The market share of Korean movies stood at 53 percent as of end-2017, continuing their streak of controlling a majority stake for seven straight years.

Observers had forecast the 2017 audience tally to stay about the same as that of the previous year or log a marginal on-year drop. But good receptions for a series of big Korean-made movies, such as "Steel Rain," "Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds" and "1987," helped drive up the numbers, they said.

"Along With the Gods," a fantasy about guardians of death and the afterlife, has sold 9 million tickets into its 13th day of screening as of Monday. "1987: When the Day Comes" -- a historical drama film depicting true events that occurred during the democracy movement in South Korea, which toppled the military rule of the Chun Doo-hwan government -- has recorded 2 million in its sixth day. The thriller "Steel Rain" has attracted 4 million moviegoers. (Yonhap)