The controversial documentary film “Project Cheonan Ship,” whose screening was suspended by a major multiplex chain, recorded a first-day sellout at a theater in Incheon on Thursday.

The film challenges the government’s claim that North Korea sunk the Cheonan warship near Baengnyeongdo Island, killing 46 South Korean sailors.

Cinema chain Megabox removed the movie from its lineup only two days after the film hit theaters on Sept. 5. over security concerns for moviegoers, claiming it received threats from an unknown conservative group that protested the screening.

The arts theater Cinespacejuan, the only place to screen the film in Incheon, said all 112 tickets for the movie were sold out on the first day.

“It is unprecedented to record a sellout on the day of the film’s release in our theater,” an official of the cinema house said. “We are planning to increase the number of screenings and expand it to a two-month run.”

The documentary questions whether the conclusion of an international team’s investigation -- North Korea torpedoed the warship -- is true, a stance that has angered conservatives and family members of the victims.

Currently, 12 movie theaters are playing the movie nationwide, including Cinespacejuan.

By Im Woo-jung, Intern reporter
(iwj@heraldcorp.com)