Looks like Korean movies will end the year on a bit of a high note, as the No. 1 spot at the box office went to the local film SCANDAL MAKERS (aka OVERSPEED SCANDAL, aka SPEED SCANDAL, aka GWASOK SEUKAENDEUL) (and even SCANDLE MAKERS, which I assume and hope was just a typo).

Anyhow, SCANDAL is still going strong, a month after its release. Buoyed by the Christmas holidays, SCANDAL upped its total take at the box office to about 24 billion won (or $18.7 million, depending on what the exchange rate is doing at the moment). That is about 3.7 million admissions. Best of all, its 487,000 admissions over the weekend is still better than the film’s opening weekend four weeks ago.

THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL came in second with over $1.7 million. But thanks to the Christmas bump, it has grossed nearly $5 million since its release on Dec. 24.

Miyakazi’s latest, PONYO ON THE CLIFF BY THE SEA, is in third, with a decent but not great $1.1 million, bringing its total to $4.5 million. I am surprised. I thought it would have gotten a bigger bump from the holidays.

The only other Korean films were at the bottom of the top-10 — LOST & FOUND held at No. 7, and ROMANTIC ISLAND bombed with a 10th place debut.

This Week Title…………………………………….. Release Date Screens Nationwide Weekend Revenue (bil. won) Total Revenue (bil. won)
1. Scandal Makers (Gwasok Seukaendeul – Korean) 12.04 402 3.25 24.27
2. The Day the Earth Stood Still 12.24 490 2.20 6.35
3. Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea 12.17 367 1.34 5.83
4. Yes Man 12.18 251 1.08 4.20
5. Journey to the Center of the Earth 12.18 288 1.00 5.47
6. Twilight 12.11 259 0.50 7.88
7. Lost and Found (Dalkomhan Geojitmal – Korean) 12.18 277 0.39 2.62
8. Australia 12.11 214 0.33 5.78
9. Niko 12.24 147 0.24 0.59
10. Romantic Island – Korean 12.24 210 0.24 0.72

(Source: KOBIS – Figures represent 98% of nationwide box office)

It really was just a top-10 this week. After the 10th place film, no other movie was playing on more than nine screens in the whole country.