Korean Films to Return, Compete in April

South Korean cinema offers only a handful of releases this month, but a big lineup of homegrown films awaits moviegoers in April.

Some 10 domestic titles are slated for release next month, of which a majority are mainstream franchises that will play in theaters nationwide.

Leading the pack is ``Private Eye (그림자 살인),’’ coming to screens April 2, starring Hwang Jung-min as a private detective and Ryu Deok-hwan as a young medical trainee who try to solve a serial murder case during the Japanese colonial era (1910-45). A special preview of the film with English subtitles is taking place at 7 p.m. tonight at CINUS Myeongdong Theater. The subtitled film will be available on the official release date at the venue, as well as CINUS Gangnam.

"Urijibe Wae Watni"
(Why Did You Come to My House; 우리집에 왜 왔니)

A week later, Gang Hye-jung, the charming heroine of ``Welcome to Dongmakgol,’’ will return to the big screen opposite Park Heui-soon (``Seven Days’’) in ``Urijibe Wae Watni (Why Did You Come to My House?),” a quirky tale about a bizarre young woman who interrupts the suicide attempt of a frustrated man.

``Breathless (똥파리),’’ which recently made headlines by winning a series of awards at European festivals, will be released April 16. It’s expected to continue the renaissance of independent cinema here, following the hit movie ``Old Partner.’’

On April 23, Kim Ha-neul and Kang Ji-hwan will star as secret agents tangled up in a comical love affair in ``My Girlfriend Isn’t an Agent’’ (working title; 7급 공무원).

"Thirst" (박쥐)

April 30 will have a big showdown for Korean films, with the simultaneous release of celebrated director Park Chan-wook’s provocative vampire story ``Thirst,’’ starring award-winning actor Song Kang-ho and starlet Kim Ok-vin; ``Insadong Scandal’’ (working title), a conspiracy story involving the local art scene with heartthrob Kim Rae-won and sex symbol Uhm Jung-hwa; and ``Gimssipyoryugi (Adventures of Mr. Kim; 김씨표류기),’’ a comedy in which an unlikely pair, Chung Yeo-won and Jung Jae-young, end up stranded on a desert island.

All three franchises feature big stars and unique storylines and are backed by some of the country’s major producers and distributors. Several other indie flicks also await release in select theaters.

The mass release of Korean films in April can be seen as a result of avoiding the months of March, which is usually a slack time for cinema, and May and June, when Hollywood blockbusters start rolling in.

"Insadong Scandal (인사동 스캔들)" (working title)

But the high competition, with additional rivalry from highly anticipated foreign films due in April, is not always in the best interest of local ticket sales, according to some film marketers. In February, three homegrown thrillers, ``Marine Boy,’’ ``The Scam (작전)’’ and ``Handphone’’ were released at one-week intervals, and while each received positive feedback, ticket sales were split among the three and none marked a big hit.

``The lineup of foreign films waiting to be shown in April is pretty tough, and it’s a big worry that all these Korean movies will be released around the same time,’’ said one marketer for a domestic film awaiting release next month.