[Movie 2012] Dancing Queen 댄싱퀸

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January 30, 2012

Dancing Queen surpassing the 2million audience mark

Nate 1 l 2 l 3

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January 28, 2012

HanCinema Korea's Diary

Dancing Queen: Feel-Good Fun with Plenty to Say

Source: Hancinema.net

It's sometimes a complicated effort to find Korean films that are screening with English subtitles in Seoul. Many big cinema houses sporadically screen the latest Korean films and hearing about them is almost impossible without being in the loop as it were. So when I saw that Lee Seok-hoon's "Dancing Queen" was screening at Yongsan in Seoul, I resigned myself to the fact that, although it didn't look like a film I would willing choice to watch, I would see it because it is what was available. This reluctance was compounded by the film's 124-minute screen time but, despite this, I was happily surprised to walk out of the theatre with a smile on my face and a spring in my step.

"Dancing Queen" is currently the top film out on the Korean cinema circuit at the moment with a total of 632,837 admissions. It's a great start to what is a highly entertaining and hilarious film. I feel the need at this point to voice my personal objection to film's title and overall marketing. The film involves a middle-aged couple that have lost some sense of themselves and the dreams that they both once held. As they each pursue their dream their relationship becomes stretched to the breaking point. Hwang Jeong-min plays Jeong-min, a civil lawyer who's failing private practice is stuck in a rut and capping his ability to grow professionally and provide for his family. His wife, played by Uhm Jung-hwa, chose to let go of her dream to become a musical singer when the two of them got married some years back. As the film progresses, Jeong-min gets the opportunity to run for mayor while Jung-hwa secretly joins a girl group on the rise. The film favours neither one in particular but the production company clearly put stock in the fact that calling this "Dancing Queen" would help promote the film. Maybe they were right, as its first week and half has shown good results, but in writing this I hope to encourage those, who like myself are sceptical, to give the film a chance and not be distracted by the film's marketing strategies.

The film tackles a number of relevant socio-cultural issues currently being experienced in Korea. These range and include topics such as domestic identity, patriarchy, personal agency, and even homosexuality is touched on. It handles these, and other, issues in a light and digestible manner without diminishing or undermining their importance and place within the publics consciousness. Sure, some themes are simplified and are managed with less tact than others but their inclusion is definitely noted and contributes towards the film's impact as a whole.

Just by watching this film you can get a pretty good outline of some of the major social issues being raised in modern Korea. Education, the private industry in particular, has become almost unmanageable while the cost of living and housing continues to rise. Korea's low birth rate remains to be one of country's biggest long-term issues as Korea's future economic prowess could be threatened. Homosexuality in the workplace, and in society, is a relatively new social phenomenon and Korea has slowly been given it more attention and recognition. Jung-hwa and Jeong-min's relationship challenges traditional assumptions about the expectations of gender roles with the family. These themes, alone with others, are a plenty in the film and they stood out to me as a bold, almost provocative, text on Korea's progression as a nation in the 21st century.

The film makes for fantastic entertainment. The flecks of humour are pulled-off through some great acting and are altogether well paced. Throughout the film the types of emotions you will experience range and are, most importantly, well situated to each scene and the beats within. Progression is one of films strengths and, despite its length, it is one of longer Korean comedies that I wasn't continually checking the clock. "Dancing Queen" was able to create an absorbing narrative that keeps you engaged with new encounters and conflict without boring you in the process. Its likeable characters are handled well by the actors and you won't be able to walk away from the film without some form of inspiration or newfound positive perspective on life.

-C.J. Wheeler (Chriscjw@gmail.com)

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February 1, 2012

Deleted 'Dancing Queen' Kissing Scene?

Source: Nate

[Guest satisfaction!]

can't wait to watch this and congrats to them for reaching the 2million mark~~~ and im also glad uhm jung hwa has recovered from her surgery. hope she gets even healthier!

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February 2, 2012

Korean film in 2012

KOREA IT TIMES (INFO@KOREAITTIMES.COM)

SEOUL, KOREA — The Korean film industry has a lot to offer for the year of 2012. Korean films have been gathering more attention around the world and in the domestic market, as Korean films gain attention and Korean actors and producers take part in more international collaborations.

According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the market share for Korean films was 51.9%, up from 46.5 in 2010 and marking the first time in modern history that Korean moviegoing audiences showed a marked preference for domestic movies. As well, film exports increased by 14% in 2011.

Five Korean films sold more than four million tickets in Korean theatres in 2011, up from just two in 2010. Those include Sunny by director Kang Hyeong-cheol and Detective K, directed by Kim Seok-yoon, as well as Kim Han-min’s War of the Arrows, which sold almost 7.5 million tickets. The Crucible, based on the novel of the same name by Gong Ji-young, shone a light on the sexual abuse scandal at Gwangju Inhwa School, causing the public, the media, and lawmakers to sit up and take notice.

Already several movies have been released this year. Dancing Queen stars Uhm Jung-hwa as the wife of a politician who leads a secret life as a dance singer. Veteran actor Ahn Sung-gi stars in Chung Ji-young’s Unbowed, which depicts the 2007 incident known as the “crossbow terror” incident, in which a university professor fired a crossbow bolt at a judge. A 3D animated feature film, The Outback is a joint Korea/U.S. coproduction about a circus koala.

Already in theatres: Dancing Queen (CJ Entertainment) and Unbowed (NEW)

February will see yet another film starring Song Kang-ho, who has received acclaims throughout his career for films such as JSA, Memories of Murder, and The Host. He appears this time in action-drama Howling, in which he pursues a killer dog. Ha Jeong-woo is set to appear in three films this year; in February he and Oldboy star Choi Min-sik will costar as gangsters in Nameless Gangster, and also as a “Male Bridget Jones” in Love Fiction, both films out in February. Later in the year he will appear as a North Korean spy in The Berlin File. Other releases for the month include Han Ji-won’s The Angel’s Breath, a drama about an actor who dreams of becoming a star, and 2 Lines, a documentary by Ji Min about cohabitation.

PHOTO: Howling (CJ Entertainment)

March will be a busy month for new releases. Lee Sun-gyun, who broke through in the TV drama The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince, will appear in Train, a mystery thriller based on the novel All She was Worth by Miyabe Miyuki. Speaking of coffee, the historical drama Russian Coffee depicts King Gojong’s love of coffee, based on a novel by Kim Tak-hwan. Kim Ji-woon, who is currently in the U.S. directing Arnold Schwartzenegger for the 2013 film Last Stand, will showcase his directing talents alongside colleagues Han Jae-rim and Lim Pil-seong in The Fall of Humanity, an omnibus of three science fiction stories. Kim’s segment deals with a robot that gains sentience. Lim’s segment tells the story of a zombie apocalypse from the point of view of a zombie, and Han’s chapter is a musical movie set at the end of the world. If you want something a little safer, Bae Gwang-soo’s drama Eighteen and Nineteen tells of a scandal with adolescent fraternal twins Hoya and Seoya, and Lee Kwang-kuk’s Romance Joe tells a more conventional love story about a struggling film director and a coffee shop waitress.

PHOTO: In Russian Coffee (Cinema Service), Park Hee-soon depicts King Gojong, and Kim So-yeon serves him coffee.

After that, there seems to be a bit of a break in Korean releases until June, with the release of horror movie Don’t Click by Kim Tae-kyeong starring Park Bo-yeong. After watching an unidentified video, her character Se-hee must save her sister and her boyfriend from...something, presumably this time not a ghost who likes to crawl out of televisions.

PHOTO: Don't Click (Showbox Media Plex) teaches you to be careful what links you open on your computer.

Set for a summer release is Yeongasi, which is described as a natural disaster movie but with a plot more akin to Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Parasitic horsehair worms -- Yeongasi in Korean – mutate and begin infecting humans, controlling their minds. The star, Kim Myeong-min, received a neck injury while filming a scene where he is attacked by an angry mob. He had anticipated the injury and didn’t let it slow him down.

Many other Korean films are set to be released this year with no definite opening date yet. International star Lee Byeong-heon is set to appear in both an American and a Korean film, revisiting his character Storm Shadow in G.I. Joe: Retaliation and taking on a double role in I am King of Joseon, an adaptation of The Prince and the Pauper about a king and a beggar who switch roles. Rain stars in war film Soar into the Sky, a remake of Shin Sang-ok’s 1964 film The Red Muffler about air force pilots. Rain himself began his compulsive military service in October 2011 following the wrap of filming.

Two of the most anticipated films of 2012 will square off for best heist movie. Director Choi Dong-hoon will release his fourth movie, the highly anticipated The Thieves, a heist film set in Macao which has been called the Ocean’s Eleven of Korea. It features a star-studded cast including Lee Jung-jae (Oh! Brothers), Kim Yoon-seok (The Chaser), Kim Hye-su (Tazza: the High Rollers), and Jun Ji-hyun (My Sassy Girl), along with Chinese actors Simon Yam and Angelica Lee. It may face stiff competition from Kim Joo-ho’s The Grand Heist, which has been described as the Joseon Dynasty version of Ocean’s Eleven. Rather than cash or diamonds, the target of the film’s heist is a rare commodity of the Joseon era: ice.

PHOTO: The Thieves (Showbox Media Plex) was filmed in Macao, Hong Kong, and Korea.

The latter part of the year should see the release of a diverse array of Korean films. Ko Hyeon-jeong stars in Miss Conspirator, a mob comedy about the hunt for misplaced drugs. Shin Jeong-won’s film The Fortune Tellers is a mystery film that sends an ensemble cast to Uljin to solve a mystery. Korea, directed by Moon Hyeon-seong, depicts the story of the first victory of the inter-Korea team at the 1991 Chiba Worldwide Table Tennis Championships. Featuring actresses Ha Ji-won and Bae Doona, it should deliver some stirring performances. For the romantics, there’s also An Introduction to Architecture, a melodrama about an architect who rebuilds the home of his first love, in a nonlinear plot that skips between present and past.

PHOTO: Korea (CJ Entertainment) tells the story of North and South Koreans cooperating to win the 1991 tournament.

There will doubtlessly be many more Korean films released throughout the year. In order to make Korean films more approachable to foreigners residing in Korea, Korean films are often screened with English subtitles at theatres such as CGV Yongsan. Listings may vary throughout the year. For more news on Korean films, visit www.hancinema.net.

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February 2, 2012

Korean movies take over the box office

Source: Nate via Hancinema.net

"Nameless Gangster", "Broken Arrow", "Dancing Queen", "PaPa" and more Korean movies have wiped the box office clean.

According to the Korean Films Council on February 3rd, on February 2nd "Nameless Gangster" rose to #1 at the box office in 598 theaters and drew in 158,809 admissions on the day it was released. Overall it has pulled in 169,886 admissions.

"Broken Arrow", which had remained in first place until now, settled down to second place with 69,677 admissions, 2,234,862 total.

"Dancing Queen", starring Uhm Jung-hwa and Hwang Jeong-min, rose to the third place with 54,243 admissions, 2,411,404 total.

"PaPa", which was released at about the same time as "Nameless Gangster", gathered 28,739 admissions (78,776 overall) and landed in fourth place and "Tarbosaurus 3D", which recorded the most admissions of among current Korean animations, came in fifth place with 14,086 admissions, 442,192 overall.

Thus, Korean movies now occupy all the rankings from 1 to 5.

February 3, 2012

Box office analysis, Jan. 18 - 31

BY Darcy PAQUET KOBIZ

Two Korean films emerged as major hits in 2012's Lunar New Year holiday season - <Dancing Queen> and <Unbowed>. The success of <Dancing Queen>, which sold 2.26 million tickets in its first two weeks on release, was not entirely unexpected.

The comic drama by director LEE Seok-hoon (<See You after School>) stars HWANG Jung-min and UHM Jung-hwa in an unusual story about a struggling human rights lawyer who is picked by a major political party to run in the elections for Seoul Mayor. Meanwhile his wife, who has dreamed all her life of becoming a singer, is suddenly given the opportunity - but given conservative attitudes about the role of politicians’ wives, will her dream derail her husband's political career? Both critics and mainstream audiences have greeted the film warmly, with the acting performances of the two leads singled out for particular praise.

If the strong start of <Dancing Queen> was no surprise, the performance of its strongest competitor certainly was. <Unbowed> is a film based on a real-life court case in which a professor carrying a crossbow confronted a judge whom he felt had issued a biased judgment against him. The film focuses on the efforts of a lawyer to defend his client, who appears to be the victim of further biased judgments by the court.

Directed by CHUNG Ji-young, a major figure of 1990s Korean cinema who hadn't directed a film in over a decade, <Unbowed> was well received during its premiere at the 2011 Busan International Film Festival. However the low-budget work was not expected to make much of an impact at the box office. Nonetheless, the dramatic story and the timeliness of its themes have turned the film's release into a social phenomenon, similar to how the Korean film <Silenced> became a #1 box office hit last September.

<Unbowed> sold 2.05 million tickets in its first two weeks, and has only gained momentum as time has passed. At the time of this writing it has overtaken <Dancing Queen> to become the #1 film in the daily box office tallies.

These two main box office contenders are trailed in the rankings by three US films - <Puss in Boots>, <Journey 2: The Mysterious Island> and <Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol>.

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February 4, 2012

'Dancing Queen' Close to 3 Million Record

CJ E&M enewsWorld Kim, JiYeon

Although it′s now in its third week, Dancing Queen, starring Hwang Jung Min and Uhm Jung Hwa, is piling up ticket sales, coming close to a 3 million record.

Dancing Queen premiered on January 18, and according to the Korean Film Council′s Compiled Ticket Computer Network on February 3, the film sold over 2.41 million tickets. The numbers are expected to break through 2.5 million on February 4.

The film is staying strong amongst big films such as Nameless Gangster, PaPa, and even Unbowed, which is gathering popularity for its political stance. As such, it is soon expected to gather 3 million moviegoers.

Word of mouth turned out to be Dancing Queen′s most effective marketing, as moviegoers who saw the film started to spread the word that the film was well-made. Audiences are cheering the film on online with their favorable comments.

Dancing Queen tells the story of how the wife of a mayor candidate debuts as a dancing queen, and delivers the message of persuing ones′ dreams, laughter and touches emotions.

Photo credit: Dancing Queen

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February 5, 2012

Uhm Jung Hwa dresses like a sexy diva for 'Movie Week'

by *Miso* allkpop.com

With the release of her blockbuster movie ‘Dancing Queen‘ late last month, singer/actress Uhm Jung Hwa met with ‘Movie Week‘ magazine for an interview and photoshoot.

The stylists for the shoot were inspired by the plot of ‘Dancing Queen’, in which Uhm Jung Hwa plays a housewife who dreams of a becoming a singer.

For her first shot, Uhm Jung Hwa was outfitted in an alluring jersey gown in cream. Luxurious and seductive, her shot immediately evoked compliments of “goddess” and “top star” from admiring netizens.

Uhm Jung Hwa’s second look was more playful and chic. The star posed in a leather version of Nina Ricci‘s Ruched Tafata and Lace black dress with an interesting lace top that slyly showed some skin.

This 513th issue of ‘Movie Week’ will hit stores this week, and will include Uhm Jung Hwa’s thoughts on how much she missed and enjoyed dancing.

Source + Image: Naver

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February 6, 2012

Korean Box Office: Feb. 3-5

Source: Seen in Jeonju

"Nameless Gangster" Tops Box Office Over The Weekend

Source: KBS Global

The film "Nameless Gangster" featuring actors Choi Min-shik and Ha Jung-woo have hit a homerun, attracting over 1 million movie-goers this past weekend.

According to the Korea Film Council on February 6th, "Nameless Gangster" drew in 351,708 people on the 5th, putting it in first place for that day's ticket sales at the box office. So far, about 1,092,198 people have gone to see the movie.

After premiering on the 2nd, the movie brought in a crowd of 720,000 in the first day days over the weekend. To have broken past the 1 million mark in about four days is the shortest record so far for this year. At this pace, exceeding even the 2 million people mark will be no problem.

"Nameless Gangster" takes place in Busan of the '80s where a corrupted customs officer named Choi Ik-hyeon is on the verge of losing his job. He then meets a gangster named Choi Hyeong-bae who turns his life upside down through his connections with the Japanese gang, Yakuza. Hyeong-bae helps Ik-hyeon to set up a business from money earned through drug trafficking while Ik-hyeon in turn lobbies for Hyeong-bae. However, when the government decides to fight against crime vehemently, the two's partnership starts to go down the drain.

In 2nd place was "Unbowed", having drawn in 149,684 people over the weekend. That brings the movie's total tally up to 2,642,358 movie watchers. 3rd place went to "Dancing Queen", with 116,459 people over the weekend, totaling 2,734,713 people.

Further down the list was the animation flick, "Tarbosaurus 3D", with 109,968 people having gone out to the theatres to watch it. That brings the total to 662,139 people. "Papa" was in 5th place with a weekend figure of 78,206 people, and a total record of 292,298 movie-watchers.

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February 7, 2012

Source: Nate

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February 9, 2012

Movie 'Dancing Queen' To Be Released in North America

Source: CJ E&M enewsWorld Choi, EunHwa

The film Dancing Queen starring Hwang Jung Min and Uhm Jung Hwa, has been booked for release in three cities in North America.

CJ Entertainment announced on February 9 that the film earned $15,000 in the three days since its release on February 2 in Los Angeles. The movie will be additionally released in three cities such as New York, Vancouver and Toronto on February 17.

The movie has drawn 2.5 million moviegoers in two weeks since it has hit theaters in Korea on January 18 and is about to break the three-million mark.

As Sunny became a box office hit, appealing to the public’s retro-sentiments last year, Dancing Queen has been attracting the audience with its cheerful feelings and touching story.

Meanwhile, Dancing Queen covers a story of Seoul mayor candidate and his wife who′s dream is to become a dance singer.

Photo credit: Dancing Queen

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February 10, 2012

'Dancing Queen' to be released in 3 additional cities in North America

http://10.asiae.co.kr/Articles/new_view.htm?sec=ent0&a_id=2012021010455251896

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February 12, 2012

Korean movies reflecting social issues fly high at box office

Source: graceoh@yna.co.kr yonhapnews.co.kr

SEOUL, Feb. 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korean movies on social issues have been heating up the local box office.

"Dancing Queen," a comedy about a middle-aged married couple who each pursue their lost dreams, and "Unbowed," a low-budget courtroom drama based on a true story, have both broken the 3-million mark of viewers in less than a month of their release.

According to data compiled by the Korean Film Council, "Dancing Queen" and "Unbowed" attracted 3.09 million and 3 million viewers, respectively, as of Saturday since their release on Jan. 18.

Local movies on social issues are heating up the local box office, with comedy film "Dancing Queen" and "Unbowed,"

a low-budget courtroom drama bsed on a true story drawing more than 3 million viewers each. (Yonhap file photo)

The film "Dancing Queen," touches upon major current issues such as free school meals and the government's policy measures to boost the country's dwindling birth rate, which are intertwined with the plot in which the main male character leads a mundane life, until he accidentally begins running for Mayor of Seoul, while his wife follows her childhood dream to become a pop singer.

The film "Unbowed," which translates directly as "Broken Arrows," tells the story of college mathematics professor Kim Myeong-ho, who served four years in prison until early last year after undergoing a series of court ordeals for allegedly attacking a judge with his crossbow.

After losing a series of lawsuits he filed for reinstatement after being "unfairly" fired for spotting an error in the school's entrance exam, the professor visited a presiding judge who had rejected his appeal with a crossbow in his hand, demanding a fair judgment.

The movie prompted intense public attention to the case, while highlighting public distrust of the judiciary.

Meanwhile, "Speckles: The Tarbosaurus," a locally produced 3D animation film, drew 745,257 viewers as of Saturday to become the second most popular local animation film in history. The No. 1 was "Leafie, A Hen into the Wild," which was screened in 2011 and drew 2.2 million viewers.

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February 13, 2012

Korean Box Office: February 10-12

Source: Seen in Jeonju

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February 20, 2012

Korean Box Office: Feb. 17-19

Source: Seen in Jeonju

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February 22, 2012

"Howling", #1 At The Box Office

Source: KBS Global

Lee Na-young and Song Gang-ho's new film is leaving movie-goers howling for more.

The flick, "Howling" is approaching the one million ticket sales mark.

According to the Korean Film Council on February 22nd, "Howling" drew in 71,791 people on the 21st, bringing the total number of viewers to 785,884. As soon as it hit the theatres on the 16th, it beat out "Nameless Gangster" to take over the number one spot at the box office.

An industry rep said they expected the movie to break the one million mark sometime this week.

"Howling" is about two detectives trying to solve a series of deaths that involve a killer wolf.

On a side note, "Nameless Gangster" attracted in 62,677 people on the 21st, putting it at second place. So far, a total of 3,524,614 people have seen the movie, making it a mega-hit.

"Dancing Queen" was at third with 31,269 movie goers, for a total of 3,615,991 people. "Toro: Legend Of The Magic Hammer" was at fourth with 22,031 people having watched it, followed by "The Grey" with 17,477 people.

[Guest satisfaction!]

this was a feel-good movie! i havent laughed so hard by watching a korean movie in such a long time everyone should watch it. uhm jung hwa needs to tell me her secret in keeping her body so hot at that age!!!!

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Poll: Which 2012 Korean movies that you are most excited about?

http://www.soompi.com/forums/topic/374847-which-2012-korean-movies-that-you-are-most-excited-about/

As of February 25, 2012, 132 member(s) have cast their votes in the multiple-answers movie fun poll. The tally is not definite as members yet to vote can still pick their favorites. However, this is a one-time poll.. once voted, members will not be able to vote again. Related movie posters and info posted at the poll thread for reference

The current result starting with the highest voted movies

1. The Thieves

Lee Jung Jae, Kim Yoon Seok, Kim Hye Soo, Jeon Ji Hyun) (46 votes [25.43%])

2. Miss Conspirator

Go Hyun Jung, Yu Hae Jin. Ko Chang Seok, Sung Dong Il, Lee Mun Shik, Park Shin Yang (42 votes [21.11%])

3. The King of Joseon

Lee Byung Hun, Han Hyo Joo, Ryu Seung Ryong, Shim Eun Kyung (39 votes [22.54%])

4. Coffee

Joo Jin Mo, Kim So Yeon, Park Hee Seon, Yoo Sun (31 votes [15.58%])

5. Introduction to Architecture

Uhm Tae Woong, Han Ga In, Lee Je Hoon, Suzy (31 votes [15.58%])

6. Korea

Ha Ji Won, Bae Doo Na (29 votes [13.07%])

7. Love Fiction

Gong Hyo Jin, Ha Jung Woo (19 votes [9.05%])

8. The Howling

Song Kang Ho, Lee Na Young (17 votes [9.25%])

9. Never Ending Story

Uhm Tae Woong, Jung Ryeo Won (15 votes [7.54%])

10. Soar into the Sky

Jung Ji Hoon, Shin Se Kyung, Kim Sung Soo, Yoo Joon Sang (15 votes [8.67%])

11. Papa

Park Yong Woo, Go Ah Ra, Daniel Henney, Son Byeong Ho (14 votes [8.09%])

12. Dancing Queen

Hwang Jung Min, Uhm Jung Hwa (13 votes [6.53%])

13. Train (aka Helpless)

Lee Seon Kyun, Kim Min Hee, Jo Sung Ha (13 votes [6.94%])

14. The Tower

Sul Kyung Gu, Son Ye Jin, Kim Sang Kyung (12 votes [6.36%])

15. Berlin

Ha Jung Woo, Han Suk Kyu, Jeon Ji Hyun, Ryu Seung Bum (10 votes [4.52%])

16. Nameless Gangster

Choi Min Sik, Ha Jung Woo (10 votes [4.52%])

17. Unbowed

Ahn Sung Ki, Park Won Sang, Na Young Hee, Kim Ji Ho, Moon Sung Geun, Lee Kyeong Yeong (10 votes [5.20%])

18. Sansevieria

Dir. Yoo Ji Tae, Bae Soo Bin, So Yoo Jin (7 votes [4.05%])

19. The Taste of Money

Kim Kang Woo, Kim Hyo Jin, Baek Yoon Shik, Yoon Yeo Jung (6 votes [3.47%])

20. Pacemaker

Kim Myung Min, Go Ah Ra, Ahn Sung Ki (5 votes [2.51%])

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February 27, 2012

Korean Box Office: February 24-26

Source: Seen in Jeonju

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March 5, 2012

Box office analysis, Feb. 15 - 28

Source: KOBIZ

YOON Jong-bin’s <Nameless Gangster:Rules of the Time> is still topping the box office chart, without any hint of going down. Released Feb. 2, the film took in over 853,000 admissions and KW6.7 billion (US$6 million) to stay at no. 1 for its fourth week. As of time of writing, <Nameless Gangster> has surpassed an accumulated total of 4 million admissions for distributor Showbox/Mediaplex.

Directed by YOO Ha, starring SONG Kang-ho and LEE Na-young, <Howling>stopped at no. 2 in its first and second week on release. A rather disappointing opening score for CJ E&M considering Song’s reputation as Korea’s top ticket draw. (Of course, his last film, <Hindsight> stopped at a total of 200,000 admissions.) Nonetheless, <Howling> took in more than 861,000 admissions and KW6.4 billion (US$5.75 million) in these two weeks. The film is a thriller about a mysterious series of wolf hound killings.

The Lunar New Year’s box office winner <Dancing Queen> has added more than 330,000 admissions in the past two weeks for CJ E&M. Starring UHM Jung-hwa as the wife of a mayoral candidate with a secret life as a singer/dancer, the comedy-drama is about to go over the 4 million admissions mark in total, too.

<Unbowed>, which had stayed at the top of the charts with <Nameless Gangster> and <Dancing Queen>, has now lost some steam. Meanwhile, Hollywood releases <Man > and <The Grey> have taken the no. 4 and 5 spots with 330,000 and 190,000 admissions respectively.

But without any highly anticipated releases from Hollywood, Korean films are expected to keep rising for the time being. In March, a string of Korean films are going to be on release, including the romantic comedy <Love Fiction>starring HA Jung-woo and KONG Hyo-jin, director BYUN Young-joo’s latest film<Helpless> (March 8), and director CHANG Yoon-hyun’s costume drama <Gabi> (March 15).

In the Top 10 Domestic Films rankings at no. 9 and 10, <King of Pigs> and <The Day He Arrives> are both there with the results of an independent film showcase held by the Korean Film Archives (KOFA).