S. Korean thriller tops 1 million in ticket sales

SEOUL, April 13 (Yonhap) -- Ticket sales for "Private Eye (Geulimjasalin)" topped
the 1 million mark over the weekend, the first film of the month to reach the
critical milestone, a local box office report said Monday.

The murder mystery, starring award winning actor Hwang Jung-min, drew in 1.06
million viewers as of Sunday, 11 days after it first hit local theatres, the
Korean Film Council said. One million is considered the yardstick for a box
office hit here.
Set in the late 19th century in the waning days of the Joseon Dynasty, the film
has garnered praise from critics for its rich period detail, solid script and
skillful acting.
Hollywood action "The Fast and Furious 2009" was the weekend's second most
popular movie, topping 457,000 in ticket sales.
The commercial success of "Private Eye" was welcomed by domestic filmmakers
struggling against an economic slump and a deluge of Hollywood blockbusters to be
released this year.
South Korean movies saw their worst sales figures in eight years in 2008, which
fell by more than 20 percent from the previous year. Only eight films topped the
2 million mark in ticket sales last year compared to 16 in 2006 and 10 in 2007.
hayney@yna.co.kr
(END)

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