It is commonly said that film sequels are rarely better than the original, which has been true for all the local sequels in recently years except for such movies as "Hi Dharma 2: Showdown in Seoul (Talmaya Seoul-kaja)", a sequel for gangster comedy "Hi, Dharma (Talmaya Nolja)" in 2002.
But it seems that local movie companies don't quite believe it or want to challenge it, given that many of upcoming movies are sequels to popular films of recent years.
The starter in the lineup is "Wet Dreams 2", part of trilogy of teen sex comedy. It will first meet local audience on Jan. 13.
The first installment was set in a boy's middle school in 1987 and told funny and frank stories related to teenagers' sexual desires while the upcoming sequel is set in a girl's high school in 1991 with similar topics.
The film focuses on 17-year-old high school girls when they have a new handsome teacher in their class. The new teacher becomes the target of their interest and a "teaser" to them.
The final installment is known to tell the story of when the boys and girls from the previous films meet at college.
Seol Kyeong-gu and Kang Woo-seok in "Silmido", one of the biggest hit blockbusters last year, teamed up again in a sequel for detective drama "Public Enemy 2", whose origin gave the popular actor and director the first chance to work together.
In the sequel, Sol plays the role of a public prosecutor instead of a detective as in the origin. For his new job, he had to loose his weight again after he had to be hefty for his role in the latest movie "Rikidozan (Yokdosan)", a story of a legendary Korean wrestler in Japan in 1960s. The movie will open locally in early February.
Since its first installment, "Whispering Corridors", in 1998, a series of horror films taking place in a girl's high school have been produced _ "Memento Mori (Yogo Kwedam Tubonjjae Iyagi)" in 1999 and "Wishing Stairs (Yowu Kyedan)" in 2003.
Starring the beautiful young faces of the year, the series has concentrated on making schools seem the most dreadful place. The fourth installment "Voice Letter (Yogo Kwedam)", slated for the summer, will create the fear of the invisible with stories of the dead who wonder around schools.
Although all the series were not commercially successful at local theaters except for the first film, they attracted many audiences in Italy and other East Asian countries.
"My Wife Is a Ganster 3 (Chopok Manura)"
As Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi has joined the "My Wife is a Gangster" series, its third installment seems be targeting international fans as well as local moviegoers.
Co-produced between Korean and Chinese companies with the total production cost of 10 billion won, the film revolves around Eun-jin, played by Sin Eun-kyeong, who goes to Hong Kong on a mission of revenge for her dead boss.
Zhang made a cameo appearance at the end of the second film, but this time she will have a main role and in more dynamic and action packed scenes such as car chases and martial arts fighting.
Local moviegoers can check out in September if Zhang's participation will take the third installment to the level of the first that attracted some 5.3 million moviegoers here.
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