"Hallyu Cinema Festival Premier" to Be Held in Tokyo

The "2006 Hallyu Cinema Festival Premier" introducing Korean films will be held in Tokyo, Japan for almost a month from Mar. 11 to Apr. 7.

The upcoming film festival has been organized by SPO, a Japanese film production and distribution agency, to celebrate the opening of its film outlet called "CineMart Roppongi" in Roppongi, Tokyo on Mar. 11.

CineMart Roppongi has been built as Japan's first cinema multiplex that will show only Asian films. SPO began promoting the upcoming hallyu film festival on Mar. 7, carrying full-page ads on major Japanese evening dailies.

Twenty Korean films of various genres will be shown to Japanese fans during this festival. "Flying Boys" (2004) directed by Byeon Yeong-joo and starring On Joo-wan will be shown as the opening film on Mar. 11. Byun and On are expected to say greetings to fans onstage.

Other films will include "Raging Years" ("Low Life") (2004, directed by Im Kwon-taek), "Taekwon Boys / Spin Kick" (2004, directed by Nam Sang-gook), "Steal It If You Can" (2002, directed by Lim Kyeong-soo and Seo Yoon-mo), "Public Enemy" (2002, directed by Kang Woo-seok), and "Hi, Dharma 2: Showdown in Seoul" (2004, directed by Yook Sang-hyo).

Also shown will be films that starred next-generation hallyu stars such as So Ji-sub, Jo In-seong, Kim Jae-won, CJo Seung-woo and Kim Dong-wan. Even after the festival comes to an end, these films will be screened throughout Japan.

The "Hallyu Cinema Festival" was first held in April 2005, attracting a total of 280,000 viewers and contributing significantly to the spread of the hallyu boom.