The computerized box-office tally from the Korean Film Council showed that the Hollywood sci-fi black comedy attracted 1.04 million moviegoers from Friday to Monday.

South Koreans enjoyed a three-day break, as Monday was designated an alternative holiday for the March 1 Independence Movement Day, which fell on Saturday this year.

"Mickey 17" is Bong's adaptation of Edward Ashton's novel "Mickey7," starring Robert Pattinson as a young, heavily indebted man who joins an intergalactic expedition as an "expendable" -- a worker doomed to labor until death, only to be revived through "reprinting" technology.

"Marvel's Captain America: Brave New World" trailed far behind in second place with just 119,000 admissions.

It was followed by the Korean animated film "Exorcism Chronicles: The Beginning" with 98,000 admissions and the indie drama "It's Okay," directed by Kim Hye-young, with 33,000.