South Korea’s box office proved remarkably resilient during the pandemic. Theaters never really closed. But the market has needed a big local blockbuster, and “Train to Busan” star Don Lee provided it with his return as a cranky detective kicking righteous ass in the critically acclaimed “The Roundup: No Way Out.”

With a massive $60.35 million in just over two weeks, the action sequel was what South Korean theaters needed after a slow start to 2023 mostly dominated by Hollywood films like “Avatar: The Way of Water” and Japanese releases like “The First Slam Dunk.”

With a population of 51.7 million, under a sixth the size of the U.S., South Korea punches above its weight cinematically: It’s the sixth-largest theatrical market, just behind France, according to Gower Street Analytics, and movie-crazy enough that it outperforms larger countries with well-developed economies like Germany.

A pandemic stalwart looking for hits

South Korea...