South Korea’s box office has found its latest sensation in the horror film ‘Salmokji,’ which has sent a chill through springtime moviegoers and rewritten records for the genre. By April 17, 2026, just ten days after its release, ‘Salmokji’ had already crossed the remarkable milestone of 1,088,707 viewers, according to statistics from the Korean Film Council’s integrated ticketing system. The film, directed by Lee Sang-min and distributed by Showbox, has consistently held the top spot at the daily box office since its opening on April 8, outperforming even big-budget competitors like the Hollywood sci-fi epic ‘Project Hail Mary.’
‘Salmokji’ stands out not only for its commercial success but for its unique roots in real-life legend. The film draws inspiration from ghost stories surrounding a reservoir in Yesan County, South Chungcheong Province—a location known to many Koreans as a so-called ‘real spirit spot.’ The story’s popularity first exploded in 2022, when the MBC horror talk show ‘Late Night Ghost Stories’ aired an episode about Salmokji, sparking a flurry of online discussions and reports of eerie encounters at the site. According to Ilyo Shinmun, this wave of fascination quickly turned Salmokji from a regional curiosity into a nationally recognized haunt, with people scouring online communities for past tales and personal experiences linked to the reservoir.
That real-world notoriety gave ‘Salmokji’ a powerful head start at the box office. The movie’s premise is as chilling as its inspiration: PD Suin (played by Kim Hye-yoon) and her filming crew arrive at the infamous reservoir to reshoot road-view footage, only to be swept up in a series of inexplicable and terrifying events. The film’s immersive horror elements, bolstered by strong performances from Kim Hye-yoon and Lee Jong-won, have been widely credited for its runaway popularity. As Munhwa Ilbo reported, “It has quickly spread through word of mouth since its opening, maintaining its number one spot at the box office.”
‘Salmokji’ is hardly the first Korean horror film to mine real locations for scares. The 2018 hit ‘Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum’—based on the infamous Gonjiam Psychiatric Hospital—drew 2.68 million viewers, becoming the fourth Korean horror film ever to surpass the 2 million mark at the time. More recently, ‘Neulbom Garden’ (2024) followed a similar formula, adapting the ghost stories of a derelict barbecue restaurant in Jecheon. Though their box office results differ, these films share a common thread: they spark intense curiosity by directly referencing real places, lowering the barrier for audience engagement and prompting viewers to seek out these haunted spots themselves.
This phenomenon is not without its downsides. The surge in visitors to these sites, often driven by curiosity or a desire for a firsthand paranormal experience, has led to a host of problems for local residents. After the release of ‘Gonjiam,’ for example, the real psychiatric hospital saw an influx of YouTubers and thrill-seekers, sometimes resulting in trespassing and community complaints. Similarly, the Jecheon barbecue house—though a private property with a legitimate owner—was plagued by unauthorized visitors hoping to explore the “haunted” ruins. As reported by Ilyo Shinmun, “Actual residents and business owners have repeatedly voiced concerns about negative perceptions and the inconvenience caused by indiscriminate visits.”
‘Salmokji’ has proven no exception. Since the film’s release, nighttime visits to the real reservoir have surged, leading to what one reporter described as a “parade of night drivers.” At one point, nearly 200 cars were recorded heading toward Salmokji, according to real-time navigation apps. This prompted swift action from local authorities: on April 17, Yesan County announced strict safety measures, including 24-hour vehicle restrictions and a ban on pedestrian access after 6 PM. The county explained, “The Salmokji area has narrow roads and poor visibility at night, raising concerns about safety accidents. The indiscriminate nighttime visits continue to inconvenience residents.” Police patrols have also been increased to maintain order after dark.
The film’s rapid rise has drawn comparisons to international horror hits as well. One columnist, writing for Newsspace, likened ‘Salmokji’ to the found-footage style of ‘Paranormal Activity’ and the mockumentary approach of ‘Gonjiam.’ However, not all feedback has been glowing. The same columnist, who watched the movie without prior knowledge, found it less effective as a horror film despite its high ratings and popularity. “I wondered if I’d fallen for the online comments or the high ratings,” the writer mused, giving the film a personal score of 5.0 out of 10, though acknowledging its box office momentum felt closer to a 7.0. The review pointed to a lack of clear narrative and scares, stating, “The film’s story involves a mysterious reservoir and unexplained ghostly events but was perceived as lacking clear narrative and scares.”
Still, the broader public seems to disagree. The movie’s strong showing at the box office, driven by both word of mouth and curiosity about its real-life setting, suggests that audiences are hungry for horror grounded in familiar landscapes. As Ilyo Shinmun observed, the use of actual locations “narrows the scope of fear to a specific place, making the experience more concrete for viewers.” This not only enhances the film’s realism but also encourages a kind of participatory fandom, with some fans seeking out the sites featured on screen—sometimes to the dismay of locals.
Meanwhile, ‘Salmokji’ has faced stiff competition from other blockbusters. On April 17, ‘Project Hail Mary’ ranked second in the box office with 32,892 viewers and a cumulative audience of over 2.16 million, while the historical drama ‘The Man Who Lives With the King’ took third, boasting an impressive total of 16.5 million viewers. Yet, despite these heavyweights, ‘Salmokji’ has managed to carve out a dominant position, setting the fastest pace for a Korean horror film since ‘Metamorphosis’ in 2019 and surpassing its sci-fi rival by a day to the million-viewer mark.
As the debate over its artistic merits continues, one thing is clear: ‘Salmokji’ has tapped into a potent mix of folklore, fear, and fascination with the unknown. Whether its legacy will be one of genuine scares or simply a fleeting pop culture moment, it has already left an indelible mark on Korea’s cinematic landscape—and perhaps on the quiet reservoir that inspired it.