Actor Hyun Bin, right, plays independence fighter Ahn Jung-geun in the film "Harbin." Courtesy of CJ ENM

"Harbin," a film starring top actor Hyun Bin as independence activist Ahn Jung-geun (1879-1910), is making waves at the box office, with anticipation building to see if it will become the first movie of 2025 to reach 10 million admissions.

The movie, which premiered on Christmas Eve, surpassed 3 million admissions in just nine days on Jan. 1, according to data from the Korean Film Council's Korea Box Office Information System. As of Saturday, "Harbin" has attracted 3.49 million moviegoers, maintaining its lead at the box office.

The film portrays the dramatic events surrounding Ahn Jung-geun's assassination of Ito Hirobumi, Japan's first prime minister and the resident-general of Korea, in Harbin, China, in 1909.

Movie fans and culture critics attribute the film's success to the increased desire among Koreans to watch a movie featuring a heroic figure, especially given the current political turmoil caused by President Yoon Suk Yeol's sudden martial law declaration last month.

"I think this movie is being received well because it offers hope and strength," Kim Hern-sik, a culture critic said.

Kim said that audiences connected with the characters who refused to surrender despite the bleak situation Korea faced in 1909, drawing striking parallels to their own circumstances today.

"Recently, people haven't been going to theaters much. In this situation, 'Harbin' isn't fictional, and with the recent turmoil caused by the martial law declaration along with political, economic and social issues making our society quite difficult, 'Harbin' shows an example of overcoming such challenging circumstances, which seems to be attracting many viewers," Kim added.

Kang Yu-seok, an office worker at a local bank, expressed that watching the film made him realize the historical importance of Ahn Jung-geun's actions.

"Watching 'Harbin' made me appreciate the historical significance (of Ahn's actions)," the 26-year-old said. "I think its success is partly due to its Christmas season release, but there's also a desire among people to see movies about heroes during these economically challenging times."

Another movie fan, Yang Won-joo, said "Harbin" reminded her of Quentin Tarantino's "The Hateful Eight" (2015) in terms of the actors' performances and the director's style.

"The outstanding performances of the actors and the tense direction made me feel like I was watching a play, similar to Tarantino's 'The Hateful Eight,'" the 28-year-old office worker at a financial firm said. "The magnificent visuals and the overall cold atmosphere of the film also helped me immerse myself in the historical context and the emotions of the independence fighters."

A scene from the movie "Harbin" / Courtesy of CJ ENM

CJ ENM, the film's distributor, cautiously noted that the movie, which cost about 30 billion won ($20.5 million) to produce — considered a big-budget film in Korea — has yet to reach its breakeven point.

However, CJ ENM believes that focusing more on Ahn as an individual, unlike previous films about the independence fighter, might be one of the main reasons for its success.

"We believe that what differentiates 'Harbin' is its focus on Ahn Jung-geun as an individual, compared to previous films about him," a CJ ENM official said. "The visuals and music have received high praise. Additionally, the acting skills of the lead actors, including Hyun Bin, and director Woo Min-ho's direction are also being highly commended."

Culture critic Kim Sung-soo also pointed out that the delicate portrayal of a well-known historical figure was a key factor in the film's success.

"This movie doesn't depict Ahn as a perfect hero. It shows him as a person who, due to his beliefs, ultimately caused the loss of precious comrades," Kim Sung-soo said.

He added that the film effectively illustrates how Ahn's historical achievements were not the result of his efforts alone and how his determination inspired others.

"The movie focuses on how a determined individual realizes his will despite numerous moments where that will could have been broken. As the film progresses, it shows that Ahn's success wasn't achieved by him alone," the critic said.