Actors Meryl Streep (left) and Anne Hathaway on April 8 pose with their customized high heels that reinterpret traditional Korean flower shoes at a news conference for the film "The Devil Wears Prada 2" at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul in the city's Jongno-gu District. (Lee Jeongwoo)

By Xu Aiying

Actors Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway have visited Korea to promote their new film "The Devil Wears Prada 2."

Both women on April 8 attended a news conference at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul for the long-awaited sequel, which will make its world premiere in Korea on April 29. They expressed their admiration of Korean culture and confidence in the film's box office success.

Coming 20 years after the original film's premiere in 2006, the second installment shows the reunion between Miranda (Streep), editor-in-chief of the fashion magazine Runway, and Andy (Hathaway), who returns as a features editor. The two stake their careers on reclaiming influence in the fashion industry amid a media environment in constant flux.

Supporting cast Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci reprise their roles in the sequel.

Actors Meryl Streep (left) and Anne Hathaway (second from left) on April 8 answer questions at a news conference for their upcoming film "The Devil Wears Prada 2" at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul. (Lee Jeongwoo)

This is the first official trip to Korea by the highly decorated Streep, who has 21 Academy Award nominations. Greeting in audience with the Korean greeting "Annyeonghaseyo," she said, "We're here to promote a film we love very much, and so I'm happy that the first time I come here is with something that I'm proud of."

"I have six grandchildren. They all know every word of 'KPop Demon Hunters' and all the songs," she added. "They're very influenced by K-culture right now. That's exciting because that means the world is connected."

"I think that right now, Korea is such a dominant force in particular in youth culture. I think that Korea is leading the way in so many areas, in particular music, a lot of fashion, skin care," Hathaway said. "If I was a features editor and I wanted to appeal to a lot of readers, I would probably focus on those incredible aspects of Korean culture."

"Considering that we're actresses, I think we would just want to come and interview so many directors such like Park (Chan-wook) and Bong (Joon-ho)."

"Being here is so special and I wish we were here for longer so that I could do some of the things I really want to do like go to the Starfield Library, which has been on my bucket list for so long," she said. "I'm trying to pick up as much as I can."

In a surprise at the event, the two actors each received a pair of flower shoes with traditional Korean patterns. They seemed impressed by the delicate craftsmanship and bowed their heads to express gratitude.

Actors Meryl Streep (left) and Anne Hathaway on April 8 greet fans at a red carpet event at the mall Times Square in Seoul's Yeongdeungpo-gu District for their film "The Devil Wears Prada 2." (Walt Disney Company Korea)

The two decades that have elapsed since the original film also added depth to the sequel.

On why it took so long, Streep said, "This script meets this moment exactly and we had to wait 20 years honestly to be unmoored in the same way we are in the beginning of this film.

"You don't see almost nearly 70-year-old women playing parts like this woman in any movie or any circumstance," she added. "It's fun to see this person (Miranda) who is credibly placed in the world and having that influence."

"Looking at it from a character point of view, Andy Sachs is 22 in the first film. She has just graduated from college so she is full of ideas, but a little light on life experience," Hathaway said. "In this film, she has had 20 years to go out and live the life that she has wanted to live to the best of her ability. So I think she has acquired skills, she has acquired a point of view, she has acquired experience."

"In order for her (Sachs) to walk through the door as a formidable potential partner for Miranda, it would have taken that amount of time for it to feel legitimate."

xuaiy@korea.kr