K-Pop Idol Moved to Tears by Japanese Romance Film “366 Days”; “Highfive” Set for Release, “Secret Idol” Production Accelerates

Korean films and content are engaging in active collaboration with K-pop on the global stage. While the Japanese romance film “366 Days” has drawn attention by bringing K-pop idols to tears, domestic Korean films are also seeing consecutive releases, and international film productions themed around K-pop are gaining momentum. “366 Days” depicts a touching love story between two characters who travel back and forth between Okinawa and Tokyo. The film was adapted from the similarly named mega-hit song “366 Days,” carrying the concept that “if one year has 365 days, 366 days means loving someone so deeply that one year is not enough.” A unique feature of the story is that the female lead was set to be born on February 29, meaning her birthday only occurs once every four years. K-pop idols responded enthusiastically to the film. Riku, a member of NCT WISH, revealed through a fan communication app that he cried after watching it, while Moka, a member of the K-pop girl group ILLIT, said she went to see it alone during her visit to Japan and was deeply moved. The film is directed by Shinjo Takehiko, known as a master of romance films for directing “Just Because I Love You.” It stars popular Japanese actor Eiji Akasō and versatile actress Moka Kamishiraişi. This film surged in popularity in Japan, rising from fourth place to first, and earned box office revenues more than twice those of “Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight” (which attracted 1.1 million viewers in Korea). The film combines beautiful landscapes with music, including the mega-hit song “366 Days,” and the lead actor Eiji Akasō has confirmed he will make a special appearance in Korea to celebrate the film’s release there. It will open in theaters nationwide at MegaBox starting June 11. Meanwhile, the Korean film “Highfive” held a press screening ahead of its release on the 30th. This is director Kang Hyung-chul’s first project in seven years and tells the story of five people who accidentally gain superpowers after a kidney transplant. Four years have passed since filming concluded in 2021 before the film finally arrives in theaters, with its original release target in May 2023 being delayed for various reasons. The director stated, “I wanted to create an entertaining entertainment film.” Global K-pop-themed creative works are also emerging one after another. Artist Studio, led by actor Lee Jung-jae, has joined forces with the renowned British production company ImagineNation Productions to begin joint development on a live-action adaptation of the global K-pop spy project “Secret Idol” (tentative title). “Secret Idol” follows a secret agent disguised as a K-pop trainee who fights against fierce competition behind the dazzling stages and global criminal organizations. It aims to present an unprecedentedly original world view that combines the realities of the K-pop industry with the tension of teen spy action. The two production companies are working together on production strategies from the story development stage and are discussing Hollywood actor casting and global distribution partnerships. ImagineNation Productions was co-founded in 2011 by actor and director Andy Serkis, famous for roles like Gollum in “The Lord of the Rings” and Caesar in “Alien,” and Jonathan Cavendish, the producer behind the “Bridget Jones” series. The company has produced films such as “Mogli: The Legend of the Jungle” and “Next Goal Wins,” as well as Netflix series like “The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself” and “Brilliant Minds.” It is currently preparing to produce “The Hunt for Gollum,” a prequel to “The Lord of the Rings,” in collaboration with Warner Bros. Artist Studio stated, “‘Secret Idol’ will be an innovative project that proves the global scalability of Korean content, specifically K-pop, and will open up all-around possibilities. It will deliver content with universality and popularity that can resonate with global audiences.”