‘The Deal’ reaches No. 1 on domestic box office

Local crime thriller “The Deal” edged out “Kingsman: The Secret Service” on the weekend box office, debuting in first place with 409,404 admissions, according to the state-run Korean Film Council on Monday.

Starring veteran actors Kim Sang-kyung of “Memories of Murder” (2003) as a detective and Park Sung-woong as a serial killer, “The Deal” focuses on the victim’s families and the killer in the aftermath of the crimes. While the victim’s relatives suffer in grief and a sense of guiltiness, the killer looks better than ever, despite being sentenced to death.

“The Deal” is director Song Yong-ho’s feature debut and has earned 4.1 billion won ($3.6 million) so far.

Trailing shortly behind in second place was Matthew Vaughn’s “Kingsman: The Secret Service,” which dominated the Korean box office in the last few weeks. It added another 388,776 admissions to its five-week total of 4.8 million viewers, making 39 billion won.

Neil Blomkamp’s latest feature “Chappie” opened in third place with 328,827 admissions. It is set in Johannesburg in the near future, where the crime-rampant city is controlled by robotic cops. Among those is the specially programmed Chappie, who can think and feel like human beings. The film stars one of Korea’s favorite Hollywood actors, Hugh Jackman, as antagonist Vincent, who tries to steal Chappie to use for his own interests.

Local low-budget film “Socialphobia,” starring coveted young actors Byuen Yo-han and Lee Ju-seung, was in fifth place with 127,896 viewers.

BY JIN EUN-SOO [jin.eunsoo@joongang.co.kr]