'Hansan: Rising Dragon' pre-sold to 99 countries

A scene from “Hansan: Rising Dragon,” which hit local theaters Wednesday [LOTTE ENTERTAINMENT]

“Hansan: Rising Dragon,” directed by Kim Han-min, was pre-sold to 99 countries according to the film's distributors Lotte Entertainment on Wednesday.

“The film was sold to major Asian countries including Japan, China, Taiwan, Singapore and Vietnam as well as North America and France,” Lotte Entertainment said in a statement. “It is an encouraging feat that a Korean historical film has been sold to 99 countries and the fact that we can let the world know about general Yi Sun-shin.”

The distributor said that the foreign buyers highly praised the quality of the naval battle scenes depicted in “Hansan,” as well as its commerciality.

The film, which hit local theaters Wednesday, will be released in North America on July 29, in Australia and New Zealand on Aug. 4 and in Taiwan on Aug. 19.

The film is the second in director Kim’s trilogy depicting Yi Sun-shin (1545–1598), a victorious naval commander of the Korean fleet during the Imjin War (1592–98) in the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). The first was "The Admiral: Roaring Currents” (2014). The final film “Noryang” is expected to be released late this year or early next year.

The film features actors Park Hae-il, Byun Yo-han, Kim Hyang-gi, Kim Sung-kyu, Kim Sung-kyun and Ok Taec-yeon. Park portrays Yi Sun-shin.

BY YIM SEUNG-HYE [yim.seunghye@joongang.co.kr]