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Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Choi Hwi-young posted a photo on his social media on the 13th showing him mimicking an infected character from a film alongside actress Jun Ji-hyun, celebrating director Yeon Sang-ho's zombie film "Gunche" surpassing 5 million viewers.
Minister Choi said, "I took this photo with actress Jun Ji-hyun, whom I met at an event recently, in a pose paying homage to our 'infected,' and we decided to post it on the day we reached 5 million viewers — and we're finally releasing it." Choi added, "I deeply admire the modern dancers, choreographers, and actors who performed the infected with such chilling, full-body horror," noting that "their overwhelming expressions and movements, found nowhere else, reached the level of art. I give them unsparing applause."
He went on to emphasize, "Along with the film 'Gunche,' the heart of Korean cinema does not stop — it keeps beating!"
The photo is said to have been taken on the 4th at the Seokjojeon of Deoksugung Palace in Seoul during an event commemorating the 140th anniversary of Korea-France diplomatic relations. Jun Ji-hyun attended at the time as an honorary ambassador for the 140th anniversary of Korea-France ties. Choi is regarded as having shown more interest than any of his predecessors in promoting and revitalizing the domestic film industry.
Meanwhile, according to the Korean Film Council's integrated computer network, "Gunche" recorded a cumulative 4.96 million viewers as of the 12th. Distributor Showbox then announced on the morning of the 13th that "Gunche" had surpassed 5 million viewers. Among films released domestically this year, "Gunche" is the second to reach the 5 million mark, following "The Man Who Lives with the King."
The film "Gunche" depicts survivors trying to stay alive in a sealed building where an infection outbreak has occurred. It is a zombie film by director Yeon following "Train to Busan" (2016) and "Peninsula" (2020), starring Jun Ji-hyun, Koo Kyo-hwan, Ji Chang-wook, Shin Hyun-been, Kim Shin-rok, and Gong Yoo.
