The realm of South Korean cinema in the first quarter of 2024 will witness the comeback of senior actors and actresses with new projects. For instance, Kim Tae Ri stars in Alienoid 2, Ra Mi Ran in Citizen of A Kind, Choi Min Sik in Exhuma, and Son Suk Ku in Troll Factory. Exhuma stands out as the most prominent, emerging as the best seller of the quarter.
Moving into the second quarter, spanning from April to June, a lineup of films is set to hit the screens. The cast is just as impressive as the first quarter, featuring names like Ma Dong Seok, Park Bo Gum, and Ha Jung Woo. Here are three Korean films worth anticipating from April to June 2024.
1. The Roundup: Punishment
trailer for the film The Roundup: Punishment (instagram.com/ba_enter)Ahead of its release in South Korean cinemas, The Roundup: Punishment, the fourth installment of The Roundup film series, premiered earlier at the Berlin International Film Festival. The festival screening took place on February 23, followed by the Korean release on April 24, 2024.
In this film, detective Ma Seok Do (Ma Dong Seok) confronts a gambling organization based online in the Philippines. He must overcome two key figures: former mercenary Baek Chang Gi (Kim Moo Yul) and IT genius Chang Dong Cheol (Lee Dong Hwi).
2. Hijacking
Hijacking stars Ha Jung Woo and Yeo Jin Goo in leading roles, with Sung Dong Il and Chae Soo Bin joining the cast. Set in the 1970s, the film revolves around an airplane hijacking.
Ha Jung Woo portrays Tae Sik, a former air force fighter pilot tasked with flying the plane alongside airline captain Gyu Sik (Sung Dong Il). However, their flight falls prey to an unknown hijacker.
Yeo Jin Goo portrays one of the passengers, while Chae Soo Bin takes on the role of Ok Soon, a flight attendant attempting to reassure the passengers. The release date for Hijacking is scheduled for June, although the exact date is yet to be confirmed.
3. Wonderland
Park Bo Gum (instagram.com/bogummy) Tang Wei (instagram.com/burberry) Choi Woo Shik, Jung Yu Mi, Bae Suzy, and Gong Yoo (post.naver.com/매니지먼트숲)Fans have long awaited Wonderland. After production from 2020 to 2021, this film directed by Kim Tae Yong is finally set for release in 2024, reportedly in June.
The story revolves around individuals using the virtual Wonderland service to reconnect with someone they miss. Choi Woo Shik and Jung Yu Mi portray Wonderland controllers, while Suzy plays Park Bo Gum’s girlfriend. Their communication is hindered as Park Bo Gum’s character lies in a coma. Gong Yoo takes on the role of a husband yearning for his deceased wife, played by Tang Wei.
Featuring a stellar cast, these three Korean films are highly anticipated in the second quarter of 2024. Among them, which do you think will follow in the footsteps of the box office success Exhuma?