Top 10 Most Anticipated Korean Blockbusters of 2022

The Point Men stars Hwang Jung Min and Hyun Bin, based on a true event that occurred in Afghanistan in 2007 when 23 South Korean missionaries were kidnapped and held hostage.

This thrilling action film, featuring Hyun Bin, delivers the suspense and drama fans are eager to see. The Point Men also stars Hwang Jung Min, Hyun Bin, Kang Ki Young, and Kwon Hyuk. The story follows two men—one a diplomat, the other a national intelligence agent—who risk their lives to rescue a South Korean missionary taken hostage in the Middle East. This gripping tale is based on a real hostage crisis in South Korea in 2003, with Hyun Bin playing an NIS agent and Hwang Jung Min portraying a diplomat. Together, they must navigate a high-stakes negotiation with the kidnappers. The tension intensifies as one of the hostages is someone the character played by Hyun Bin holds dear.

The film, which depicts the harrowing hostage crisis, was partially filmed in Jordan but faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The movie is slated for release in the second half of 2022.

The crime drama Bogota: City of the Lost, starring Song Joong Ki, is set to release this year. The film tells the story of South Korean immigrants who moved to Colombia in the 1990s in search of a better life. Filming began in January 2020 in Colombia but was halted a few months later due to the global pandemic. Production resumed in June last year in South Korea, with filming wrapping up in October. Alongside Song Joong Ki, actor Lee Sung Min has also been confirmed for the film, playing Jin Yang Chul, the ruthless head of a conglomerate who becomes the antagonist to Song Joong Ki's character. Sung Min's role is described as a greedy, relentless competitor. Additionally, actress Shin Hyun Been from *Hospital Playlist* and Tiffany have been invited to join the cast.

The 2022 box office is also set to feature the return of renowned directors such as Choi Dong Hoon and Kim Yong Hwa, offering audiences plenty of exciting options to choose from.

CJ Entertainment has unveiled the first trailer for the highly anticipated blockbuster Alien and confirmed that the first part of the project will hit theaters in the summer of 2022. This historical action sci-fi film features a star-studded cast including Ryu Jun Yeol, Kim Woo Bin, Kim Tae Ri, So Ji Sub, Lee Honey, Jo Woo Jin, and Kim Eui Sung.

Set in the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392), the film follows a group of sorcerers on a quest to find a mysterious sword. Meanwhile, in the year 2022, extraterrestrials suddenly appear on Earth. The situation takes an unexpected turn when a time portal opens between the late Goryeo period and the present day, creating a chaotic and unprecedented scenario. According to the production team, the film boasts an unpredictable storyline, unusual characters, and clever humor, making it a highly anticipated release.

Offering a unique and never-before-seen story in Korean cinema, Alien is expected to make a significant impact and boost the local box office in 2022.

This film also marks the latest work from popular director Choi Dong Hoon, known for his successful franchises such as *Tazza: The High Rollers* (2006), *The Thieves* (2012), and *Assassination* (2015), the highest-grossing period film of 2015 and the eighth highest-grossing film in Korean cinema history.

Hansan: Rise of the Dragon is the second epic blockbuster in the trilogy about Admiral Yi Sun Shin, directed by Kim Han Min. While the first film, *The Admiral: Roaring Currents*, released in 2014, broke records by becoming the highest-grossing Korean film of all time in the domestic box office, *Hansan: Rise of the Dragon* also achieved significant success, surpassing 6 million viewers within just 20 days of its release.

While *The Admiral: Roaring Currents* focused on one of the most famous naval battles in Korean history, featuring the legendary Admiral Yi Sun Shin—who is so revered that a statue of him stands in central Seoul—*Hansan: Rise of the Dragon* is set in 1592, five years before the events of the first film. It dramatizes the famous naval confrontation at Hansan Island, where Admiral Yi must defend his fleet and prove that his iconic turtle ships are a serious threat to the Japanese forces, led by General Wakisaka. Both sides engage in covert espionage to gather military intelligence, especially about the designs of Yi Sun Shin's ships. *Hansan: Rise of the Dragon* begins with a spy-thriller-like premise, as both sides send spies into enemy territory to uncover strategic plans and military progress.

This film serves as an introduction to the military strategies of both sides, offering audiences a glimpse into the mind games between the two commanders, Yi Sun Shin and Wakisaka.

Director Kim Yong Hwa, known for the *Along with the Gods* franchise, returns with *The Moon*, a thrilling sci-fi blockbuster starring Seol Kyung Gu, Kim Hee Ae, and EXO's D.O. The film promises to captivate audiences with its intense, suspenseful scenes. It's an opportunity for these stars to showcase their acting in some of the most challenging roles yet. D.O's character is stranded in space after a catastrophic incident on the spaceship, leaving him unable to return to Earth. Fortunately, Seol Kyung Gu's character discovers a distress signal from the vessel, realizing that D.O is still alive. The plot takes viewers on a tense ride as the two must work together to bring D.O back home. While many details have been kept under wraps, the film is expected to deliver a grand and exciting cinematic experience. The imagery in the film promises to be fresh and intriguing, with the characters depicted in dynamic poses that heighten the audience's anticipation.

*The Moon* is a project that Kim Yong Hwa has meticulously planned, with a carefully selected cast to match the vision. Set for release in 2022, this film is shaping up to be an unexpected blockbuster from South Korea.

*The Battleship Island* is a high-profile blockbuster from South Korea, but director Ryoo Seung-wan has taken an extreme approach in focusing the narrative on patriotic themes. The film, Ryoo's latest project, draws inspiration from true events that took place on Hashima Island. This name is already familiar to Korean cinema fans, as Ryoo is known for his work on projects like *The Unjust* (2010), *The Berlin File* (2013), and the recent *Veteran* (2015). With *The Battleship Island*, Ryoo is venturing into historical war cinema for the first time, tackling a sensitive and timely subject. With a budget of 25 billion won, the film has generated great anticipation among South Korean audiences and fans of Korean cinema, especially since it arrives amidst a growing number of films exploring Korea’s resistance against Japanese imperialism.

The frequent release of such films has only heightened expectations for *The Battleship Island*, with many hoping that Ryoo will bring a fresh perspective and creative approach to this familiar theme, making a distinct impact in a genre that is beginning to feel repetitive.

Lee Jung Jae, one of South Korea’s finest actors, has demonstrated his multi-talented abilities as a director and screenwriter in the intense thriller Hunt, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2022.

Although four years may not seem long, for Lee Jung Jae, it was a period of refining his skills in filmmaking, having never previously worked as a director or screenwriter. His collaboration with Jung Woo Sung in *City of the Rising Sun* (1991) sparked a desire to work together again. Originally slated for production in 2017, Hunt was delayed repeatedly as Lee Jung Jae, ever the perfectionist, was determined to make the film exactly as he envisioned. After numerous revisions, the film was finally completed and debuted at Cannes 2022, where it was shown during a late-night screening in May. Set in 1980, *Hunt* follows two agents from the National Intelligence Service, Park Pyeong Ho and Kim Jung Do, who are both exceptional and formidable rivals. They pursue a North Korean spy sent to South Korea, uncovering a deeply hidden truth along the way.

Alongside Jung Woo Sung, the film features Jeon Hye Jin and Heo Sung Tae, who starred alongside Lee Jung Jae in *Squid Game*. Though unverified, reports suggest Lee Jung Jae held a private screening for industry insiders, who generally believed his chosen direction for the film was spot on.

After a long wait, the highly anticipated blockbuster The Pirates: Goblin Flag has finally revealed the exciting new looks of its main characters.

As a sequel to the hit 2014 film *The Pirates*, the expectations surrounding *The Pirates 2* were high even before filming began. Audiences hoped that the follow-up would continue the success of the original film.

This time, *The Pirates: Goblin Flag* follows a group of pirates on an adventure to find a legendary treasure—the final hidden riches of the Goryeo royal family, buried just before the Joseon dynasty took control. The latest teaser has unveiled new character posters with fresh, vibrant designs, a stark contrast to the darker, more somber tone of the first film. The sequel promises a fun, lively atmosphere with new and exciting character appearances.

Additionally, the film crew has released posters for other unique characters, such as Chae Soo-bin, who plays Hae Geum, a natural-born con artist, and Kang Seob, the loyal right-hand man of the pirate leader Woo Moo Chi, portrayed by Kim Sung Oh. *The Pirates: Goblin Flag* is set to hit theaters in early 2022, and hopes are high for its success!

The Korean Film Council has reported that the highly anticipated sequel to the action-comedy *The Outlaws* (2017), *The Roundup*, drew an impressive 1.79 million viewers over the weekend, bringing its total to 6.54 million. This sets a new record for the highest number of moviegoers for any film released in 2022, surpassing *Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness*, which earned 5.75 million after its release in May.

The Roundup has also claimed the title of the most-watched Korean film since *Ashfall* (2019) achieved 8.25 million viewers. The film has outperformed box office hits such as *Ode to My Father* and the classic 2013 film *Miracle in Cell No. 7* (19 days). *The Roundup* follows the story of Detective Ma Seok Do, who travels to Vietnam to extradite a suspect, only to uncover a series of murders linked to an unknown serial killer targeting tourists over the years. This film picks up where *The Outlaws* (2017), starring Ma Dong Seok, left off, continuing the action-packed quest to bring down dangerous criminals.

This time, the team pursues Kang Hae Sang, a notorious supervillain whose unforgivable crimes have led him to hide out in Vietnam. Alongside Ma Dong Seok, the film features a talented cast including Choi Gwi Hwa, Heo Dong Won, Ha Jun, and Park Ji Hwan.

According to Soompi, the first *Confidential Assignment* (2017) reached 1 million viewers in just 5 days and 2 million in 10 days, while *Confidential Assignment 2* achieved the 2 million mark at twice the speed.

Additionally, *Confidential Assignment 2* surpassed 2 million viewers faster by 3 days compared to *Top Gun: Maverick*, one of the highest-grossing films in South Korea this summer. *Confidential Assignment 2: International* follows North Korean agent Rim Chul Ryung as he returns to South Korea to track down a ruthless, secret criminal organization. He once again teams up with South Korean agent Kang Jin Tae, and together with FBI agent Jack, they set out to capture the notorious leader of the criminal syndicate. Although *Confidential Assignment* (featuring Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin) had a great reception, audiences eagerly awaited the sequel even though Son Ye Jin does not return. In this installment, YoonA plays a supporting role as the humorous YouTuber Park Min Young, providing plenty of comic relief. She has a much larger presence in the sequel compared to the first film.

While there has been some debate over her acting, YoonA's recognition and fame continue to rise as she expands her presence across various fields, from music to film.