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K Wave Media Leads Investment in “Once We Were Us,” Now the #1 Film at the Korean Box Office

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NEW YORK, Jan. 12, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- K Wave Media Ltd. (Nasdaq: KWM ), a global entertainment...

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AI Summary

Once We Were Us ranks top in Korean box office with 1 million viewers. Film surpassed Avatar: Fire and Ashes in its second week. CEO Ted Kim emphasizes strong investment strategy yielding commercial success. Success follows Trigger's global Netflix premiere, showcasing K-wave content potential. K Wave Media targets growth in digital and content markets post-IPO.

Sentiment Rationale

The rapid success of 'Once We Were Us' demonstrates KWM’s effective content strategy, similar to historical successes like 'Parasite'. This indicates strong potential for future investments and audience engagement.

Trading Thesis

Sustained box office success and audience engagement can drive consistent revenue growth over time, similarly to trends established by prior successful K-content releases.

Market-Moving

  • Once We Were Us ranks top in Korean box office with 1 million viewers.
  • Film surpassed Avatar: Fire and Ashes in its second week.
  • CEO Ted Kim emphasizes strong investment strategy yielding commercial success.

Key Facts

  • Once We Were Us ranks top in Korean box office with 1 million viewers.
  • Film surpassed Avatar: Fire and Ashes in its second week.
  • CEO Ted Kim emphasizes strong investment strategy yielding commercial success.
  • Success follows Trigger's global Netflix premiere, showcasing K-wave content potential.
  • K Wave Media targets growth in digital and content markets post-IPO.

Companies Mentioned

  • NFLX (NFLX)
  • PARA (PARA)
  • DIS (DIS)

Industry News

The article highlights KWM's strategic successes, impacting investor sentiment and reinforcing its market position in the competitive entertainment sector.

K Wave Media's Latest Success: 'Once We Were Us' Dominates Korean Box Office

NEW YORK, Jan. 12, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- K Wave Media Ltd. (Nasdaq: KWM), a prominent global entertainment and media company, continues to lead in K-content investments with its recent success, 'Once We Were Us.' Released on December 31, this feature film has quickly ascended to the top of the Korean box office, achieving over 1 million viewers in just 12 days.

Box Office Triumph and Audience Engagement

Since its theatrical release, 'Once We Were Us' has gained remarkable traction, recently drawing 54,940 attendees on January 7 alone, outperforming 'Avatar: Fire and Ashes,' which reported 46,691 admissions. This surge is attributed to strong word-of-mouth and vibrant audience demand, which have propelled the film despite it being screened on approximately half the number of screens and showtimes as its competitors.

K Wave Media's Strategic Investment Philosophy

“This performance validates our disciplined investment strategy and our focus on backing stories that connect deeply with audiences while delivering strong commercial results,” stated Ted Kim, CEO of K Wave Media. He emphasized how effective capital deployment and creative execution can yield significant box office returns when aligned with market timing.

Film Overview: A Romantic Drama

'Once We Were Us,' featuring acclaimed actors Koo Kyo-hwan and Moon Ga-young, is a Korean adaptation of a Chinese film of the same name, reimagined for a local audience. The movie, praised for its emotional authenticity and dramatic performances, follows the story of Eun-ho and Jeong-won, former lovers who unexpectedly reunite after a decade, sparking unresolved memories of their past. This narrative resonance has established the film as one of the most discussed Korean releases this season.

Previous Success: 'Trigger' and Future Prospects

K Wave Media's success follows the global premiere of 'Trigger,' an action thriller produced by Bidangil Pictures, a subsidiary of K Wave Media. With a production budget surpassing that of 'Squid Game' Season 1, 'Trigger' marks K Wave Media’s first Netflix original release since its Nasdaq listing in May 2025, reinforcing its ability to compete globally in the K-content arena.

The success of both 'Trigger' and 'Once We Were Us' signifies a robust execution across streaming and theatrical platforms for K Wave Media, heralding a new era for Korean content worldwide.

About K Wave Media (KWM)

K Wave Media (KWM) operates as a publicly traded entertainment and Bitcoin treasury corporation. The firm is dedicated to creating, distributing, and monetizing high-quality content across various platforms. Given its public debut in 2025, KWM has prioritized strategic growth initiatives that encompass acquisitions, digital platforms, and effective treasury management regarding digital assets.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations and assumptions concerning K Wave Media's future performance.

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