Following “The Roundup: No Way Out,” filmmaker Kim Seong-historical su’s drama 12.12: The Day, which revisits the military-led coup that occurred in 1979, became the second movie this year to reach the milestone of 10 million tickets sold.

“12.12: The Day” launched on November 22 and in just 33 days, 10.06 million people saw the film, according to figures released on Sunday by Korea Film Council. After “Parasite,” this movie is the first Korean film that is not a sequel to sell over 10 million tickets (2019).

The film “12.12: The Day,” directed by Kim Seong-su and starring Jung Woo-sung, is the first to accomplish that feat. It is the third movie starring Hwang Jung-min to reach the 10-million-ticket milestone, following “Ode to My Father” (2014) and “Veteran” (2015).

The nine hours of December 12, 1979, during a military takeover in Seoul, are covered in “12.12: The Day.” The characters’ names have been changed to accommodate a fabricated narrative, even though the movie is based on actual occurrences. As Chun Doo-gwang, the commander of the Defense Security Command, who launches the coup to take power, prolific actor Hwang Jung-min plays the lead role. The role of Capital Defense Cdr. Lee Tae-shin, played by Jung Woo-sung, is to thwart the coup. As cops, Lee Seong-min and Park Hae-joon also make an appearance.

The movie’s success has led to the rise in popularity of an online fad known as “12.12: The Day” Challenge, when viewers post their heart rates and stress levels via smartwatches after seeing the movie. 

After the 2020 pandemic, “12.12: The Day” becomes the first Korean non-sequel film to gross over 6 million tickets sold.

12.12: The Day” is still bringing in big bucks at the Korean box office!

The Korean Film Council said on December 9 that “12:12 The Day” has officially surpassed 6,000,754 viewers as of 12:02 a.m. KST on that day. Since the movie’s November 22 premiere, it took fewer than eighteen days to reach this milestone.

“12.12: The Day” is not only the first Korean film that is neither a sequel or a part of a series to achieve 6 million moviegoers since the COVID-19 epidemic began in 2020, but it is also the second-fastest Korean film released in 2023 to break the 6 million marks (after “The Roundup: No Way Out”).

“12.12: The Day,” a historical drama starring Hwang Jung Min, Jung Woo Sung, Lee Sung Min, and others, is about the actual military takeover of South Korea that occurred in 1979 when President Park Chung Hee was assassinated.

Congratulations to “12.12: The Dayactors “‘s and crew!

12.12: The Day becomes the first Korean original film to gross over 6 million tickets since the epidemic.

Ung Woo Sung, the star 12.12: Since opening in theatres on November 22nd, The Day has garnered media attention because to its unprecedented number of attendances.

12.12: The Day, featuring veteran actor Jung Woo Sung, is the first Korean film this year without a sequel to break the 6 million marks in attendance. On November 22, the political thriller movie 12.12: The Day was released. It got off to a strong start with an opening weekend of USD 11 million. Now in its third week, the movie is still dominating the box office with a last-week gross of almost USD 34.2 million.

12.12: With over 6 million moviegoers, The Day leads the box office

The Korean Film Council revealed on December 9 that as of 12:02 AM, 12:12 The Day had 6,000,754 visitors (KST). It’s noteworthy to note that the pandemic in 2020 had an impact on the box office receipts of Korean films; nevertheless, the release of 12:12 The Day has increased attendance and revitalised Korean theatres. In just eighteen days, it achieved the 6 million marks.

About 12.12: The Day

12.12: The Day, a 2023 South Korean historical action drama film directed by Kim Sung-su and starring Hwang Jung-min, Jung Woo-sung, Lee Sung-min, Park Hae-joon, and Kim Sung-kyun, is a Korean word for “Spring in Seoul.” [3] From the late 1970s to the early 1980s, the military takeover of December 12, 1979, serves as the backdrop for the movie. On November 22, 2023, it was launched in theatres, and it quickly rose to the top of the 2023 Korean box office. Similar pseudonyms are used in place of the real people’s identities in the movie, and although though it is based on true events, some fictitious parts are included.

Synopsis

Following President Park’s murder, martial law is imposed. A coup is orchestrated by security commander Chun Doo-gwang (Hwang Jung-min) and his subordinate officers. Chun Doo-gwang battles against Lee Tae-shin (Jung Woo-sung), a resolute Capital Garrison Command commander who feels that troops shouldn’t engage in political activity. 

The military authorities put off making decisions as the two men’s disagreement intensifies, and the Minister of Defense vanishes. The much-anticipated springtime in Seoul takes an unexpected turn amid all of this commotion.

Production: Principal photography started in February 2022 and ran until July of the same year. At the press conference, director Kim Sung-su said that he was residing in Hannam-dong, Seoul, and a senior in high school at the time of the December 12th Coup d’état. He heard a gunshot coming from the official mansion of the Army Chief of Staff when he was strolling around the area after leaving his house, but the troops were in control. 

He was terrified because he had been hearing gunshots all night and was unable to go near, but he was also very curious and had a lot of questions since he was unable to understand what was happening, which is what inspired him to produce this movie.

Public review

Surprisingly, despite the fact that this work is set around 40 years ago, more young individuals (20s and 30s) than middle-aged people viewed it (40s and 50s). They also had a heart rate challenge wherein participants would use their smartwatches to monitor their heart rates while viewing the movie, then snap a photo of it and post it on social media to show that they were experiencing elevated stress or justified rage. 

People’s interest in other works, including 5th Republic [18], which explored the December Twelfth Coup d’état, increased as a result of this movie’s popularity.