South Korea is taking the record-breaking global phenomenon of the Michael biopic to a new level. While the film has already ignited the box office worldwide, the local rollout is transforming Seoul into a multi-layered MJ archive ahead of its regional debut.

Here’s what you need to know.

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The Release

Following its global premiere in late April, the film is officially scheduled to hit South Korean theaters on May 13. The biopic, starring Michael’s nephew Jaafar Jackson, offers an intensive deep-dive into the early life and meteoric rise of the King of Pop.

The Yeouido Hangang Park Pop-Up

Before the official premiere (though an early screening has already taken place to great reception), fans are flocking to Yeouido Hangang Park for a high-concept pop-up experience that bridges the gap between the film’s narrative and musical history.

• The Atmosphere: This space allows visitors to step into the environment where Michael’s legendary sound was engineered.

Lotte Cinema & ‘Wildlyr Creative’ Collectibles

South Korean theater chains are known for pushing their “creative” limit on traditional merch, and the Michael release is proving to be their most ambitious rollout yet. Lotte Cinema and other major multiplexes are leading the charge with exclusive, specialized collectibles.

The Box Office

The #MichaelMovie recently had its early screening in South Korea, and it was a celebratory affair.

The film will be released in the country on May 13. 📽️ pic.twitter.com/sFK5V2unIX

— Decked Out Media 🍿 (@deckedoutmag) April 30, 2026

Alright. Let me plug some numbers real quick. According to Deadline, Michael will cross the $413 million mark globally. This means that by the time, there is a chance that the film could cross the $500 million mark by the South Korea May 13 premiere date (keep in mind, however, that I am not a professional box office tracker). If this happens, crossing the half-billion mark before hitting major Asian hubs like South Korea and Japan (opening in June), means the sky is the limit for this film as far as its final global box office total.

And with that, I will leave you.

Michael hits South Korean theaters on May 13.

RELATED: MICHAEL: The Greatest Musical Biopic of All Time (No Spoilers)

Author Bio

Jael Rucker is the founder of Decked Out Magazine. She has previously worked as the Associate Commerce Editor at PureWow, focusing on analytics and trends to pitch stories and optimize articles that build and engage their audience. Her work has also been seen in Footwear News and WWD. Prior to 2024, she was the style and pop culture editor at ONE37pm for over three years, contributing numerous product reviews, brand profiles and fashion trend reports, which included interviewing Steph Curry, Snoop Dogg and more.