Haeundae (Movie - 2009)

해운대 (Hae-woon-dae)

Screenplay by Kim Hwi (김휘), JK Youn (윤제균)

•Adventure •Natural Disaster •Drama •Science-Fiction

129min | Release date in South Korea : 2009/07/23

Also known as "Tidal Wave"
Synopsis
Located on the southeast tip of the Korean peninsula is the international city of Busan. A popular vacation spot on the East Sea coast, Haeundae draws one million visitors to its beaches every year. Man-sik, a native of Haeundae, lost a co-worker to a tsunami on a deep-sea fishing trip four years ago. He has never returned to sea ever since. He now leads a simple life running a small seafood restaurant and is preparing to propose to his longtime girlfriend, Yeon-hee. Man-sik’s brother Hyung-sik works as a coast guard. One day, he rescues a female college student from Seoul who promptly, comes on to him aggressively. While these everyday domestic affairs unfold, geologist Kim Hwi, an expert on tsunami research, discovers the East Sea is showing signs of activity similar to the Indian Ocean at the time of the 2004 tsunami. Despite his warnings, the Disaster Prevention Agency affirms that Korea is in no harm of being hit. When he discovers a mega-tsunami is headed straight for the Korean peninsula, he quickly heads down to Haeundae. There he meets up with his ex-wife, who is organizing a cultural event, for the first time in seven years. He also sees his young daughter who is unaware that he is her father. Eventually, Kim gets a call about a deadly oncoming wave, with only ten minutes to spare! While the vacationers and citizens of Busan are enjoying a peaceful, hot summer day, a mega-tsunami is headed straight for Haeundae at 500 miles per hour.

Source

Haeundae | Cast

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Sol Kyung-gu
설경구
As
Choi Man-sik
(최만식)
Ha Ji-won
하지원
As
Kang Yeon-hee
(강연희)
Park Joong-hoon
박중훈
As
Kim Hwi
(김휘)
Uhm Jung-hwa
엄정화
As
Lee Yoo-jin
(이유진)
Lee Min-ki
이민기
As
Choi Hyeong-sik
(최형식)
Kang Ye-won
강예원
As
Kim Hee-mi
(김희미)

Extended cast

Haeundae | HanCinema Reviews

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[HanCinema's Film Review] "Haeundae" + DVD Giveaway
2015/09/19
I first saw "Haeundae", not from start to finish, but beginning midway through on cable television. There were, as to be exected, a lot of special effects about a giant tidal wave destroying everything. Given that the press materials have always pretty explicitly tried to sell the product as a disaster film, this should come as little surprise. Then I tried watching the movie from the very beginning and made a shocking discovery. "Haeundae" is, in fact, a romantic comedy,...More

Haeundae | News

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around town
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[HanCinema's Film Corner] "The Dark Knight Rises" VS "The Avengers": What does it take to be number one in Korea?
2012/07/21
What kinds of films do well in Korea and who are the foreign favorites that have made waves in the past? "The Dark Knight Rises" hit Korean cinemas this past week and is hoping to possibly steal the top spot from Marvel's massively successful hit, "The Avengers", as Korea's highest grossing film of 2012. Marvel's titan sucked in 7,061,050 during its run in Korea, memorizing millions with its larger than life visual prowess as well as its grand over-arching narrative within their superhero universe. It went straight to number one and held that position for three weeks, during which it amassed an impressive 5,447,728 admissions. Can the final film in Christopher Nolan's trilogy swoop in and serious challenge "The Avengers" in the Korean market? But before I dive into this question, I first wanted to look back and see what films have been the most successful in Korea over the past five years and discover the type of films, both foreign and local, that are cashing in,...More
CJ ENTERTAINMENT Goes for the Gold with "AS ONE"
2012/05/24
Sports film based on a true story hits North American theatres on June 1, 2012 CJ Entertainment brings "As One" (aka Korea, original title) to North American theatres this summer on June 1, 2012. The film, based on a true story about the first ever united North and South Korean sports team, will be releasing in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Vancouver, Toronto, and Los Angeles (L.A. release on June 8, 2012). A touching true story about the historic first Team Korea "As One" recounts the dramatic tale of the first unified Korean team that competed at the 1991 World Table Tennis Championships in Chiba, Japan. South Korea's ping-pong star Hyun Jung-hwa and North Korea's LI Bun-hee have each suffered humbling defeats at the hands of China's formidable "Ping-Pong Witch" every time they reach the tournament's final rounds. Forced by politicians to suddenly team up as the first united team Korea, HYEON and LI experience only conflict and mistrust, and face the loss of their championship dreams. But game-by-game, the two begin to build teamwork and find a budding friendship. When political winds change again and just as suddenly an announcement is made to disband team Korea, the two young women must prove to their people and the world that teamwork can outshine the dark shadows of a painful history,...More
Lee Myung-se passes "Mr.K" baton to assistant director of "Quick"
2012/05/03, Source
While movie "Mr.K" has all these speculations around the stepping down of director Lee Myung-se, the new director has been chosen to be Lee Seung-joon-I from the movie "Quick". JK Film announced on the 4th that a press conference will be held in regarding the stepping down on director Lee Myung-se and that the rest of the movie will be directed by Lee Seung-joon-I,...More
HAF feature interview with KIM Baek-jun, "Monsters"
2012/03/11, Source
Director KIM Baek-jun (born in 1970) is preparing his third film "Monsters" with production company JK Film ("Haeundae". The project's budget is set at about KW 800 million (US$711,000). He graduated from the Department of Theater and Film at Kyungsung University in Busan and worked as assistant director on films such as "Crazy First Love" (2003) and "Way To Go, Rose" (2005). He made his directorial debut with "My Dear Diary", which was invited to the Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF) competition. His second feature "Farewell - 2011" was in the Butterfly competition at the Cinema Digital Seoul Film Festival (CinDi). "Monsters" will be taking part in the 10th Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) this month,...More
Song Kang-ho, Jang Hyuk and Jo In-sung are coming
2012/02/22, Source
"Snowpiercer", "The Flu", "Kwon Bob" great masterpieces Top stars and veteran directors attempt at another leap hand in hand Blockbusters are still in depression ever since 2009 movie "Haeundae". A failure in a large scale blockbuster can sometimes lead to a change in the investing environment. Still, the challenge continues. Top stars and veteran directors dream of another rebirth in Korean blockbusters,...More
Kim Yoon-jin to star in Kang Full's original work
2012/02/13, Source
World Star Kim Yoon-jin will be coming back to screens with movie "Neighbors" which is based on a comib by Kang Full. According to the movie industry on the 14th, Kim Yoon-jin has confirmed to star in the movie "Neighbors" and is waiting for the making to start. She will be coming back a year after the 2011 movie "Heartbeat",...More
Korea's most anticipated films of 2012
2012/02/10, Source
With the start of the new year, the Korean film industry looks to its brightest prospects. Kang Byung-jin profiles eight highly anticipated films of 2012. "The Fortune Tellers" In production. Directed by Sin Jeong-won. Starring Kim Soo-ro, Lee Je-hoon, Kang Ye-won. Produced by Dasepo Club, Saram Entertainment. Distributed by N.E.W.Release planned for the first half of 2012. Korean fortune-tellers not only tell the future, but they also chase away ghosts. The background of "The Fortune Tellers" is Uljinri where a decades-old evil spirit rules. When mysterious accidents and events keep happening without avail, fortune-tellers from all over the country gather to hold a shaman ritual,...More
South Korean Box Office in 2011
2012/01/14, Source
Korean cinema expert Darcy Paquet looks back at the results of 2011's box office with some unexpected hits and misses, the rise of independent features, and how audiences confirmed they value story over spectacle. Although the number crunchers in Hollywood estimate that US theatrical admissions sank to their lowest level since 1995, things were not so gloomy in Korea. With an estimated 160 million tickets sold (more precise figures will become available at a later date), it appears that Korea has approached or broken the modern-day record for admissions. In 2010, total admissions stopped at 146.8 million. In monetary terms, 2011 was certainly the best year ever, given the 3D surcharge and rising average ticket prices. Americans may be growing tired of the theatrical movie-going experience, but young Koreans still crowd the multiplexes,...More
Three Korean projects selected to HAF
2012/01/10, Source
Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) is set to celebrate its 10th anniversary this March with a record 32 selections, including three from South Korea. These are director Jeon Soo-il's "Another Country", KIM Baek-jun's "Monsters" and Lee Hae-joon's "My Dictator". The festival chose these from more than 200 submissions from over 45 countries and regions.The final selection represents 20 different territories including Australia, China, India, Japan, and Malaysia,...More
Sector 7 hits box office record in China
2011/12/21, Source
Leading South Korean investor/distributor CJ Entertainment has announced that sci-fi thriller "Sector 7" has become the highest grossing Korean film in China. Released Dec. 6 on approximately 4,000 screens, the sea creature feature took in CNY20 million (US$3.1 million) by Dec. 14. The film opened at no. 2 in its first week. Amongst foreign film releases, it was no. 1 at the box office. Released in China with the title "Shen Hai Zhi Zhan", the film is the first large-scale 3D film from Korea to open in the country,...More
Romance lost between spooks and laughs
2011/11/24, Source
Son Ye-jin, front, and Lee Min-ki appear in a scene from the horror romantic comedy "Spellbound". / Courtesy of CJ Entertainment By Lee Hyo-won It starts out promising: a young man falls for a beautiful woman, who turns out to not only be able to see ghosts but causes them to haunt those around her. Creepy lost souls keep interrupting the consummation of what should have been a heart fluttering rather than heart attack-inducing first kiss,...More
Son Ye-jin, "I am glad to have Ha Ji-won by my side"
2011/11/23, Source
Actress Son Ye-jin (29) said, "I met Ha Ji-won recently and we became sisters". The two are part of a group called the 'Ha Son Kim' which stands for Ha Ji-won, Son Ye-jin and Kim Ha-neul, the top possible leading actresses that CJ, Lotte Entertainment and others love. With the release of movie "Spellbound" coming up soon, Son Ye-jin said, "I have been in movies for the past 10 years but only met up Ha Ji-won for the first time recently and exchanged phone numbers".,...More
Korean crews in China
2011/11/21, Source
Films from Greater China increasingly employ technical specialists from Korea - KIM Seong-hoon reports For a long time, the film industry has evolved according to emergences of new technology and this has meant new opportunities for those working in the field. We all know how when "talkies" were invented, many silent movie actors lost their jobs and at the same time, many other people found work as synchronized sound technicians and post-sync supervisors. When things went digital from film, jobs were created in the field of digital intermediate and color calibration. In a similar vein, when 3D films became the trend, new kinds of specialists came to be in demand in post-production. We could perhaps begin to understand the emergence of Korean film makers in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan in a same vein - technicians of VFX, special effects, and stunts who hail from Korea,...More
Korean films set for Stockholm festival
2011/10/28, Source
The 22nd Stockholm International Film Festival has announced its line-up to include a slew of films from the Republic of Korea including Hong Sang-soo's "The Day He Arrives", which previously screened in Cannes. In the Asian Images section along with "The Day He Arrives", the festival has selected up-and-coming director Jeon Kyu-hwan's "Dance Town", about North Korean escapees, Kim Ki-duk's self-portrait documentary "ARIRANG - Movie", and Na Hong-jin's brutal thriller "The Yellow Sea",...More
[Updated] Hwang Jung-min, Jung Woo-sung 'screen stars'
2011/10/26, Source
Coming back with general service channel dramas. All those actors and actresses who were in theaters are now returning to TV,...More
"Quick" is Speeding Its Way to the United States and Canada! +Win FREE Tickets!
2011/08/12, Source
"Quick" redefines the Korean blockbuster and blasts away the summer heat! The speed maniac and motorcycle messenger Gi-su receives a mysterious call when he is about to take Arom, his ex-girlfriend and a member of a girl band, to a live broadcast. Suddenly, a mysterious voice on the phone warns that there is a bomb wire to Arom's helmet and that a package must be delivered to a designated address within 30 minutes. "Remove the helmet or fail to complete the mission and the bomb goes off". ...As the clock is ticking, the two begin a race against time to stay alive,...More
"Sector 7" drives through 1,000,000 in 3 days
2011/08/07, Source
Movie "Sector 7" broke through 1,000,000 viewers in 3 days, running first in place in the Box Office. The accumulated number until 6PM on the 7th is 1,050,342 and it made sure the negative evaluation in the movie preview was put to shame.,...More
Korean film industry makes Declaration for the Normalization for Online Film Distribution
2011/08/02, Source
by KOFIC staff The Korean Film Council (KOFIC), the Korea Movie and Video Industry Association (KMVIA) and the Korean Film Producers Association led 108 companies and organizations in a Declaration for the Normalization for Online Film Distribution on July 27. The declaration called for online service providers to stop the illegal circulation of films. It also demanded they stop indirect technical protection of piracy and the omission of legal sales figures. It strongly demanded they adhere to guidelines for the normalization of online copyright protection. Lastly, the declaration warned online service providers that the film industry would, in collaboration, henceforth take strict and rigorous action if they did not,...More
'Quick' offers fast, forgetful entertainment
2011/07/12, Source
Left, Kim In-kwon, center, in a scene from "Quick". Right, Lee Min-ki and Kang Ye-won run for their lives in the film. / Courtesy of CJ E&M Pictures By Lee Hyo-won Let's begin with the end. The anticipated summer blockbuster "Quick" had Korean viewers, who can be usually seen impatiently darting toward exits before the end, glued to their seats until well after the credits stopped rolling. It wasn't so much that it was a particularly mind-blowing experience. Certainly some 70 secondhand cars and 30 motorcycles were sacrificed for a string of blast scenes, but it was because filmmakers decided to show how much pain the stuntmen and women had to endure for the project,...More
[20 Korean Films to Look Out for Second Half of 2011] "Quick"
2011/07/09, Source
By BAI K Seung Chan Run, Motorbike, Run! "Quick" Directed by Jo Beom-goo "Quick" is an action comedy that will hit the theaters in July, the peak season of Korean cinema. Its director's seat is taken by Jo Beom-goo, who has made "The Bad Utterances" (2004) and "Ddukbang" (2006), a school action flick with special colors. One of its main features is that the film is made by those who also made "Haeundae and Sector 7",...More
3D film out to compete with Hollywood
2011/07/07, Source
From left, actors Ahn Sung-ki, Ha Ji-won, Oh Ji-ho, Song Sae-byeok and Park Chul-min appear in a scene from the upcoming 3D monster movie "Sector 7". / Courtesy of CJ E&M By Lee Hyo-won Makers of the 3D action film "Sector 7", of which distribution rights have already been sold to 46 countries, call it a ruthless venture that is out to compete with Hollywood. "It's not about trying to catch up with post-'Avatar' Hollywood but trying to compete with it, and someone has to keep on trying", director Kim Ji-hoon, who has helmed action-packed works such as "May 18", told the press in Seoul, Thursday,...More
Film director Yoon goes from humor to high tech in approach
2011/06/28, Source
The Seoul district of Chungmuro, which is dubbed Korea`s Hollywood, has had a moviemaker showcase two blockbusters budgeted at 10 billion won (9.2 million U.S. dollars) each two weeks apart in an unprecedented move. To save time, director JK Youn a Dong-A Ilbo reporter to hold an interview in a car on his way from Seoul`s Yeouido district to his office in the city`s Gangnam area. With the 2009 blockbuster "Haeundae", Yoon joined the ranks of directors who have attracted more than 10 million viewers for one film. The reporter poked at him by saying the director had a trace of "ssammai", or Japanese movie jargon referring to a third-rate movie, in "My Boss, My Hero" (2001), and "Sex Is Zero" (2002), two films that were full of dirty jokes,...More
Ha Ji-won and JK Youn reruns 10-million myth?
2011/06/26, Source
Several block busters are looking forward to war. "7 Sector" is one of the hottest movies in the center of attention. Actress Ha Ji-won and director JK Youn from "Haeundae" (2009) which recorded 10 million viewers have come together once again.,...More
'Quick' promises fastest Korean blockbuster ever
2011/06/21, Source
From left, actors Lee Min-ki, Kang Ye-won, Kim In-kwon and director Jo Beom-goo pose at a promotional event for their new movie "Quick" at CGV Apgujeong, southern Seoul, Monday. / Yonhap By Kwaak Je-yup You've seen them on the streets of Seoul. They zip past your car, driving in the narrowest of spaces with the most unimaginable speed. These "quick service" delivery motorcycles, the most frightening presence on the road, are about to make their deadliest turn yet in a new blockbuster,...More
Moon So-ri comes back with Lee Myung-se's "Mister K" after birth
2011/06/20, Source
'Mom-to-be' Moon So-ri is returning to screens with Lee Myung-se's new project. JK Films revealed, "Moon So-ri will join and act with Sol Kyung-gu in "Mister K" after she has given birth". This movie is being directed by Lee Myung-se who has always pursued picture aesthetics in four years.,...More
[MD Photos] "Haeundae couple' Lee Min-ki and Kang Ye-won
2011/06/20, Source
Actor Lee Min-ki and actress Kang Ye-won, the "Haeundae" couple attend the movie preview of "Quick" on the 20th at CGV, Apgujeong,...More
[News] Ha Ji-won's 3D movie "Sector 7" pre-sold in 46 countries
2011/05/26, Source
Movie "Sector 7" has been pre-sold to 46 counties before its release. Distributor of this movie CJ E&M movie business department say, "Sector 7" has been pre-sold to 46 countries all over Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia".,...More
Did you know movie staffs receive 850,000 won a month? [Kim Kyung-min's Fair and Square]
2011/05/03, Source
A statistics report by the National Tax Service at the beginning of this year surprised the public. It was that a entertainer's average income was less than that of an average office worker's. The National Tax Office announced the average yearly income of a entertainer in 2009. The result was 24,990,000 won with actors and actresses in first place, then singers then models.,...More
Sol Kyung-gu joins "Mister K"
2011/04/17, Source
Actor Sol Kyung-gu will join director Lee Myung-se's new project. Sol Kyung-gu is internally negotiating the cast for "Mister K". This is the first work in four years by director Lee Myung-se who has a pursuit for film aesthetics.,...More
[YoungSang] Movie music means this man, guitarist Lee Byeong-woo
2011/04/10, Source
Movie music director Kim Byeong-woo (46), who increased the quality of movies "Haeundae", "The Host" and more with his music, was in his studio in Seoul,...More
Korean Film Fest Kicks Off in Kathmandu
2011/04/05, Source
Movies sometimes open up a whole new world for the audience and the sixth Korean Film Festival kicked off in Nepal offering a peek into what life is like in Korea.
Around 100 people gathered at Kathmandu on Monday to celebrate the opening night of the five-day festival.
The bi-annual event aims to,...More
Kim Ha-neul VS Ha Ji-won VS Son Ye-jin, who's the best?
2011/03/30, Source
Three top actresses who are difficult to distinguish in public popularity and acting are attacking the screens this year. Kim Ha-neul in the movies "Blind" and "You Pet", Ha Ji-won in movies "Sector 7" and "As One", Son Ye-jin in "Spellbound" and "Tower". Kim Ha-neul is the lead role in the thriller movie, "Blind". It is about a one and only witness who is blind, but sees a terrifying crime scene. Kim Ha-neul is an attractive police academy student who is outstanding in every sense but sight and holds the key to the case. Her partner is Yoo Seung-ho and he will act as her eyes,...More
Major Earthquake in Japan: 'No More Bad News'
2011/03/15, Source
People in the entertainment business have begun activities to help Japan while they have had to cancel their schedules in Japan. As the massive quake that hit the northeast Japan caused heavy casualties, many people in the entertainment business including Hallyu stars are offering heartfelt condolences and consolation one after another. In addition, aid groups have begun activities to donate profits to the victims from the major earthquake by holding events such as the "Rock Festival", which will be held in front of the Hongik University. The host of the festival revealed that they would donate the entire profits from the event to the earthquake victims,...More
Yonsama donates 1 bil. won for Japan quake
2011/03/15, Source
Korean 'hallyu' celebrities reach out to victims in cyberspace

By Lee Hyo-won

Korean "hallyu" stars including actor Bae Yong-joon are ex,...More
Three acting masters, in 10 billon won projects
2011/03/01, Source
Those who have great acting skills have no time to rest. Korean representative actors Sol Kyung-gu, Kim Yun-seok and Choi Min-sik's next projects have been shaped up. They all selected 10 billion won ($US 10 million) block busters. Their cast has already put trust in the movies at their planning stages.,...More
Sol Kyung-gu and Kim Sang-kyung, sparks in fire disaster movie "Tower"
2011/02/08, Source
Sol Kyung-gu and Kim Sang-kyung will play the two lead roles in the movie "Tower" (director Kim Ji-hoon/ Productions Tower Pictures). The two actors will first act alongside each other in this natural disaster movie "Tower" which is also being called the 'Korean Towering".,...More
Actors New Year get together, Jang Dong-gun, Hyun Bin, Go Soo and more... 13 actors luxury casting
2011/01/25, Source
There is news about the nation's top actors New Years get together. Actor Park Joon-hoon reported on his Twitter on the 25th, "13 actors including Ahn Sung-ki got together at my house last night and had the first New Year dinner together".,...More
Kwon Sang-woo meeting Jun Ji-hyun in "Pain", 'Only lament'
2011/01/07, Source
kwon Sang-woo meeting Jun Ji-hyun didn't go through. kwon Sang-woo has finally agreed to star in the role of a painless patient in the movie made from Kang Full's original "Pain" (Director Kwak Gyeong-taek/ Filming company Chukje).,...More
Son Ye-jin, Lee Min-ki cast in new film
2011/01/06, Source
Son Ye-jin (right) and Lee Min-ki in the new film "Spellbound" (tentative title) [Art Service] Actress Son Ye-jin and actor Lee Min-ki will co-star in a new film tentatively titled "Spellbound", announced the film's promoter Art Service on Thursday. According to the press release by Art Service, Son will play the female lead who starts seeing ghosts after an accident and Lee, a magician who performs his magic shows with ghosts,...More
[INTERVIEW] Child actress Kim Yoo-jung - Part 2
2010/12/22, Source
Actress Kim Yoo-jung [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia] 10: You recently played a middle school student in "Happy Maker Soonjung". How was that? Kim Yoo-jung: It was fun because I got to wear a uniform but I don't think there's much difference in terms of the acting. 10: What do you think it'll be like when you go to middle school? Kim Yoo-jung: I think I'll have a lot of fun. People say it's when you have the most fun. Oh, except for the studying. (laugh) Middle schools these days have snack bars, right? But not in Ilsan! And they study more than kids do in Seoul. Elementary schools in Seoul only test you in Korean language, math, social studies and science, and although it may differ depending on your principal, in the city of Goyang you get tested in English and the arts and physical education as well,...More
[INTERVIEW] Child actress Kim Yoo-jung - Part 3
2010/12/22, Source
Actress Kim Yoo-jung [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia] 10: What is the first role you played that you felt the fun in acting? Kim Yoo-jung: I wanted to act well in "Haeundae" and "All For Love" left a strong impression on me. I enjoyed working on "The Chaser" as well but I think I had the most fun with acting in "Grudge: The Revolt of Gumiho". I came to think that I would like to act for the rest of my life. 10: I guess you had fun on set although the drama itself was sad and scary. Kim Yoo-jung: It was so much fun that I'd like to go back to those times! The crew treated me very well, they would always give me good food, and the actors were very nice as well. Mr. Jang Hyun-sung in particular is like a real dad and friend. He's filming a new daily drama these days but he said the set isn't as cheerful without me and that he thought of me while eating meat so he called me, asking for me to join them. (laugh) And I like the director for "Grudge: The Revolt of Gumiho" the most as well. He's always smiling and was very cute. He looks like a fox when he smiles,...More
"Closer to Heaven" to be shown in Japan
2010/11/09, Source
In Korea, "Closer to Heaven" topped of the charts among romantic movies released in 2009. It earned Kim Myung-min Best Lead Actor awards at Korea's major film awards last year, the 30th Blue Dragon Film Awards and the 46th Daejong Film Awards, and Ha Ji-won won the Best Lead Actress Award at the 30th Blue Dragon Film Awards as well,...More
'He's on Duty' falters in satirizing social issues
2010/10/14, Source
By Lee Hyo-won

It's about time ― foreign residents comprise an increasingly larger portion of Korea's colorful demographic, and local cinema has finally found apt inspiration in the hushed w,...More
Son Ye-jin and Lee Min-ki will act as a couple in 'Spellbound'
2010/10/04, Source
Actress Son Ye-jin and Actor Lee Min-ki will act together in upcoming romance movie 'Spellbound' Movie 'Spellbound (directed by Hwang In-ho) is about the romance between a girl who tries to block herself from the world due to her ability of seeing ghosts, and a guy who want to protect that girl.,...More
Secret Garden: Jang Hyuk out, Hyun Bin in?
2010/08/25, Source
By javabeans Interesting (and confusing) news: Jang Hyuk may be dropping out of the fantasy-melodrama series "Secret Garden", and co-star Kim Sa-rang may follow him out. Being touted as a potential replacement is Hyun Bin. And the reason for all this sudden cast rearrangement: idol star Jay Park? The facts: "Secret Garden" is being planned as an SBS weekend drama to premiere in November,...More
Testosterone-fueled films dominate
2010/08/12, Source
By Lee Hyo-won

Korean actresses should be enjoying a nice long vacation on exotic beaches this summer — as male stars unabashedly show off their macho side onscreen there seems to be little room for the ladies.

The alpha male, as depicted through recent Korean cinema, has been reverting to a,...More
Korean filmmakers see need for global audience
2010/07/23, Source
Lee Sang-yong-I, Senior Vice President of the Film Production Planning Team at CJ Entertainment, speaks at a forum on "Solution for the Improvement of Korean Film Industry - In Matters of Investment and Distribution" held at Koryo Hotel in the city of Bucheon in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea on July 21, 2010, during the ongoing Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival. [PiFan] The Korean film industry is increasingly recognizing the need for big screen productions to be targeted toward the global audience as a way of helping the currently struggling industry revive and keep alive the "Hallyu", or Korean Wave. At a forum titled "Solution for the Improvement of Korean Film Industry - In Matters of Investment and Distribution", part of the industry specialized program Network of Asian Fantastic Films (NAFF) of the ongoing Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan), numerous Korean film producers and investors gathered to discuss on the current state of the domestic film industry and ways to bring developments,...More
Ha Ji-won cast as female lead in new SBS drama
2010/07/21, Source
Korean actress Ha Ji-won [Wellmade StarM] Korean actress Ha Ji-won, who is returning to small screen after four years, will play the female lead in a new SBS weekend drama tentatively titled "Secret Garden", according to an official related to the show on Wednesday. "Ha has been set to play female character Gil La-im. She has finished negotiating on the details of the contract", the official explained,...More
CJ and JK Film team up on 3D monster movie
2010/06/21, Source
CJ Entertainment and JK Film have opened shooting on their latest team-effort "Sector 7", a $8.2 million 3D monster-movie starring,...More
Oh Ji-ho may star in new sci-fi flick with Ha Ji-won
2010/06/01, Source
Korean actor Oh Ji-ho [Asia Economic Daily] Korean star Oh Ji-ho may be starring alongside actress Ha Ji-won in an upcoming science fiction flick, according to an industry source on Tuesday. The source explained that Oh is expected to take on the role of the boyfriend of Ha's character in the action picture titled "Sector 7", which will be produced by Yoon Jae-kyoon ("Haeundae") and helmed by Kim Ji-hoon ("May 18"),...More
CJ and "Harry Potter" producer to co-produce 3 films
2010/05/28, Source
At the press conference for CJE and 1492 Pictures from left to right: 1492 Pictures CEO Chris Columbus, CJE CEO Katharine Kim and film producer Michael Barnathan [CJ Entertainment] Korea's major film distribution and production company CJ Entertainment (CJE) will be co-producing three films with Hollywood's 1492 Pictures, the producer of the "Harry Potter" series. At a press conference on Friday, CJE's CEO Katharine Kim and 1492 CEO Chris Columbus announced plans regarding their joint production of the films and development of future development strategies,...More
[ChanMi's movie news] "My Dear Desperado" starring Park Joong-hoon
2010/04/30, Source
Park Joong-hoon returns rough! He is in the new film "My Dear Desperado" which will be released in May. He will be Deungchul, a gangster. This character is same as the character Macho, whom he acted in 1990. Park Joong-hoon has been casted because of the images that he had through other films like "Nowhere To Hide". He had been a ganster and a hero detective. He can be rough as well as comic. This new film, Park's character is just like that. You will be able to see his attraction once more enha,...More
"My Dear Desperado" is not a romantic comedy or comedy
2010/04/29, Source
Actor Park Joong-hoon, actress Jung Yu-mi and director Kim Kwang-sik-I at the press conference for "My Dear Desperado" [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia] The smell of shellfish soup cooking fills the room and a red light shines on the stack of soju and beer bottles in the refrigerator. However, it is not a bar rather it is the set for the briefing for the movie. The briefing for the movie "My Dear Desperado" was held at a cart bar near Apgujeong because actor Park Joong-hoon wanted to "have a shot of soju while introducing the movie". The brave yet jobless Se-jin (played by Jung Yu-mi) and Dong-chul (played by Park Joong-hoon) the neighborhood gangster who lacks bravery and always gets beaten up are semi-basement one room neighbors. The two people who look like they would never get along, come together at a nearby snack shop to eat ramen and become close after having a drink together in their room. The audience can see the two people come together when the movie "My Dear Desperado" opens in theaters on May 20. Below are the excerpts from the press conference for the film "My Dear Desperado" attended by director Kim Kwang-sik-I, actor Park Joong-hoon and actress Jung Yu-mi,...More
Lee Min-ki tapped to play lead in new JK Youn pic
2010/04/29, Source
Korean model/actor Lee Min-ki [Asia Economic Daily] Korean model and actor Lee Min-ki has been chosen to play the male lead in a new production by blockbuster director JK Youn, according to the movie's producer JK Film on Thursday. "We have finalized our selection and Lee Min-ki will play the lead for the new picture", Yoon, CEO of JK Film, told reporters on Tuesday of his choice for the film tentatively titled "Quick",...More
[ChanMi's drama news] "Coffee House" is the next "Full House"!
2010/04/15, Source
The new SBS drama "Coffee House" (formely known as "Page 1") will star Lee Soon-jae, Kim Ji-yeong, Ahn Kil-kang, and many other top actors of today. The charismatic acting will be shown through this drama. Lee Soon-jae was loved in "High Kick Through The Roof" and has chosen this new drama as his next project. Kim Ji-yeong was in "Haeundae" and drama "Take Off". Ahn Kil-kang was in,...More
CJ Entertainment sets up Japanese branch
2010/04/14, Source
Members at the CJEJ launch event [CJ Entertainment] Korea's largest film investment, production and distribution company CJ Entertainment has expanded its business into Japan, setting up a branch under the name CJ Entertainment JAPAN (CJEJ). CJEJ, jointly established by CJ Entertainment and movie theater chain T-JOY, a subsidiary of Japan's major studio TOEI, held a ceremony in Shinjuku on Tuesday marking its registration as a corporation. CJ Entertainment CEO Katharine Kim, T-JOY executive director Naoshi Yoda and CJEJ CEO Bae Hyung-chan were present at the event attended by some 400 film industry officials,...More
Go Hyun-jung, "Haeundae" win grand prize at PaekSang Arts Awards
2010/03/29, Source
Korean actress Go Hyun-jung at the 46th PaekSang Arts Awards held at the National Theater of Korea on March 26, 2010. [Asia Economic Daily] Top Korean actress Go Hyun-jung and "Haeundae" producer JK Youn won the grand prize at the 46th PaekSang Arts Awards, held at the National Theater of Korea on Friday. Ko claimed the top crown in the TV category for her portrayal of royal concubine Mi-shil in historical drama "Queen Seon-deok" while producer Yoon was awarded the same honor in the film category,...More
Korean films, stars nominated for U.S. Green Globe Awards
2010/03/12, Source
Korean movie "Thirst" and "Mother - 2009" [CJ Entertainment] Some of the biggest names in the South Korean film industry, as well as its most noted productions, have been nominated in multiple categories at this year's Hollywood-based Green Globe Film Awards. According to the event's official webpage, a number of Korea's top movie stars and films will compete in this year's "International Film Awards Theme: Asia" segment of the event which recognizes movies, actors and directors in the Eastern region of the globe. Noteworthy nominees include Song Kang-ho for film "Thirst", Ha Jung-woo for "Take Off" and Kim Myung-min for "Closer to Heaven" in the category for best international actor,...More
[Movie] Avatar Breaks 10-Million Barrier and Paradigm is Shifted in Film Industry
2010/02/24, Source
Avatar (directed by James Cameron), a 3D SF blockbuster, has become Korea's first foreign film to attract more than ten million viewers. The film has sent the domestic film industry into shock by attracting 10,069,047 viewers (provided by distributor) in just 38 days as of January 23.

Avatar is c,...More
[TV Program] Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to Invest 650 Billion won in Content Industry Including Films and Games over 3 Years
2010/02/19, Source
The government will invest 650 billion won until 2012 in the content industry including films, performances and games as part of an effort to promote investments in cultural content.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism pledged on January 21 that they would invest 100 billion won and 38.7,...More
[TV Program] KOCCA and KOFIC Launch 3D Film Discussion and Biz Fair
2010/02/16, Source
Korea Creative Content Agency (President & CEO Lee Jae-woong) and the Korean Film Council (Chairman Cho Hee-moon) hold the 3D Film Discussion and Biz Fair with the theme of "Exploring the Future of Korean-style 3D Films" at the Cinémathèque, KOFA Theater No. 2, in KOCCA (Korea Creative Content Agenc,...More
"Old Partner" wins Best Picture at Max Movie Awards
2010/02/10, Source
"Old Partner" director Lee Chung-ryoul (left) and producer Ko Young-jae at the 7th Max Movie Awards on February 9, 2010. [Asia Economic Daily] Korean documentary "Old Partner" won the trophy for best picture at the 7th Max Movie Awards on Tuesday. "Partner" also took the prize for best movie poster at the annual event, which hands out its awards based on a survey on movie fans. A total 753,277 people participated in the survey conducted from January 5 through February 2 this year. The acclaimed indie film -- which attracted over three million viewers in Korea during its limited theatrical release -- is about an old farmer couple and their lifelong friendship with an old partner, a 40-year-old ox.,...More
Avatar leads domestic box office for seventh week
2010/02/01, Source
Scene from No. 1 movie "Avatar" [20th Century Fox] Worldwide box office champ "Avatar" continued to set new highs on Korea's box office, becoming the highest grossing film ever released in the country as it topped the tally for the seventh weekend in a row. According to estimates by the Korean Box Office Information System (KOBIS) on Monday, "Avatar" sold 545,323 tickets between January 29 and 31 to accumulate nearly 11.27 million admissions since its release mid-December. In cash terms, the sci-fi epic grossed about 101.2 billion won, or about 86.2 million dollars, to become the first film released on the domestic box office to breach the 100 billion won mark.,...More
Korean box office hits record in 2009
2010/01/28, Source
Film "Haeundae" (left) and "Take Off" [CJ Entertainment/KM Culture] The Korean box office reached a new record in 2009 with ticket sales hitting an all-time high, according to data by the Korean Film Council (KOFIC). The KOFIC's annual report on the local film industry released Monday, reported that Korean moviegoers paid out approximately KRW 1.928 trillion for theater tickets last year. The sales total is about a 11.6 percent jump from the previous year and surpasses the previous record of KRW 991.8 billion won set in 2007. Admissions clocked in at over 156.79 million, up four percent year-on-year and ranking second behind the record set in 2007. The surge in sales despite the declined number of moviegoers was attributed to increases in ticket prices, raised by most theaters by KRW 500 to 1,000 starting June last year.,...More
Korean film "Le Grand Chef - Kimchi War" to open in U.S. too
2010/01/27, Source
Movie poster for "Le Grand Chef - Kimchi War" [IROOM Pictures] Korean film "Le Grand Chef - Kimchi War" -- which opens in Korea tomorrow -- will also be released in theaters throughout the United States next month, according to the movie's producer IROOM Pictures on Wednesday. IROOM Pictures explained that the film will open February 12 at AMC theaters in 20 major U.S. cities including New York, Atlanta, Chicago and Los Angeles. AMC, one of the largest movie theater chains in the country, is expected to show the Korean culinary flick on 25 to 30 of its movie screens.,...More
"Avatar" takes sixth Korean box office win
2010/01/25, Source
Movie poster for "Avatar" [20th Century Fox] Hollywood blockbuster "Avatar" continued to remain the most-watched movie in Korea last week, taking command of the box office for the sixth weekend in a row, according to official box office figures on Monday. Statistics by the Korean Box Office Information System (KOBIS) showed that the sci-fi action flick drew in 633,881 viewers from January 22 to 24, totalling close to 10.3 million viewers since the film's opening in mid-December.,...More
'Avatar' Approaches Korean Attendance Record
2010/01/25, Source
James Cameron's "Avatar" has attracted more than 10 million viewers in Korea in just 38 days since its release. Now the questions are whether it will surpass the record of 13 million spectators set by the Korean film "The Host" (2006) and if,...More
Sci-Fi Blockbuster 'Avatar' Becomes Top Grossing Film
2010/01/24, Source
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

One out of five Koreans has seen "Avatar".

The blue alien movie is taking the country by storm, becoming the first foreign picture to draw over 10 million viewers, Saturday, according to its local distributor, 20th Century Fox Korea.

Moreover, it has brought,...More
"Avatar" becomes sixth most-watched film in Korea
2010/01/14, Source
Hollywood film "Avatar" has set another record in Korea this week, becoming the sixth most-watched film in the country's history, according to the film's distributor 20th Century Fox Korea on Friday.

As of January 14, the James Cameron pic -- which on Monday was named the most-watched foreign fil,...More
Kim Yoon-jin Sings in 'Harmony' Onscreen
2010/01/12, Source
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

Not long after "The Executioner", the first movie to be filmed in a real prison, and,...More
[INTERVIEW] Actor Sol Kyung-gu (Part 2)
2010/01/11, Source
Actor Sol Kyung-gu [Beck Una/10Asia] Beck Una (Beck): And that is when you decided to take the civil service examination. Sol Kyung-gu (Seol): Haha. Let me explain that to you. I was dying to leave the Hanyang Repertory. I'd already graduated but that place was an extension of school while I wanted to meet a larger variety of people. I didn't think they'd let me go for no reason so I lied that I'm going to take the civil service exam. (laugh) But what's so spontaneous about me is that although I had left because I didn't like it, I didn't have anything to do right away. And I needed money but I didn't want to ask my parents for it so I ended up asking a senior of mine to give me a part-time job putting up posters. The interesting thing is that I ended up staying in the industry. Of course, if I had really taken off, I might have ended up becoming human trash. (laugh) Anyway, I had been at the job for about a month and a half? I was suddenly asked if I would want to take part in the musical "Line 1". Mr. Kim Min-ki had seen me about, putting up the posters and asked me if I would want to take part thinking that I'm hardworking. That had been my audition for it. Me and actors from all walks of life with all sorts of experience rehearsed for three months and wow, it was so much fun. That was the start of "Line 1". It also did very well. Before I took on film "Girls' Night Out", I was making two million won per month and drove a Sephia. (laugh) But after "Line 1", I had no work at all. That's when scenarist Lee Seon-mi, who used to do plays, recommended me to writer Jeong Seong-joo. And that is how I got to become part of the cast for morning TV series "Sisters". I think I'm a very person when it comes to human relationships. Beck: Did you not think of taking on dramas after "Sisters"? Seol: Why wouldn't I have? I was also asked to quite a lot. Not official auditions but one-on-one. But you know how you get glanced at from head to toe? I really hated the look they gave me when they do that. So after "Girls' Night Out" and then "Rainbow Trout", a man called Lee Chang-dong called me. Beck: After he watched "Girls' Night Out"?,...More
[INTERVIEW] Actor Sol Kyung-gu (Part 3)
2010/01/11, Source
Actor Sol Kyung-gu [Beck Una/10Asia] Beck Una (Beck): "Haeundae" is actually on weird coordinates in terms of your filmography. In comparison to your past films which had a single main character, "Haeundae" was a film which didn't necessarily need you to be part of. On top of that, director Yoon JK is known for creating commercial films. So I've been curious to know how you got to work on this film. Seol: I was once asked which director I work best with. To that I answered, "None of them". I make things work. "Haeundae" seemed like a movie calling for trouble. Like it would become a massive hit or flop horribly. Director Yoon may seem smart and clever on the outside but he seemed innocent in my eyes. I didn't see any murkiness in his eyes. And I am great with directors. Ryoo Seung-bum was surprised at me while shooting "No Mercy". He said I listen to well to the director. But what would I do? I'm not the director. The actor should listen. Of course, it gets annoying when my actions become limited. It's tough when the director limits my actions within the camera's angle. As long as I'm not trapped inside an angle, I can listen to what the director wants. Beck: I felt from interviews that you were a hard time especially while shooting "Voice of a Murderer" -- that you were feeling lonely. Seol: I was having a hard time personally. And it peaked during the times I shot "Cruel Winter Blues" and "Venus and Mars". To an extent I felt bad for my manager. I'm usually not the type that lets my personal life interfere with my work. But I felt that I failed to cut off my emotions in front of the camera during those days. Couldn't hide it in the expression -- it would all show. I feel very bad for director Han Ji-seung and actress Kim Tae-hee. I really was at my worst during "Venus and Mars"! The phrase I used often back then was that I had hit rock bottom. But I feel much more at ease after hitting rock bottom. The phrase I use most often nowadays is to 'go with the flow'. In a way, I might be even more bold than I used to be. (laugh),...More
2010 Korean Cinema Lineup
2009/12/27, Source
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

The past year represented hope and revitalization for Korean cinema. While problems such as piracy linger on, the forecast for 2010 cinema appears promising with diverse projects in the making.

Cineastes are finding inspiration from the past and are bringing rem,...More
"WOOCHI" sets box office record on opening day
2009/12/24, Source
Movie poster for "JEON WOO CHI : The Taoist Wizard" [CJ Entertainment] Korean movie "JEON WOO CHI : The Taoist Wizard" set a Korean box office record on its opening day, according to the film's distributor CJ Entertainment on Thursday. The movie -- shown on 597 screens around the country -- attracted 201,682 viewers on December 23, the highest opening-day figure set by a Korean movie which opened this year.,...More
13th Director's Cut Awards Winners Announced
2009/12/24, Source
240 Korean directors have picked the best director, movie and actors for 2009. Most notably, Park Chan-wook picked up the best director award for the Cannes winning "Thirst". Previou,...More
[Movie] Korea's CG Technology Attempts to Make Inroads into Hollywood
2009/12/22, Source
7 Korean CG Companies Engage in 1:1 Business Meetings during American Film Market 42 Meetings Held on First Day including Meeting with VFX Director of X-Men

▲Dan Chuba, VFX Supervisor of 'X-Men' listens to Jeong Seong-jin, CEO of EON Digital Films, who took charge of the CG for 'Gukga Dae,...More
Film Council Names Most Popular Movies of 2009
2009/12/07, Source
Korea's most popular film of 2009 is the disaster blockbuster "Haeundae", the Korean Film Council said yesterday.

Released July 22, the film opened at 753 screens nationwide and drew 11.3 million spectators. Many more, however, are expect,...More
'Mother - 2009' Sweeps Blue Dragon Awards
2009/12/03, Source
Best film in the 30th Blue Dragon Film Awards on Wednesday went to "Mother - 2009" directed by,...More
'Closer to Heaven' Couple Win Best Acting Nods
2009/12/03, Source
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

Kim Myung-min and Ha Ji-won, who starred as a married,...More
Ha Ji-won Wins 1st Best Actress Award
2009/12/01, Source
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

Popular actress Ha Ji-won collected her first Best Actress award at the 5th University Film Festival of,...More
[ChanMi's star news] Congratulations to Ha Ji-won!
2009/11/30, Source
Ha Ji-won, 11 years after her debut has been nominated for her first Best Actress Award! She has been at the 5th Korean University Films Festival where she has been awarded the Best Actress Award in the specific ceremony titled, "This Year's Movie Star". Her debut film has been "Truth of Dare" in 1998. Ha has been highly praise,...More
CJ Owned CGV to Open Third Multiplex in China
2009/11/19, Source
Reaching further inland, CGV will open its third Chinese multiplex in Wuhan, the capital on the Hubei province. CGV entered the Chinese market in 2006 and already has two multiplexes in Shanghai. The new addition will have 6 screens, 940 seats and be capable of 3D projection.

The Korean film i,...More
Sold to 9 countries, 'Jeonwoochi' sets to dominate box office
2009/11/16, Source
"JEON WOO CHI : The Taoist Wizard" has been sold to 9 countries. It is due to release in December. Stars in the fi,...More
Haeundae Pirates Have Their Day in Court
2009/11/13, Source
The internet pirates convicted of illegally downloading Korean mega-blockbuster hit "Haeundae" have just been convicted in court. All three,...More
Web Piracy Dogs Movie Industry
2009/11/12, Source
By Jane Han
Staff Reporter

CJ Entertainment, the distributor of South Korea's hit vampire film "Thirst", moved quickly to control the damage after the movie was leaked online earlier this week. But by publicizing the illegal activity, the,...More
'Good Morning, President' Draws 2 Million Viewers
2009/11/09, Source
"Good Morning, President" starring Jang Dong-gun has attracted 2 million viewers in the 17 days since its release, topping the box office char,...More
Grand Bell Film Fest Puzzles Movie Fans
2009/11/08, Source
By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter

Movie fans may have highly anticipated the 46th Grand Bell (Daejong) Film Festival, which took place Friday in southern Seoul, but the outcome of the event was unexpected.

The festival's award ceremony had many shaking their heads, as some of the most successfu,...More
Korean Wave 'Sweeps N.Korea'
2009/11/02, Source
North Koreans enjoy watching South Korean soap operas as much as anyone across Asia, a recent defector told Time magazine. "Many people watch them in secret, even when the police have tried to stop it", he is quoted as saying in the magazine's latest edition.

"In recent years, bootlegged South Ko,...More
Nominees for Grand Bell Awards Stir Controversy
2009/10/26, Source
The Grand Bell (Daejong) Awards, a prestigious film award in Korea, have stirred controversy yet again. The list of Best Leading Actress nominees that was announced October 21 includes Kim Gyu-ri (",...More
46th Annual Daejong Film Awards Nominees
2009/10/23, Source
46th Annual Daejong Film Awards Nominees

- Best Movie: "Take Off", "Mother - 2009", "The Divine Weapon", ",...More
'Haeundae' Director Set for International Shores
2009/10/16, Source
"Haeundae" writer and director JK Youn will direct an English language adventure comedy.,...More
Busan Film Fest Highlights Anti-Piracy
2009/10/12, Source
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

BUSAN ― South Korea may be one of the largest film markets in the world, ranking within the top 10 list in terms of ticket sales revenue and audience size, and,...More
Busan Film Fest 2009 Kicks Off In Style
2009/10/09, Source
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

Busan - The 14th edition of the Pusan (Busan) International Film Fstival (PIFF) kicked off Thursday with glitz and glam. Some 150 star cineastes and VIP guests walked the red carpet, sizzling up the cool autumn evening at the seaside resort.

The Busan Yatching C,...More
Korean Box Office has its Highest Earning Third Quarter Ever
2009/10/09, Source
The Korean Box Office made more in this just completed third quarter than it ever has in its history. As well as this not unpredicted result the revenue share of Korean films also increased. This very welcome news that comes amid a projected 3 year film industry slump amongst a general, worldwide,...More
Cinema Sales Hit Record High in Q3
2009/10/06, Source
Cinema earnings reached an all-time high in the third quarter thanks to higher ticket prices and a passel of hit Korean movies. The Korean Film Council said Monday that cinemas nationwide took in more than W328.7 billion (US$1=W1,174) in sales in the quarter, breaking the previous record of nearly W,...More
[ChanMi's star news] Ha Ji-won in shiny pants!
2009/09/24, Source
Ha Ji-won has been in the HIGHCUT magazine's photoshoot. She is getting of the van and is meeting the paparazzi with a bright smile. She has been in the movie "Haeundae" recently and is back again through "Closer to Heaven". The title of this shoot is "Paparazzi Time - HA JI,...More
'Chaw' and 'Haeundae' Get More International Exposure
2009/09/18, Source
Both "Chaw" and "Haeundae" are to be released overseas, respectively to the U.K and Canada.

Optimum Releasing who also handled,...More
Chinese/Korean Film 'Season of Good Rain' to be Released
2009/09/18, Source
Korea and China has cemented its cinematic relations with the about to be released "Season of Good Rain". The film directed by More
August breaks cinema record
2009/09/10, Source
According to numbers published by Korean Film Council (KOFIC) about the first eight months of 2009, Korean cinemas earned an unprecedented KRW 153,800,000,000 (little over US$ 124 million) last month August.

As many as 21.4 million Koreans visited cinemas in August, 43.2% of the population. Due,...More
PIFF Announces Record Lineup of 355 Films
2009/09/09, Source
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

The Pusan (Busan) International Film Festival (PIFF) will open its 14th edition with a star-studded local drama, organizers announced Tuesday, spotlighting the recovery of the South Korean movie industry.

The leading Asian event from Oct. 8 to 16 in the southern,...More
Box Office Score Peaks After 2-Year Low
2009/09/08, Source
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

The South Korean box office saw an all-time high in August, drawing over 20 million moviegoers for the first time in two years, the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) announced Monday.

Some 21.4 million tickets were sold, which purely in terms of numbers would account,...More
Cinemas Reap Records in August
2009/09/07, Source
Local cinemas brought in record profits last month thanks to the box office hits, "Haeundae" and "Take Off".

The Korean Film Council said Monday that box office sales for last mon,...More
Haeundae's Tidal Success Tempered by Pirated Downloads
2009/09/03, Source
Disaster film "Haeundae"'s wave of success has just been tempered by electronic pirates. The film was briefly leaked across peer to peer site,...More
Gov't Investigating Uploaders of 'Haeundae'
2009/09/01, Source
The government says it will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law those who have illegally spread Internet copies of the blockbuster Korean disaster movie,...More
Online Bootleg of 'Haeundae' Angers Korean Film Industry
2009/09/01, Source
The Korean film industry is seething after a copy of the blockbuster "Haeundae" was found being illegally distributed over the internet last,...More
Hard Work Is Everything for Ha Ji-won
2009/08/29
The success of the film "Haeundae", which became only the fifth movie in Korean film history to attract over 10 million viewers just 33 days,...More
Success of 'Haeunda' Invigorates Korean Film Industry
2009/08/28, Source
The massive popularity of the disaster movie "Haeundae", which has drawn more than 10 million viewers so far, has ramifications that reach be,...More
3D Films Set to Increase in Korea and Asia Region
2009/08/28, Source
3D films are expected to increase in Korea representing a greater regional Asian trend. This could not come at a more welcome time. Despite significant success at the box office of late with films such as "Haeundae" and,...More
Kim Myung-min Sheds 20 Kilos for Role
2009/08/25, Source
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

Constantly transforming, from a callous doctor to a feisty conductor, Kim Myung-min is an actor with many fa,...More
'Haeundae' Attracts 10 Mil. Audience
2009/08/24, Source
By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter

More than 10 million viewers have now watched the big-budget disaster film "Haeundae" since its release o,...More
Actor Lee Min-ki Goes into Singing
2009/08/20, Source
Actor Lee Min-ki of,...More
Movie 'Take Off' Tops Box Office
2009/08/20, Source
The movie "Take Off" from director Kim Yong-hwa, has beaten,...More
Disaster Movie 'Haeundae' Heads for 10-Million Mark
2009/08/17, Source
The Korean disaster film "Haeundae" has attracted more than 9 million spectators in the 26 days since its release and is about to surpass the,...More
Blockbuster Movie 'Haeundae' Boosting Busan Business
2009/08/10, Source
By Kim Hyun-cheol
Staff Reporter

The port city of Busan has received an unexpected and lucrative boost to its business this year: a mega-hit blockbuster movie featuring the city and named after it,...More
'Haeundae' Hits 7-Million-Viewer Mark
2009/08/09, Source
By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter

Local summer blockbuster "Haeundae", directed by,...More
'Haeundae' Set to Top 7 Million Viewers
2009/08/09
Ticket sales for "Haeundae", a mega-hit disaster movie, are expected to surpass 7 million Sunday.

The big-budget action film, portraying a,...More
'Haeundae' Tops Booking Charts for 3rd Straight Week
2009/08/07, Source
The movie "Haeundae" has become the first domestic movie this year to draw over 5 million viewers. Moreover, the movie has topped the booking,...More
Korean Films Dominate Local Box Office in July
2009/08/06, Source
Korean movies grabbed a 51.1 percent share of the domestic market in July as locally-produced blockbusters such as "Haeundae" and "Chaw" drew throngs of moviegoers. This is a record mont,...More
"Take Off" Takes Up Second Place at Box Office
2009/08/06, Source
While "Haeundae" continues to storm across the country Ski Jumping epic "Take Off",...More
Disaster Movie 'Haeundae' Draws 5 Mln. Moviegoers
2009/08/04, Source
The South Korean disaster movie "Haeundae" has lured over five-point-two million viewers since its opening on July 22nd.

Film distributor,...More
"Haeundae" Box Office Rampage about to Hit China
2009/07/31, Source
Even though tidal wave warning systems had predicted the oncoming "Haeundae" tsunami, the Korean box office was not prepared for its mass dev,...More
[ChanMi's movie news] "A Million" where survival and thrill meets
2009/07/30, Source
This summer, in Korean film industry, a new film has come! Director Jo Min-ho has appeared at the press release for the film, "A Million" which is going to challenge the charts against other summer films such as "Chaw" "Take Off" and "Haeundae". The movie stars Park Hae-il, Park Hee-soon, Shin Min-ah, Lee Chun-hee, Lee Min-ki, and Jung Yu-mi who have been in the deserts fighting the nature on the set. It is about a survival game whom these people have taken on in Australia for a million Won. Each character has to fight against death to survive. The characters are a Pizza deliverer, ex-marine, Law student, Bar hostess, financial manager, and more but have left their homes,...More
'A Million' Combines Action, Noir Drama
2009/07/30, Source
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

In "A Million", Jo Min-ho offers something brillian,...More
Korean Movie "Haeundae" to Open in China
2009/07/28, Source
The Korean blockbuster film "Haeundae" will open in China next month.

The big-budget film on a Korea threatened by tsunamis has drawn two,...More
Long Awaited Tsunami Movie "Haeundae" about to Hit Korea
2009/07/24
For what maybe the longest possible wait for an internationally released movie to hit its own shores, "Haeundae" is about to be released in K,...More
'Haeundae' Manages to Be Entertaining
2009/07/20, Source
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

The anticipated summer blockbuster "Haeundae" is like a blushing bride, wearing something new, something o,...More
Summer Movies Get Special Effects Boost
2009/07/16, Source
Summer vacation has kicked off with plenty of CG laden blockbusters like Transformers 2 and the latest installation of Harry Potter.
Not to be left behind, Korean producers have also prepared their own special treat of special effects, adding a touch of imagination and just the right amount of huma,...More
[ChanMi's movie news] Ha Ji-won vs Shin Min-ah
2009/07/11, Source
Actress Ha Ji-won and Shin Min-ah will bring new wave of summer fun! Ha Ji-won's new film "Haeundae" will be released this 23rd where she comes out as the hard working Busan Sister-in-law. We have seen her in Hwangjin-i with sophisticated and highnosed woman of art but now, she is a woman in Busan running a sushi restaurant illegally after losing her father to an accident. Every film Ha tries, she is a very different character. This time she has challenged herself to a Busan dialect and Busan woman's personality traits. She costarrs with Seol Kyeong-koo but is praised for her good work from staff. Meanwhile, Shin Min-ah's new film,...More
[ChanMi's star news] Ha Ji-won enjoys her 31st birthday
2009/06/30, Source
Actress Ha Ji-won has enjoyed her 31st with her fans. Ha Ji-won held a small sports day with her fans at a park on her birthday. The fans came in their sportswear to enjoy a day playing games and sports with their favorite star. They sweat together and ate ice cream together having fun. The fans surprised Ha with a surprise talent show for her which made Ha cry.,...More
Summer Action Flicks Are Coming
2009/06/30, Source
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

Every summer, big budget Hollywood movies flow in, and many worry about the potential threat to homegrown films. Recent trends, however, suggest that competition is healthy.

"The fact that such a comparison (between national and international franchises) is even,...More
Korean Cinematography Booms on High-quality, Lucrative Productions
2009/05/21, Source
Korean cinematography has been thriving recently as more movies continue to draw scores of viewers to theaters, bringing in impressive revenues and receiving positive feedback both from domestic and foreign critics. As more viewers these days are attaching more importance to the uniqueness of movies,...More
Korea Thrust Back into the Limelight at Cannes
2009/05/20, Source
Korea's two most anticipated directors, who have already had success in Cannes, have thrust Korea back into the international spot light. Park Chan-wook's "Thirst" and Bong Joon-ho's,...More
CJ Ent. Makes Waves at HK FILMART
2009/04/16, Source
The film sales arm of Korean major CJ Entertainment did brisk business at the Hong Kong FIILMART, closing deals on a slew of titles including pre-sales for its big-budget disaster film "Haeundae" going to Indonesia's VSG for rights over Mala,...More
Korean Films sell well at Berlin's EFM
2009/02/11, Source
Korean company Fine Cut as well as CJ Entertainment can both claim success at this years EFM in the Berlin Film Festival. Fine Cut leads the pack selling 11 films alone to one company, Scandinavia's Non Stop Television. It also sold gay themed,...More
[ChanMi's movie news] Kwon Sang-woo and Ha Ji-won in a melodramatic movie
2008/09/23, Source
The two stars, kwon Sang-woo and Ha Ji-won will be starring in a melodramatic movie together! This new movie is titled, "My Love Beside Me" ("Closer to Heaven"). Kwon is acting as a man who is suffering insomnia in his limited life span while his love acted by Ha Ji-won will be by his side loving and caring for him until the end.,...More
[ChanMi's movie news] Uhm Jung-hwa in the new movie "Haeundae"
2008/08/13, Source
Costarring with Ha Ji-won and Sol Kyung-gu in the movie "Haeundae", Uhm Jung-hwa returns to the movie screens after a year.,...More
[ChanMi's drama news] "Hwangjin-i" to be aired on a Japanese channel
2008/08/06, Source
Drama "Hwangjin-i" starring Ha Ji-won will be aired in Japan starting this October 11th. "Hwangjin-i" has gained much popularity in 2006.,...More
'Kang Cheol-jung' Sol Kyung-gu, next work is 10 billion won project "Haeundae"
2008/06/12, Source
Sol Kyung-gu has returned in seven years as detective Kang Chul-joong in,...More
Ha Ji-won, Prime Minister Award for Ministry for Health, Welfare, and Family Affairs
2008/05/22, Source
Ha Ji-won attended the '2008 Family Month Event', and was the only entertainer who received the award. Her management company, Well-made Star M sa,...More
Ha Ji-won comes back with 8 billion won (US$ 8 million) project
2008/05/01, Source
In the midst of sighs that there are no more females in leading roles, Ha Ji-won will challenge this.

,...More
Disaster Movie in the Works
2007/12/11, Source
In a joint-venture with U.S.-based Polygon Entertainment, Korean production company Doosabu Film is in the development stage for what will be South Korea's first disaster film. Titled,...More

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Produced by

Lee Ji-seung (이지승)

Distribution

CJ Entertainment (CJ Entertainment)

Staff

Kim Jeong-gon (김정곤)
Assistant director

Kang Dae-gyu (강대규)
Assistant director

Lee Seung-joon-I (이승준)
Directing department

Lee Seung-yeon-IV (이승연)
Adaptation/Dramatization

Yoo Seong-hyeob (유성협)
Adaptation/Dramatization

Kwon Hyeok-jae (권혁재)
Adaptation/Dramatization

Jung Woo-chul (정우철)
Adaptation/Dramatization

Paek Seung-hwan (백승환)
Distribution department

Lee Byeong-woo (이병우)
Score composer

Sin Min-kyeong (신민경)
Editor

Lee Dong-sam (이동삼)
Lighting/cinematography department

Kim Tae-hwan-I (김태환)
Martial arts team

Lee Jin-hee (이진희)
Martial arts team

Kwon Patrick (권양헌)
Computer generated graphics/Digital special effects department

Technical Information

129 min •HD •Cinemascope (2.35)

Web site

www.haeundae2009.co....

Festival(s) & award(s)

Sales or release dates & Box Office

Airing dates : 2009/07/23

South Korean Box Office
Source : www.cine21.com & www.kobis.or.kr

As of 2009.10.25 : 11,396,153 admissions (total)

As of 2009.10.18 : 11,394,344 admissions (total)

As of 2009.10.11 : 11,392,576 admissions (total)

As of 2009.10.04 : 11,384,107 admissions (total)

As of 2009.09.27 : 11,346,132 admissions (total)

As of 2009.09.20 : 11,301,649 admissions (total)

As of 2009.09.13 : 11,188,078 admissions (total)

As of 2009.09.06 : 10,997,566 admissions (total)

As of 2009.08.30 : 10,652,407 admissions (total)

As of 2009.08.23 : 10,007,059 admissions (total)

As of 2009.08.16 : 9,070,872 admissions (total)

As of 2009.08.09 : 7,465,142 admissions (total)

As of 2009.08.02 : 4,822,356 admissions (total)

As of 2009.07.26 : 2,004,357 admissions (total)

As of 2009.07.19 : 10,183 admissions (total)

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cool disaster movie good visual effects.

dasbat

2009-11-02 22:19:26

subi

2009-10-07 07:03:24

The movie was ok. But nothing special or different from the other disaster movies out there. Seol Kyeong-gu and Ha Ji-won were great though. ^^

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