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Korea’s presence in China is on the rise. Co-production projects have increased and Korean films are being released in China, particularly after the signing of the Co-Production Agreement between the two nations on July 3rd of this year. KoBiz recently covered some of these projects such as After Love, featuring YUN Eun-hye and PARK Si-hoo, director KWAK Jae-yong’s Meet Miss Anxiety, For Love or Money with Kpop sensation Rain and JI Jin-hee in Bad Sister. Here are some of the newest developments concerning Korean films and stars in the Chinese film industry.

 

The Chinese release of Korea’s box office champ Roaring Currents was pushed back to December 12th from its original date of November 28th. The film will be screening in 3000 theaters, which amounts to about two thirds of the total number of theaters in China. There has been some speculation around why Chinese officials requested for a change in date and some have connected it to the anniversary of the Nanjing massacre, although there was no official statement. We will have to wait a couple more weeks to see if the naval historic epic can win the hearts of the mainlanders as well.

 

Korean stars are being offered numerous roles in Chinese films. Actress SONG Hye-kyo has been getting recognized by big name directors in China. Following her involvement with WONG Kar-wai’s The Grandmaster in 2013, her newest film The Crossing will be released in China today, December 2nd. She was cast alongside HUANG Xiaoming in this new John WOO film in which she plays a lead character named Zhou Yun Fen. Part two of the film will be released next May.
 
Once a member of the biggest Korean idol group H.O.T., JANG Woo-hyuk has moved onto acting. As a lead character in Fiji 99°C Love, JANG partners with YAO Xingtong in the romantic comedy as a couple of contemporary youths who meet on vacation in Fiji. The film shot in various places including Beijing, Rizhao, Qingdao and Dongguan. Fiji 99°C Love was released on November 21st in China.

 

My Tutor Friend (2003) and Spirit of Jeet Keun Do - Once Upon a Time in High School (2003) actor KWON Sang-woo recently shot his third Chinese film. KWON and ZHANG Yuqi (Kitty ZHANG) started filming Honey Enemy earlier this month on Jeju Island. Honey Enemy follows two colleagues from a marriage arrangement company who hide their ulterior motives to end an engagement by crashing its celebratory cruise. It was directed by ZHANG Linzhi and will receive advice and supervision from My Sassy Girl (2001) director KWAK Jae-yong. Shooting was completed on November 26th and the film is aiming for a summer 2015 release in China.

In addition, director WANG Tao’s The Boundary, starring CHOO Ja-yeon, was released on November 6th, and horror film Haunted Road with HONG Soo-ah, from director Yijian TONG, came out on November 13th. That brings the number of Chinese films released in November with a major Korean star to four, reaffirming the fact that Korea’s involvement in the Chinese film industry is growing.