By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
A Thai film will be shot in Korea for the first time, the Korea Tourism Organization announced Monday.
The romantic comedy titled "As It Happens" is about a series of chance encounters and blooming romance between a travel agency executive and young woman traveling around the world.
The movie is said to be attracting much attention in Thailand for its star cast. Popular singer-actress Nattaweeranuj Thong Mee, who was introduced here through the Thai horror film "Shutter", will play the role of the heroine, while MC, professor and actor Navin Yaowapolkul will assume the lead male role.
"As It Happens" is slated for release in November and December this year across some 40 theaters. About 10 minutes of the estimated 90-minute running time will be set in Korea.
Filmmakers are scheduled to shoot scenes around Korea Friday through Aug. 17. Sites include Seoul N Tower, the Myeongdong shopping district and Cheonggye Stream in downtown Seoul. Also to be featured is the Han River boat cruise and the Seven Luck Casino in southern Seoul.
The movie will also feature Hwaseong Fortress, a UNESCO-designated World Heritage site in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. Other neighboring sites include Konjiam Resort, Wawoo Temple and the film set of the epic TV series starring hallyu star
Bae Yong-joon, "Taewangsasingi" (
"The Legend"), in Guri.
In the pre-production period, Japanese and Chinese tourism organizations made offers to host the overseas shooting, but filmmakers opted for Korea due to the rising interest in Korean cultural content in Thailand, said Jeon Hyo-sik of the Korea Tourism Organization.
"This will be a great chance to promote tourism in Korea in Thailand and other South Asian countries", he said.
