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Actor Kim Soo-hyun meets fans in Shibuya, Tokyo, on June 30. This is the first time for Kim to meet his Japanese fans officially. The event consisted of the screening session of some video clips from his dramas and films, talk show, cooking corner and mini concert for some two hours. / Courtesy of Key East
Can Kim Soo-hyun become another hallyu phenomenon?
Kim Soo-hyun was featured in the June issue of Vogue Japan. The magazine praised Kim as a “young Korean actor who is receiving the most public attention right now.” / Courtesy of Key East
By Chung Ah-young
Rising hallyu darling Kim Soo-hyun is stealing the limelight not only in Korea but also in other countries as he is one of the most sought-after actors saving the sagging Korean movie industry as Hollywood blockbusters reign.
His recent roles in a series of hit films such as “Secretly Greatly” and “The Thieves” are believed to play a crucial role in selling tickets particularly to young moviegoers in their 10s and 20s.
“The Thieves” attracted some 13 million viewers last year, while his latest movie “Secretly Greatly” is garnering 6 million viewers within three weeks after the release.
Now his popularity is spilling over to other countries. “The Thieves” was sold to eight Asian countries during the presale process at the 65th Cannes International Film Festival and invited by the Toronto International Film Festival last year. "Secretly Greatly" is set to be released in 10 countries such as the United States, Canada, Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong, Macao, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. Currently China, Vietnam and Thailand are considering showing the movie.
Responding to the mounting calls from overseas, Kim will visit Los Angeles on July 19 before the opening of the movie "Secretly Greatly" and Hong Kong later this month.
His popularity is soaring particularly in Japan as his drama “The Moon that Embraces the Sun” which aired on NHK this year and the teenage drama “Dream High” starring other K-pop stars such as Suzy, Taecyeon and IU, along with Kim, which was broadcast on TBS in 2011 received impressive viewership there.
According to his agency Key East, Kim was also featured in the June issue of Vogue Japan. The magazine praised Kim as a “young Korean actor who is receiving the most public attention right now.” Featuring his recent photos, the magazine introduced his career achievements, saying that the drama “The Moon that Embraces the Sun,” was widely popular in Korea and the film “The Thieves” was also incredibly successful.
Not only Vogue Japan but also other magazines such as Kyodo News, TV Station, Haruhana, Weekly Women had covered Kim’s interviews and photos when he visited Japan to promote The Moon that Embraces the Sun last year.
His agency official said that Kim is regarded as one of the hottest Korean stars in Japan and thus his movies are expected to gain popularity there.
Kim is expediting his overseas activities starting with this official fan meeting in Japan. Greatly Secretly, a movie in which he appears in a lead role, was released in Japan on June 5.
He visited Japan on June 30 to celebrate the premiere of the movie The Thieves which was screened at 50 theaters with some 10,000 audience attending. The movie will be shown there for two weeks from June 22.
His stage greeting at Toho Cinemas Roppongi Hills in Tokyo before screening the movie was aired live at 50 theaters. “It was a rare case for an actor’s stage greeting to be aired live at other theaters as the Japanese fans asked it to see him,” his agency said.
After the film’s premiere event, Kim met some 2,000 Japanese fans at a fan meeting in Shibuya, Tokyo, on the same day to celebrate the inauguration of his official Japanese fan club. This is the first time for him to meet his fans officially. The event consisted of the screening session of some video clips from his dramas and films, a talk show, a cooking corner and a mini concert for some two hours. At the event, he cooked cheese ramen on stage and gave them out to six fans from the audience. “It is special time for me to meet my fans here along with the opening of ‘The Thieves’ here. I am very happy and thankful for my fans,” Kim said in the event.
Kim made his debut in 2007 with a small role in a sitcom “Kimchi Cheese Smile” and rose to stardom with MBC’s epic drama “The Moon Embracing the Sun” starring with actress Han Ga-in. He also appeared in the teen drama “Dream High” on KBS, which starred numerous K-pop stars in 2011. In 2012, he became the youngest actor to win the Best Drama Actor at the 2012 Baeksang Arts Awards for his role of a king in “The Moon Embracing the Sun.”