The Man Who Lives with the King Wins Court Battle, Screening Ban Rejected
The Man Who Lives with the King clears a legal hurdle after a Seoul court rejects a screening ban request, allowing overseas distribution.
One of Korea's biggest box office hits has avoided a major legal setback. The Man Who Lives with the King, directed by Jang Hang-jun, is free to continue its distribution after a Seoul court dismissed a request to block the film's screening over alleged copyright infringement.
On July 23, the 21st Civil Division of the Seoul Western District Court, led by Presiding Judge Shin Myung-hee, rejected an injunction filed by the bereaved family of a screenwriter against production companies Onda Works and BA Entertainment, along with distributor Showbox. The family had sought to halt the screening of the historical film, arguing that it borrowed key elements from a screenplay titled Um Heung-do.
The Seoul Western District Court has dismissed an injunction seeking to halt the distribution of the feature film "The King’s Warden."
— DREAMERS.ID / DREAMERS RADIO (@DreamersRadioID) July 24, 2026
The motion, filed by the estate of the screenwriter behind the drama script Eom Heung-do, alleged copyright infringement.
However, the court… pic.twitter.com/ec66CmtkTz
The court ultimately sided with the filmmakers. Judges concluded that the available evidence did not support the claim that The Man Who Lives with the King had been produced using the screenplay submitted by the bereaved family. That ruling removes restrictions on screening the film aboard aircraft and ships, while also allowing overseas exports to move ahead without legal obstacles hanging over the production.
The decision focused on the distinction between broad historical ideas and protected creative expression. According to the court, while the two works share similar historical subject matter and settings, those overlaps alone are not enough to establish copyright infringement. It ruled that the screenplay and the completed film differ in their distinctive creative elements.
The court also pointed to the characters and narrative structure. It found only limited similarities involving abstract character types and certain plot points, adding that those features are common storytelling devices rather than original expressions protected under copyright law. In other words, the shared elements did not cross the legal threshold required to justify blocking the film's release.
Another key issue was timing. The judges declined to recognize the need for emergency preservation measures before the main lawsuit is resolved. Halting distribution now, the court explained, could cause greater damage to the production company and the many businesses and individuals connected to the film than allowing it to remain in circulation while the broader legal dispute continues.
During hearings held in May, the bereaved family argued that several scenes closely resembled those in the original screenplay. They cited Eom Heung-do carrying out King Danjong's secret orders, the Geomgye organization, and a prison escape sequence as examples of alleged similarities.
The production companies pushed back, maintaining that those elements are rooted in historical records or are widely used conventions in historical dramas and films. They argued that the overall storyline, central themes, and relationships between the characters differ substantially from the screenplay referenced by the plaintiffs. That position was reflected in the court's decision.
The ruling marks another significant chapter for a film that has already made history at the Korean box office. The Man Who Lives with the King tells the story of the exiled King Danjong and his loyal subject Eom Heung-do. Since its release on February 4, the historical drama has attracted 16.91 million moviegoers, making it the second highest-grossing film in South Korean box office history. With the injunction now dismissed, the film's international distribution plans can move forward while the main copyright lawsuit continues through the courts.
