The Korean film industry attracted 96.62 million audiences in the first half of 2017. According to Korean media, the market share of Korean films for the period was 42.6 percent or about 41.16 million while foreign films got 57.4 percent or 55.46 million.
Based on total admissions, the Korean film "Confidential Assignment" topped the period with 7.81 million tickets sold and gross of $55.77 million based on data from the Korean Film Council (KOFIC).
"Confidential Assignment" was released on January 18 and starred Hyun Bin and Yoo Hae-jin.
In second place is "The King" with 5.31 million in total admissions and gross of $38 million. The movie, also released on January 18, was headlined by Jo In-sung and Jung Woo Sung.
The Hollywood movie "Beauty and the Beast" drew 5.13 million audience and raked in $36.83 million in Korea to place third. Fourth is "Fast and Furious 8" with 3.65 million tickets sold and sales of $26.21 million.
Japan's "Your Name" came fifth with 3.61 million in total admissions and $25.43 million in gross followed by "The Mummy" with 3.61 million tickets sold; "Pirates of the Caribbean," 3.04 million; "The Prison," 2.93 million; "Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2," 2.73 million; and "The Sheriff in Town," 2.58 million.
One of the scandals that hit the Korean movie industry is the romance between director Hong Sang Soo and actress Kim Min Hee.
Hong filed for divorce from his wife last November, Yonhap News reported.
Last March, he admitted that he's in a relationship with Kim Min Hee during the press conference for the movie "On the Beach At Night Alone."
"I don't know if this is the right place to unveil this, but we're in love. We truly love each other in our own way," said Hong.
The two attended together the 67th Berlin International Film Festival where Kim Min Hee won best actress.
Actor Kang Dong Won also received criticism for his great grandfather, who was identified as pro-Japanese. Korea and Japan have been at odds over historical facts including comfort women.
The star issued a statement, saying "I would like to sincerely apologize for causing an uproar about my great-grandfather."
"Ever since I was little, I grew up hearing positive stories about him. My grandmother was the descendant of an independence patriot, so I accepted the stories about my great-grandfather without much thought. In 2007, at the time of the interview, I did not properly understand his wrongdoings. I apologize once again," he said, according to Soompi.
