Shin Min-ah, Choi Kyu-hwan to promote Korean film fest in Japan

Notable Korean film industry figures -- including actors Shin Min-ah and Choi Kyu-hwan -- will be visiting Japan to promote the "Real Korean Cinema Festival" later this month, according to a press release by event organizer Kino-eye DMC on Wednesday.

Kino-eye explained in the statement that the actors and several Korean filmmakers will be promoting films and the Korean Wave in Japan.

Shin, 25, will be carrying out a number of promotional activities during her two-day stay (February 21 and 22) which includes a premiere screening, press conference, media interviews and Q&A session with the Japanese audience.

She has appeared in numerous movies and television dramas since her debut in 2001. Her most notable works include KBS TV series "A Love to Kill" (2005) with Asian superstar Rain and movies "A Bittersweet Life"(2005) opposite Hallyu star Lee Byung-hun and "The Naked Kitchen"(2008), which is currently showing at Berlin International Film Festival.

Choi, the 33-year-old son of veteran Korean actor Choi Joo-bong, is scheduled to attend the general screening for film "Fly, Penguin" on February 18, meeting with both fans and media for interviews.

He has appeared in several television dramas and films including "Yeon Gae Somun" (SBS, 2006) and "Hello Franceska" (MBC, 2005).

The Real Korean Cinema Festival was established to distribute Korean movies in Japan and ultimately seeks to expand the movie business beyond Korea. In the form of a film festival, the annual event introduces various kinds of motion pictures overseas including small, non-commercial pics that do not have a major distribution network.

One of the beneficiaries of the event was the hit indie film "Old Partner", which Kino-eye helped distribute in Japan. The pic attracted over 24,000 viewers in just fours weeks of showing at six theaters.

The four movies scheduled to show at this year's festival throughout Japan are; "Fly, Penguin", "Celebrate! Our Love", "I Like It The Way It Is Now" and "Da Capo". The directors of all the films are scheduled to attend the promotional tour and meet with the Japanese audience.

The festival will take place in 15 major cities -- including Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo and Fukuoka -- and show for two weeks in each place. The film fest kicks off in Tokyo on February 27.