Red Petals Shatters All Records
After going through numerous pre-release screenings over the past two months and incorporating the most standout feedback, the final edited version was complete. This was the first time even the actors were seeing it. And perhaps because of that, in the moment just before the movie began, the glances exchanged between Woojin, Da-hee, and Seong-cheol held a mix of excitement and trepidation.
- Thudum.
A subtle change was felt right from the opening. The film started with far more grandiose and tension-filled sound effects than before.
The screen shifted, and—
- Caw! Caw!
The chilling cries of crows, symbols of ill omen, echoed as if piercing straight through the screen. Severed heads, exposed in the marketplace after execution, hung in gruesome display. Crows perched delicately atop them, mercilessly pecking at the faces of the dead—eyes still wide open in unresolved injustice—like woodpeckers hammering at trees. The camera, which had captured that horrific scene from afar, slowly rose toward the sky... and sliced through the heavens.
One by one, the movie's title etched itself sharply onto the screen.
Red Petals
"The atmosphere is insane...."
Woo-hee muttered to herself without realizing it, overwhelmed by the opening's sheer, inescapable force that demanded undivided attention. And she wasn't alone. Gulps of dry swallows echoed from all around.
Just knowing the other audience members were reacting the same way heightened the strange tension flowing through her. It formed an unspoken bond with strangers. In that instant, the power of a movie theater coursed through her entire body.
"Rip these bastards limb from limb!"
"Y-Your Highness... please spare our lowly lives!"
"Have mercy on us!"
"Shut up! Bring before me the limbs of all criminals and anyone even drop of whose blood mingles with theirs. Dig up those already buried and dead, and sever their heads anew. Let them not close their eyes even in death!"
On screen, Yeonsan exploded like a runaway train with failed brakes. Pure madness at its peak. Everyone's jaws dropped.
"......"
"......?!"
The nature of a cinema screen differs starkly from a TV drama. With TV, you can multitask, eat, do whatever—no restrictions. But theaters demand the opposite: sit still for two hours straight. Etiquette further limits personal actions—no noise, no lights to disturb others, even bathroom breaks come with side-eyes.
In that environment, the screen is the sole outlet for total immersion, hinging entirely on the actors' performances and the story's atmosphere.
Red Petals? Its 150-minute runtime flew by unnoticed, every second gripping you without a blink. Even snacks on armrests or popcorn in hand were forgotten as events barreled forward relentlessly, refusing to let a single gaze wander.
From the early film's "feast of insane acting" sparked by Baek Woojin, tension peaked through his chemistry with Oh Seong-cheol. Then, to ease that height and introduce fresh allure, newcomer "Jang Nok-su," Shin Da-hee, entered the scene.
The trio's stellar acting blended seamlessly with Director Ryu Chang-min's meticulous direction in perfect ensemble. The staff's four-month mantra of awe, witnessed firsthand on set, was no exaggeration.
The push-pull direction is just... insane.
Reporters in the front rows scribbled furiously throughout.
And soon—
"Whoa...."
The moment their pens flashed brightest arrived.
"Ahhh... Cheo-seon."
The embrace between Woojin and veteran actor Lee Jae-soon, a still cut that had buzzed endlessly upon release!
"Please! Open your eyes, you bastard...."
"......"
Yeonsan's sobs. But old eunuch Kim Cheo-seon lay still—bloodied lips, eyes shut—showing no sign of life. The screen filled with their contrasting expressions. Amid the 150-minute storm, this was the scene that left audiences utterly entranced.
The film reached its end.
"No matter how much you wash me, can you erase the scent of blood pulsing from this body...."
- Thud.
Yeonsan's hand fell limply amid flowing tears, fading to black.... Followed by the end credits.
The movie was over.
- Clap clap clap clap clap!
As the lights blazed on, applause filled the theater. The cast rose, bowing to the audience in response. The ovation continued, and—
- Flash!
Flashes erupted everywhere, desperate to capture even one more shot of Woojin, the film's linchpin.
* * *
On opening day, the film drew a staggering 640,000 viewers—shattering the all-time opening record, including foreign films. The previous was 550,000—an utter domination.
Online buzz exploded all day. Comments on news articles and Woojin's fan cafe overflowed with movie talk.
It charged ahead at Mach speed, unstoppable. Day 2 brought even wilder feats.
Day 2 Screening: 3:30 PM – Cumulative Viewers Break 1 Million
Real-time updates from the distributor—official records from the Korean Film Council (KOFIC)—poured in daily. It hit 1 million in under two full days, 2 million in three, and on day 7, a daily record of 1.26 million.
Red Petals' break-even was a hefty 5.5 million, thanks to sequential shooting for actor comfort and quality, doubling costs. Success was expected, but not this steep a climb.
And then—
In two weeks, it became Korea's 9th domestic and 12th overall 10-million film.
At such peaks, backlash often stirs—"raining on the parade." Critical, sensational articles emerged, keyword: "screen monopoly." But reality differed.
Red Petals' dominance actually boosted competitors. Sold-out shows sent failed bookers to other films. Plus, Director Ryu had pre-negotiated with the distributor: equal daily screenings to rivals. "Max screens okay, but no monopolizing slots." Retirement ambition was real, but not at others' expense—a principled stand. The distributor accepted MovieSells' terms readily.
Revealed backstory turned critic articles into netizen targets—comically backfiring. Of course, only a film of true excellence could pull this off.
On October 2, 47 days post-release, KOFIC's final tally: an astonishing 17,214,821.
17,214,821 Viewers
Korea's first 17-million breaker, all-time box office #1, highest gross—unmatched records with "first," "highest," "fastest."
Now, just welcome challengers warmly. Leaving a short, punchy impact, the film exited theaters without regret.
Ryu etched his name in history; Baek Woojin and Oh Seong-cheol's values soared higher; Shin Da-hee emerged as the unrivaled rookie solving the "early-20s actress drought."
Red Petals will be cherished as an unforgettable treasure by cast and audiences alike.
But....
* * *
- Bam!
At the very moment the final viewer count dropped.
Only two faces flushed red and blue with rage: SJ Entertainment CEO Ahn Seung-jun and his son, Ahn Jong-hoon.
"Baek Woojin, that fucking bastard."
"Jong-hoon, calm down first...."
"Dad! How can you say that? You think I can calm down right now?!"
Ahn Jong-hoon couldn't contain his fury. The CEO, so authoritative before staff, floundered helplessly before his son.
"Meet directors or whatever—Dad, fix this somehow!"
SJ, practically Ahn Jong-hoon's one-man agency, had long been declining. Baek Woojin's skyrocketing popularity made overlapping image castings for Jong-hoon tougher. Worse, his self-inflicted scandals at Hanbando's wrap party and Joseon Sunshine cameo had industry-wide notoriety.
Entertainment is a warzone without gunfire. Fame doesn't mean relax—it's fleeting. Reputation management is key for steady picks. Moral scrutiny on celebs is harshest.
Ahn Jong-hoon ignored this basics, drowning in fear—inferiority, envy, jealousy toward Woojin. Who could stop that?
Not even his grandfather.
- Crash!
"Argh, fuck!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Unable to hold back, Ahn Jong-hoon hurled the glass on the desk in a fit.
Startled CEO Ahn Seung-jun snatched his phone hurriedly.
Moments later—
- Click.
"Jong-hoon...."
Hong Seong-o rushed in, face grim, approaching Ahn Jong-hoon. Seeing his trembling hands and expression—
"......?!"
Seong-o's eyes widened.
"......"
Ahn Jong-hoon's face was unnerving. In that instant, a chill thought flashed through Seong-o's mind:
Something bad is about to happen....