If you are in the Los Angeles area today, you may want to keep an eye out for Korean superstar Kim Soo Hyun. He is visiting the U.S. for the premiere of his popular spy film "Secretly Greatly."
The record-breaking box office hit opens tonight at the AMC Universal CityWalk movie theater in Universal City and the actor will be on hand to meet and greet his American fans. Tomorrow the film will open in San Diego at the AMC Fashion Valley 18 movie theater. The actor will also attend a press conference at the L.A. Korean Cultural Service Center on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles.
In the film "Secretly Greatly," Kim Soo Hyun plays one of three elite North Korean spies who infiltrate South Korea as part of their as-yet-to-be-determined mission. Kim plays Won Ryu Hwan, a highly skilled top-level spy who has to pretend to be someone who is not very bright. The spies, played by Kim, Park Ki Woong and Lee Hyun Woo, get used to their new lives while waiting for their orders. Their mission is aborted before it even starts. North Korea's plans change and another spy is sent to eliminate them. They no longer have a nation to go home to and their lives are in danger. What will the three young spies do?
The movie, based on a popular manga, broke several box office records in Korea. It had the highest number of advance ticket sales and broke the one million mark in ticket sales in record time. Altogether it sold seven million tickets at the box office, earning the distinction of being the most successful Korean movie during the first half of 2013. Since the movie was such a big hit in Korea and there is a growing international interest in Korean pop music, dramas and films, it will be interesting to see how well the film does in the U.S. Can the film duplicate its success with an English speaking audience?
Kim Soo Hyun is already a major star in Korea because of his role as the student Song Sam Dong in the drama "Dream High" and the star-crossed Prince Lee Hwon in the historical drama "The Moon Embracing The Sun." The actor, model and singer is also the most popular Hallyu star in Japan. But his fan base in the U.S. is currently limited to those who are already interested in Korean exports.
It should be interesting. The film will also be released in Canada on July 26, giving Canadian audiences a chance to discover Kim Soo Hyun too.
