The latest figures from the Korean Film Council's KOBIS tracking service reveal a vibrant picture for the South Korean box office, largely thanks to the Chuseok festival. The overall market collected a robust $19.6 million over the September 25-27 weekend, a healthy jump from the previous week's $7.6 million, demonstrating how much the holiday season drives moviegoing.

Leading the charge was director Hur Jin-ho's gripping political crime thriller, "The Assassin(s)." This period investigation drama captivated audiences by reconstructing the August 15, 1974, assassination attempt on President Park Chung-hee, which tragically resulted in the death of First Lady Yuk Young-soo. The film delves into a compelling conspiracy, following a detective, portrayed by the versatile Yu Hae-jin, a seasoned newspaper society desk chief played by Park Hae-il, and a rookie reporter, brought to life by Lee Min-ho, as they uncover missing ballistic evidence that casts doubt on the state's official lone-gunman verdict.

"The Assassin(s)" dominated the weekend, pulling in an impressive $8 million from 1,119,156 admissions across 1,532 screens, securing a commanding 40.9% of the market share. Since its debut on September 23, the film has quickly accumulated a total of $11.2 million from 1,566,222 admissions, cementing its status as a major holiday hit.

Following closely in second place was "Tazza: The Song of Beelzebub," the highly anticipated fourth installment in the popular comic-adapted gambling franchise. Directed by Choi Kook-hee and featuring a strong cast including Byun Yo-han, Noh Jae-won, and Ayaka Miyoshi, this crime saga plunges into the world of high-stakes poker. The plot centers on a betrayed former online casino operator who enters the international circuit, seeking vengeance in a thrilling duel of wits and cards.

"Tazza: The Song of Beelzebub" opened strongly, taking in $4.1 million from 566,526 admissions across 1,045 screens, capturing 21.3% of the weekend market. Including its previews and holiday crowds since its September 23 release, the film has already garnered $6.1 million from 833,030 admissions, proving the enduring appeal of the 'Tazza' series among Korean moviegoers. The strong performances of both "The Assassin(s)" and "Tazza: The Song of Beelzebub" underscore a robust and diverse local film market, perfectly timed to capitalize on the holiday spirit.