Korean blockbusters are drawing massive crowds to theaters across the country amidst the intense heat waves of summer.

Unlike previous summers, when horror movies ruled the market, this year's selection is more diverse than ever before, with films from every category.

"Train to Busan" was first to take off and soon became the first movie of the year to attract an audience of 10 million. As the first Korean movie to use zombies as the main threat, theaters were packed opening week, surpassing all expectations. The story itself is no different from that of other zombie movies. When an unknown virus spreads across the country, an emergency disaster warning is sent out to all civilians. In an attempt to escape the zombie outbreak, a group of passengers board a bullet train to Busan, the only city that has managed to hold off the zombie hordes, or so everyone hopes.

Critics have praised the movie, saying it does a good job of depicting modern South Korean society and human survival instincts using the oft used zombie apocalypse trope. They think the movie could well-exceed the 10 million mark.

Last May, "Train to Busan" was selected for the midnight screening at the 69th Cannes Film Festival and received favorable ratings. Thierry Fremaux, director of the Cannes Film Festival, described the movie as "the best midnight screening of all time" at the event.






A week after "Train to Busan," a war film based on the Battle of Incheon, "Operation Chromite," opened in theaters, attracting 5.76 million movie-goers. Prior to its release, the movie got a lot of press when it was revealed that Liam Neeson had been cast as General Douglas MacArthur. The movie introduces the unsung heroes of the Battle of Incheon in September 1950, an event that changed the trajectory of the Korean War (1950-53).

"It is a very moving and sad story," said Neeson in a press conference, adding that, "The film spotlights the thousands of brave Korean men that sacrificed their lives to lead their country to victory at a crucial battle in the Korean War." Asked about what he considered the most memorable scene, Neeson chose the moment when MacArthur gives a talk to his commanding officers. "That really happened. During the battle, MacArthur met a boy soldier aged 15 or 16 after everyone had retreated from the battlefield. When the general told the boy he would give him anything he wanted and asked for an answer, the boy, instead of asking to be sent home, asked for more bullets. Macarthur saw in the boy a true soldier. When we shot this scene, the young actor who played the boy soldier acted the part beautifully. This is why I have fond memories of this particular scene."





"Operation Chromite" was soon followed by the historical drama "The Last Princess," released on Aug. 3. The movie is based on the life of Princess Deokhye, the daughter of Emperor Gojong, born in 1912 during the final days of the Korean Empire, and follows Deokhye's winding journey through life.

As Gojong's youngest daughter, the princess spent a happy childhood in Seoul, until the Japanese colonial era swept her into a whirlwind of political turmoil. The death of Gojong in 1919 irreversibly changed 14-year-old Deokhye's life, and in 1925 the princess was forced to leave for Japan. It's said that the princess wished more than anything else to return to her country, and suffered from mental illness throughout her 37-year stay in Japan. She finally returned to Korea on Jan. 26, 1962. From 1967 onwards, Deokhye lived a quiet and ordinary life in the Nakseonjae Hall (낙선재) on the grounds of Changdeokgung Palace, until her death in 1989.

Actress Son Ye-jin, who plays the lead role, said, "I have never cried watching my own movies, but 'The Last Princess' made me cry. The film brings our attention to a tragic era in Korean history when we lost autonomy of our own country, and Deokhye's equally heartbreaking story mirrors our tragic past. In watching this movie, I hope that audiences will remember our last princess and show empathy." Son invested KRW 1 billion out of her own pocket to finance the making of the film.


On Aug. 10, two movies in completely different genres opened in theaters: "Tunnel" and "Take Off 2."

"Tunnel" is not your average movie about natural disasters. It's miles apart from movies like "Haeundae," "The Day After Tomorrow," "San Andreas," "Deep Impact" or "Volcano."

Tunnels can be found not only in cities but in every part of the country, in places all over the world. The movie "Tunnel" is set in this limited and claustrophobic environment, and centers around one man's struggle to stay alive in his state of imprisonment. "Embedded in the simplest of tales is a story about the importance of life," said director Kim Seong-hun. "There are 6 billion lives on this planet, each a mini universe in its own right. Keeping this in mind, I wanted to explore the significance of an individual life in making this film." Audiences responded favorably to this sentiment, with the movie attracting over 750,000 people one day after its release.

Ha Jeong-woo, the lead actor in the movie, talked about some of the difficulties he experienced while shooting the film. "I was trapped inside a car for two months of the shooting. The car was extremely confined with all the cameras and lighting equipment, and I was initially worried about how I was to deliver a moving performance in that tiny space. Surprisingly, though, I managed to adapt to the environment."





As a follow up to the 2009 movie "Take Off," about the Korean men's national ski jump team, "Take Off 2" is based on the story of the Korean women's national ice hockey team and opened in theaters on Aug. 10. Similar in storyline to the original movie, the sequel follows the rags-to-riches journey of the women's national ice hockey team.

Su Ae, the lead actress in the movie, said her fellow actresses and actors persevered through major and minor injuries during the shooting. "We fought the cold and tested our bodies' physical limits. We got through it together through sheer willpower."

"Take Off 2" attracted 140,000 people in two days since its release.

By Jeon Han, Lee Hana
Korea.net Staff Writers
Photos: Korean Film Council
hanjeon@korea.kr