The Korean romance film Once We Were Us has surpassed 2 million viewers in theaters.
To celebrate the milestone, the production team released a special photo on January 25. The photo shows actors Koo Kyo Hwan and Mun Ka Young with director Kim Do Young, and supporting actors Kim Seo Won and Kim So Yul.
They are leaning on a sofa used in the film. The sofa is an important prop that represents Eun Ho and Jeong Won’s love and their fading memories. The group smiles and holds a message that reads, “Thank you, 2 million viewers!”.
Once We Were Us, directed by Kim Do Young released on December 31, 2025, and stars Koo Kyo Hwan as Lee Eun Ho and Mun Ka Young as Han Jeong Won. It is a Korean remake of Rene Liu’s Chinese romance film Us and Them. The Korean project was previously introduced under the title If Us.
The film tells the story of Eun Ho and Jeong Won, a couple who were once deeply in love. After breaking up, they meet again by chance ten years later. Their reunion brings back memories of how they first met on a bus in 2008, fell in love while chasing their dreams in Seoul. However, they eventually grew apart due to real-life pressures. The story moves between the past and present, depicting how time and circumstances changed their relationship.
The film has shown exceptional box office performance. As of January 26, 2026, Once We Were Us has ranked number one at the Korean weekend box office for three consecutive weeks. It has recorded more than 2 million admissions and approximately 19.5 billion won ($13.3m) in cumulative revenue.
The film is the first Korean romance movie since 2019 to surpass the 2 million viewer mark. The last romance film that achieved this mark was Crazy Romance, seven years ago. This genre has struggled at the Korean box office in recent years.
Critics praised the film for its emotional honesty and realistic portrayal of love. Performances by Koo Kyo Hwan and Mun Koung were noted for convincingly depicting characters who mature emotionally over a decade. Audiences also shared that the film felt relatable and emotionally moving.
