A scene from the film ``Haeundae,'' which became the fifth Korean film t draw 10 million viewers.

By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter

More than 10 million viewers have now watched the big-budget disaster film ``Haeundae'' since its release on July 22, becoming the fifth South Korean movie to reach the milestone.

Featuring a tsunami that hits the nation's largest port city, Busan, the movie drew 220,000 and 200,000 viewers over the weekend, respectively, according to film distributor CJ Entertainment.

By reaching the landmark, the film joined the so-called ``10 million club'' which includes the other hit motion pictures ``The Host'' (2006), ``King and The Clown'' (2005), "Tae Guk Gi: Brotherhood of War" (2004) and ``Silmido'' (2003). Thanks to its catchy storyline and effective CG techniques, the film has garnered fans that range from teens to middle-aged people, which has increased ticket sales.

Movie experts are considering the jump in viewers as a green light for further investment in local films, as the success of ``Haeundae'' came during a difficult time for local cinema.
According to the Korea Film Council, ``Haeundae'' is the first movie to surpass the 10-million mark in three years. The last film to attain the feat was ``The Host'' by director Bong Jun-ho.

``Haeundae,'' directed by Yoon Je-kyoon, stars some of Korea's most famous actors, such as Sul Kyoung-gu, Ha Ji-won and Park Joong-hoon. The story focuses on the struggle for survival against a tsunami.

sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr