PHOTOS D-1: 'Parasite' set to excite Korean moviegoers

The poster for “Parasite” is displayed at the ticket kiosk of a Seoul movie theater on May 26. Yonhap

By Park Si-soo

The domestic release of award-winning film “Parasite” is only a day away and more than 330,000 impatient moviegoers have bought tickets for the dark comedy of director Bong Joon-ho that won the top prize at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival.

It is a rare pre-release frenzy for a Korean movie, particularly when Hollywood blockbuster “Avengers: Endgame” and Disney animation “Aladdin” are sweeping the market.

Many experts say the movie's domestic success is already a “done deal” and the question is how far it will go.

“The Admiral: Roaring Currents” (2014) is the highest-grossing Korean movie, attracting 17.6 million moviegoers here. Second is “Extreme Job” (2019) with 16.2 million, followed by “Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds” (2017) with 14.4 million.

The rosy outlook for “Parasite” has seen the stock prices of the film's producer Barunson E&A and distributor CJ ENM soar since Bong's win on Sunday.

“Parasite” will have a nationwide release here on Thursday. Yonhap

More than 330,000 moviegoers have purchased tickets for “Parasite” in a rare pre-release frenzy. Yonhap

Director Bong Joon-ho, left, stands with actors who star in “Parasite,” at a press premiere at CGV in Yongsan, Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

Director Bong Joon-ho speaks during the press premiere on Tuesday. Yonhap