• Hyun Bin's Movie 'Harbin' Faces Trouble at the Box Office—Can It Survive After Viewership Drops?

    Hyun Bin’s highly anticipated film Harbin is struggling to keep its momentum as audience numbers continue to decline, raising concerns about its ability to break even.

    On January 16, the Korean Film Council reported that Harbin attracted only 31,915 viewers the day before, bringing its total admissions to 4,282,201. While the movie has held onto the No. 1 spot at the box office for an impressive 23 days, its initial strong performance has slowed dramatically.

    In its first nine days, Harbin consistently drew over 100,000 viewers daily. However, mixed reviews from audiences caused a noticeable decline, with daily admissions dropping to 56,648 by January 6. Now, weekday numbers are struggling to even hit 50,000.

    The film’s break-even point is estimated to be 6.8 million viewers, leaving it with a daunting gap of 2.52 million admissions to achieve profitability. Even with the Lunar New Year holiday approaching, the current trend suggests the goal might be out of reach.

    Adding to the pressure, Harbin is facing tough competition from highly anticipated new releases like Dark Nuns starring Song Hye Kyo and Secret: Untold Melody featuring EXO’s D.O. These films are expected to grab audience attention, making it even harder for Harbin to sustain its box office run.

    Harbin, directed by Woo Min Ho, tells the story of An Jung Geun’s assassination of Ito Hirobumi in Harbin, focusing on the intense journey of those involved and those trying to stop them. The film stars Hyun Bin alongside Park Jung Min and Jo Woo Jin.

    Despite its strong start, Harbin now faces an uphill battle to regain momentum and draw more viewers. Fans are wondering if the star-studded cast and historical plot will be enough to save the film from its financial struggles.

    Source: [1]

  • BLACKPINK’s Jisoo Secretly Helped Her Friend Get a Role? Choi Hee Jin Reveals How Their Friendship Led to a Cameo in ‘Newtopia’

    Actress Choi Hee Jin, who impressed viewers with her performance in Motel California, opened up about her close friendship with BLACKPINK’s Jisoo — and how it led to her special cameo in Newtopia.

    Choi Hee Jin recently wrapped up her role as veterinarian Yoon Nan Woo in MBC’s Motel California, which ended on February 15th.

    The actress met with reporters on February 14 at her agency, Saram Entertainment, to talk about her busy schedule and her unexpected role in Newtopia.

    The actress revealed that her cameo in Newtopia happened because of her bond with Jisoo, who stars as the female lead in the drama.

    “Before I signed with my current agency, when I wasn’t with any company, I was offered the role of Jisoo unnie’s best friend in *Snowdrop. Even before the director contacted me, Jisoo unnie had already told me about it”, Choi Hee Jin shared.

    She added, “The director knew about the chemistry Jisoo unnie and I had in *Snowdrop*. Even though the role was very small, they asked if I would be willing to make a cameo in *Newtopia. It really is a tiny part”, she said, smiling shyly.

    The actress emphasized that the opportunity felt special because it reflected her real-life friendship with Jisoo. “There was really no one else but me who fit the role as her close friend, so they asked if I could do it. It’s a very small part, but I was happy to do it”, she said.

    Choi Hee Jin also shared how touched she was by the love she still receives for her past work with Jisoo.

    “Jisoo unnie personally reached out to me too, and we’re still very close. But more than anything, I was grateful that people still remember me from *Snowdrop. Since I made a special appearance this time, I’d love to ask Jisoo unnie to return the favor with a cameo in one of my future projects”, she said with a laugh.

    Fans are loving the sweet friendship between the two actresses — and many are already hoping to see them share the screen again in a bigger project!

    Source: [1]