Korean Blockbuster Film ‘Harbin’, Starring Hyun Bin, Sold To 117 Countries

Korean historical thriller Harbin has been acquired for distribution in 117 countries.

Starring Hyun Bin, the film has topped the domestic box office since its release on December 24, grossing over $25M in South Korea through more than 3.8 million admissions.

CJ ENM, which is handling sales for the title, said that Harbin has been picked up for France (The Jokers Films), Spain and Portugal (Youplanet), Australia and New Zealand (K-Movie Entertainment), Poland (9th Planet), CIS (Capella Film) and inflight (Emphasis).

In Asia, Harbin has been sold to Japan (Kadokawa Kplus), Taiwan (WVE), Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Philippines (tvnMovies).

Harbin premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September in the Gala Presentations section and was released in the US through Well Go USA on January 3. It has also been released in Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Vietnam.

The film follows independence fighter Ahn Jung-geun (played by Hyun Bin), set in the early 1900s, when Korea is forced by Japan to sign the Eulsa Treaty. Korea loses its diplomatic rights and becomes a Japanese colony. Ahn heads an operation to assassinate Ito Hirobumi, the first Japanese Resident-General of Korea.

Park Jeong-min (Smugglers) and Jo Woo-jin (Hunt) are also part of the film’s cast, with production under Hive Media Corp.

Harbin is directed by Woo Min-ho, who also helmed Korea’s 2021 Oscar submission The Man Standing Next.