The king initially agrees, but the ministers instigate him to rescind the order, claiming that there is no zombie outbreak, only a civil rebellion. The Jemulpo partisans are arrested, while Lee Chung and Gyeong-bin are ordered to attend a banquet for a visiting Qing delegation. At the banquet, the king fully turns into a zombie, and is slain by Kim, who unleashes zombies there in an attempt to kill members of the palace and the Qing delegation, then rule with all potential opposition gone. However, Kim is bitten by a zombie, leading to the ministers turning on each other in a mad bid for power. Only Kim survives; he chops off his own hand to slow the infection, then declares himself king. Gyeong-bin convinces Lee Chung not to flee, but to protect the people, so Lee Chung, the royal guard, and his Jemulpo allies freed from prison proceed to fight to prevent the zombies from escaping the palace and attacking the capital. Lee Chung and his allies make a plan to draw the zombies together into a gigantic fiery explosion at the palace. Kim kills Hak-Su and an infected Park, preventing the explosion. Lee Chung continues the same plan, battling a horde of zombies and the half-infected Kim, ultimately succeeding by using a flaming arrow from Deok-hee. Kim is slain by Lee Chung in a duel. Reinforcements of soldiers and commoners arrive to exterminate the rest of the zombies. Lee Chung recognizes that through the power of the people, the ruined Joseon has promise after all, and elects to stay rather than leave for Qing. Principal photography began on September 1, 2017 and concluded on February 13, 2018. The film is financed and distributed by Next Entertainment World, who was the primary backer of films such as "Pandora" and "Train to Busan". It is directed by Kim Sung-hoon, who has worked with Hyun Bin in the hit film "Confidential Assignment". On November 14, 2017, it was announced by distributor Next Entertainment World that actor Kim Tae-woo will fill the role of Crown Prince Lee Young, originally scheduled to be played by the late Kim Joo-hyuk. The film was released domestically on October 25, 2018, alongside "Grass" and Hollywood film "Crazy Rich Asians". The film had already lined up theatrical releases in 19 countries. Release date for Philippines, Germany, UK, Vietnam, Myanmar, Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, US, Canada, Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Cambodia is set within 2 weeks after domestic release date.