822 from 68,241 admissions across 730 screens to capture 9.2% of the frame. Distributed by Hive Media Corp, the period drama reconstructs the August 15, 1974 assassination attempt on President Park Chung-hee and stars Yu Hae-jin, Park Hae-il, and Lee Min-ho investigating irregularities surrounding the inquiry into the death of First Lady Yuk Young-soo.
The production’s theatrical run continues against persistent political blowback and legal challenges, with conservative civic groups and bereaved family members lodging defamation complaints alleging historical distortion over its depiction of state involvement. Despite protests that previously prompted 19 film guilds to issue a joint statement defending cinematic freedom, the release lifted its cume to $25 million from 3,374,517 admissions since its Sep. 23 rollout. CJ Entertainment’s psychological thriller “Paradise Lost” opened in third place, generating $502,962 from 66,699 admissions across 803 screens for an 8.9% market share.
Directed and co-written by Yeon Sang-ho and starring Kim Hyun-joo and Bae Hyun-sung, the mystery follows a desperate mother navigating a closed religious community while searching for her missing son. Following its world premiere at Toronto and an Oct. 21 mid-week rollout, the title has accumulated $769,865 from 104,877 total admissions. Warner Bros. and DC Studios’ “Clayface” debuted in fourth place, collecting $388,947 from 48,245 admissions across 655 screens for 6.9% of the market.
Since opening on Oct. 21, the film has grossed $595,460 from 77,153 viewers. CJ ENM’s gambling drama “Tazza: The Song of Beelzebub” took fifth place in its fifth weekend, taking in $371,743 from 46,919 admissions across 618 screens to claim 6.6% of receipts. Directed by Choi Kook-hee and starring Byun Yo-han, Noh Jae-won, and Ayaka Miyoshi, the fourth installment in the franchise pushed its gross to $15.3 million and stands on the brink of two million tickets at 1,999,477 admissions.
Plus M Entertainment’s period drama “Still Shining” opened in sixth place, earning $148,298 from 21,564 admissions across 562 screens. Directed by Song Il-gon and starring veteran actor Kim Hye-ja alongside Cha Mi-kyung, the drama traces the lifelong bond between two women who promised to sing together in Seoul during the Japanese colonial era. Counting mid-week business since its Oct. 21 debut, the release has taken $278,527 from 41,037 viewers.
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