Po (Jack Black), the obese and lazy panda in Mark Osborne and John Stevenson's animated film, "Kung Fu Panda", is now a star.
According to the Korean Film Council, the film attracted some 3.31 million Korean viewers as of last weekend, since its release on June 5.
Past animated films that attracted as many viewers were "Shrek 2" (2006), with some 3.3 million, and "Howl's Moving Castle" (2004), with 3 million.
While Kung Fu Panda ranked second at the box office last week, Kang Woo-seok's action-thriller "Public Enemy Returns", released last Thursday, ranked first. It attracted 1.3 million viewers in three days, according to the council.
Meanwhile, for those moviegoers hoping to see more Korean films on the big screen among Hollywood blockbusters like "Incredible Hulk" and "Sex and the City", wait till next month.
Korean netizens are upset with Miss Korea, Lee Ji-sun, who is competing in the 57th Annual Miss Universe held in Natrang, Vietnam July 14.
A picture of Lee wearing her national costume for the competition spread online through her stylist Ines Ligron's personal blog got on netizens' nerves.
Lee had her hair tied up and wore a white kimono-like gown with a fancy embroidered red sash.
Netizens thought the costume was reminiscent of a samurai, a Japanese warrior.
The stylist posted a letter of explanation on her blog. She wrote, "I wanted to adapt the traditional form of hanbok, Korean traditional costume".
She wrote that the costume is of a late Joseon Dynasty female shaman.
East Asian neighbors board the same 'Boat' for a joint film production
Actress Cha Soo-yeon was selected as the main actress in a Korea-Japan joint production, "Boat", directed by Kim Young-nam.
Boat also stars Korean actor Ha Jeong-woo and Japanese actor Satoshi Tsumabuki.
It is the story of two smugglers, one Korean (Ha) and one Japanese (Tsumabuki), trying to kidnap a Korean girl (Cha) from either side of the East Sea.
Cha has previously starred in "For Eternal Hearts" (2007) and "Beautiful" (2007).
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