Seoul was visited by some superheroes on April 17-or at least the actors who play superheroes in the new film "The Avengers: Age of Ultron." Some of the film's cast and crew returned to Korea to promote the film that was partly shot there.
One of the returning film actors was Korean actress Kim Soo Hyun, who is known in the U.S. as Claudia Kim.
Kim Soo Hyun attended the April 13 Hollywood premiere along with director Joss Whedon, actors Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, and Mark Ruffalo.
Then she flew to Korea with Joss Whedon, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, and Mark Ruffalo to attend the April 17 promotional event in Seoul.
The filming took place in March and April of 2014. Scenes in the Hollwyood blockbuster that featured Johansson, Downey Jr., Hemsworth and Kim were shot in and around Seoul. Locations included Mapo Bridge, Digital Media City, Gangnam Boulevard in Seoul and Uiwang-si in Geyonggi-do.
The Avengers films are based on the Marvel comic books of the same name in which a team of superheroes protect the earth. In this sequel the Avengers reassemble to battle Ultron. Kim Soo Hyun aka Claudia Kim plays gifted geneticist Helen Cho. She helps the Avengers develop cutting-edge technology in her office in Seoul and her lab in the New-York-City-based Avengers Towers. She assists Tony Stark/Iron Man, the role played by Robert Downey Jr. She also shares lab space with Bruce Banner, played by Mark Ruffalo, in Avengers Towers. Up to 40 Korean actresses tried out for the role. Kim Soo Hyun's fluency in English, experience in action scenes and supermodel good looks helped her land the role.
The actress said the film was all the more meaningful to her because she was born in Seoul and it gave her an opportunity to spend time there. In a March 22 interview with the Chosun Ilbo the actress said that she hoped the film would promote a bom in Korean tourism
Her last k-drama role was in the spy comedy "Level 7 Civil Servant" with Choi Kang Hee and Joo Won.
"The Avengers: The Age of Ultron" will premiere in Korea on April 23. The film was produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
