Award-winning director Park Chan-wook’s “The Handmaiden” has attracted more than 4 million viewers so far.

The film, which opened in local theaters on June 1, had attracted 4,005,806 moviegoers by Saturday, according to the Korean Film Council on Sunday.

It is currently the best performing 19-rated film this year, having surpassed the mark set by “Deadpool,” an American superhero film that opened in February and attracted more than 3.2 million moviegoers.


“The Handmaiden” topped the box office on its release date, and attracted 1 million moviegoers within its first four days. Within 12 days of release, the erotic thriller had attracted 3 million moviegoers.

Apparently, the recent controversy surrounding the rumored affair between actress Kim Min-hee, who plays Japanese heiress Hideko, and award-winning film director Hong Sang-soo, 56, married with one daughter, did not dampen the film’s performance at the box office.

Set against the backdrop of Korea and Japan during the Japanese colonial era, the film centers on the conspiracy of a count who hires a pickpocket to serve as the young Japanese heiress’ handmaiden in order to get his hands on her inheritance.

It debuted at the 69th Cannes International Film Festival, which ended May 22.

By Jung Eun-jin (jej2403@heraldcorp.com)