Entertainment · K-Culture & Anime · 1 hr ago
Chiikawa Film Edges Assassins to Top South Korean Box Office
The animated film The Secret of Mermaid Island, featuring the Japanese characters Chiikawa and friends, ranked first at South Korean cinemas over the Oct.
9–11 holiday weekend.
It drew about 407,800 viewers, just 215 more than the historical drama Assassins, which placed second.
The Chiikawa film follows the characters as they investigate a secret on an unfamiliar island.
The characters already have a strong following in South Korea, built in part through merchandise and pop-up stores.
Assassins follows questions about the 1974 shooting of Yuk Young-soo and who was behind it; the film has also faced controversy over historical accuracy.
It passed 3 million total viewers on Oct.
12, its 20th day in cinemas.
As of the morning of Oct.
12, the Chiikawa film also led advance bookings, while the animated film Electronic Game Guardians ranked third ahead of its Oct.
14 release.
Chiikawa: Secret of Mermaid Island narrowly topped South Korea’s weekend box office over the October 9-11 holiday period.
The animated film drew about 407,800 viewers, just 215 more than Assassins, which ranked second.
Chiikawa had reached about 1.281 million total viewers since opening on September 30.
Assassins passed 3 million cumulative viewers on its 20th day in theaters, despite controversy over historical distortion.
Chiikawa’s popularity in South Korea was linked to its cute characters and darker, realistic story.
- Who
- Chiikawa: Secret of Mermaid Island and Assassins competed for the top spot.
- What
- Chiikawa ranked first at the weekend box office, ahead of Assassins by 215 viewers.
- When
- October 9-11; the results were reported on October 12, 2026.
- Where
- South Korean cinemas.
- Why
- The source says Chiikawa’s popularity was driven by its characters and the contrast between their cuteness and the story’s darker, realistic elements.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
No direct quotes in the coverage so far.
Chiikawa: Secret of Mermaid Island opened in South Korea.
Chiikawa drew about 407,800 viewers to rank first, while Assassins drew about 407,600.
Assassins passed 3 million cumulative viewers on its 20th day in theaters.
- Chiikawa weekend viewers
- About 407,800
- Assassins weekend viewers
- About 407,600
- Margin
- 215 viewers
- Chiikawa cumulative viewers
- About 1.281 million
- Assassins cumulative viewers
- More than 3 million
- Weekend dates
- October 9-11
Sources
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