South Korean actor Ha Jung-woo returns to afterlife in sequel to ‘Along with the Gods’
Star of fantasy – a box-office smash throughout region – believes South Korean films have shown they can compete with Hollywood
The unexpected success in Asia of Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds, the South Korean fantasy film focused on the afterlife, could be partly because of the shared Buddhist world views across the region, according to its stars, actor Ha Jung-woo.
Ha, 40, one of South Korea’s most prolific and versatile actors, told The Korea Times: “I think the first part of the fantasy series was able to have so much success in the region because of the shared interest in the Asian Buddhism [on which] the film is based.”
BTS and Psy played a big role in elevating K-pop in the world music scene. Now I think it should be K-film’s turn. Although the Korean film industry has problems such as less diversity in genres, I think the [ ‘Along with the Gods’ sequel shows] the quality of filming staff can rival those of Hollywood
Ha – the eldest son of veteran South Korean actor Kim Yong-gun – who also starred in the 2016 psychological thriller The Handmaiden, is back in the sequel, too, Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days, which went on release in South Korea and abroad from Wednesday.
The first film in the series, released in December 2017, became the second most-viewed film of all time in Korea – attracting an audience of more than 14 million people.
The fantasy – filmed with a budget of 40 billion won (US$36 million) – also topped box offices in Taiwan and Hong Kong.
It became the highest-grossing Korean film in Taiwan, and the second-highest-grossing Korean film – after The Battleship Island – in Hong Kong.
In the sequel, Ha plays Gangrim, head of the reaper trio who guide the dead in their 49-day post mortal journey.
It features the backstories of the three reapers and how their paths crossed a millennium ago.
