Colonial-era action flick “Assassination” crossed the 10 million-viewer mark at the box office on Saturday, the National Liberation Day of Korea, becoming the first local film to pass the milestone this year.

Director Choi Dong-hoon’s flick, which was released on July 22, garnered 10,336,691 viewers as of Sunday according to the official box-office tracker Korean Film Council.

Jun Ji-hyun in "Assassination" (Showbox)

“Assassination” is the 16th film to join the 10 million-viewership club here, and the 12th among domestic films. For Choi, it is his second time to reach the feat since his 2012 caper film “The Thieves,” which drew 12.9 million viewers.

Previously, director Yoon Je-kyoon achieved the 10 million title with two of his movies, “Tidal Wave” and “Ode to My Father.”

Ha Jung-woo in "Assassination" (Showbox)

Set in the 1930s when Korea was a colony of Japan, the flick revolves around three Korean independence fighters with a mission to assassinate the commander of the Japanese troop in Korea and a pro-Japanese Korean businessman.

Actress Jun Ji-hyun, actor Lee Jung-jae and Ha Jung-woo play the lead roles in the star-studded flick.

By Ahn Sung-mi (sahn@heraldcorp.com)