Sep 2009

Take Off has drawn 7 million viewers.

Aug 24 2009, Korea Herald

Korean sports film draws over 5 million viewers

Ticket sales for the Korean ski jumping film “Take Off (Gukgadaepyo)” topped 5 million over the weekend, becoming the second most-watched local film among this year’s releases, the Korean Film Council said Monday and Yonhap News reported.

Featuring the country’s oft-overlooked national ski jumping team, the film drew more than 5.2 million viewers as of Sunday, its 26th day of screening, the film council said.

“Take Off” is the second movie to surpass the 5-million viewer mark among this year’s domestic releases following “Haeundae,” and continues to top the local box office.

“Haeundae,” a big-budget disaster film directed by Yoon Je-kyoon, has drawn more than 10 million viewers, according to its distributor JK Films, becoming the fifth Korean movie to reach the milestone.

Part non-fiction, “Take Off” spotlights a hodge-podge ski jumping team assembled to support a bid by the Korean city of Muju for the Winter Olympics in 1996. Directed by Kim Yong-hwa, creator of the 2006 box office hit “200 Pound Beauty,” the film stars actor Ha Jeong-woo, who plays a Korean-American adoptee and former U.S. junior alpine skier.

 

 

Aug 06 2009, KOFIC

Take Off Takes Up Second Placeat Box Office 

While Haeundae continues to storm across the country Ski Jumping epic Take Off jumps into second place.  Only eclipsed by Haeundae which has already has 4.7 million viewings Take Off is nearly itself at the one million mark in less than a week. KIM Yong-hwa the director had previously hit box office gold with comedy 200 Pounds of Beauty in 2006. Take Off also has significant star pull with actor HA Jung-woo who playing the lead character.  HA has been busy of late staring in Boat released this year in May and also stared in last year’s The Chaser.

HA plays an adopted Korean American who gets intertwined with Korea’s North Jeolla Province’s bid to host the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.  While coming back to find his real mother he gets roped in to form Korea’s first ski jump team.  Along with a motley mix of others, the team must be ready to be able to assist with the province’s campaign. 

This is a busy week for Korean entertainment companies.  While CJ’s is handling sales for Haeundae, Take Off is being handled by Showbox.  Take Off was released in Korea July 29 and has had 953,325 viewings. 

<David Oxenbridge(KOFIC)>